YOUNG sporting stars were put through their paces yesterday at the North-East’s first indoor rowing finals for schools.

The regional final of the first Get Going, Get Rowing championships was held in Maiden Castle, Durham University, yesterday – following a series of heats which started in September.

The finalists competed on indoor rowing machines, which were wired up to project their performances on screen.


The event was supported by The Tony Blair Sports Foundation, set up by the former Prime Minister and Sedgefield MP.

It also involved Competition Managers, British Rowing, Sport Universities North-East England, British Concept 2 and the North-East Strategic Health Authority.

Indoor rowing competitions were held in County Durham, Northumberland, the Tees Valley and the Tyne and Wear area, with each contest providing the chance for young rowers to post their best times of the year.

The best four from each age group qualified to compete against their counterparts from across the region yesterday.

Clare Harding, senior competition manager for County Durham, who was responsible for co-ordinating the event, said: “It is a really exciting time in the evolution of this competitive structure in the North-East.

“Our young people have thoroughly enjoyed competing for their counties.

“With a strong partnership having formed between the key partners, we can ensure that this event is both sustainable, and will continue to grow over the coming years to involve as many of our schools and their students as possible.”

Indoor rowing was one of the first sports to be supported by The Tony Blair Sports Foundation. It offers people of all ages and abilities the chance to adopt a healthy, active, lifestyle.

Mr Blair said: “The foundation has committed a great deal of time working with the partners across the region to help promote this sport.

“It’s great that the development of Get Going, Get Rowing, which we launched last year with the North-East Strategic Health Authority, has resulted in a regional competition for our young people.

“Our continued commitment to this partnership is to engage more people to become rowing coaches for both the indoor and outdoor forms of the sport.

“This is vital if rowing is going to continue to develop in the North-East, and it is crucial to providing the volunteers to help run events like this.”

The national finals will be held later this month.