Oar-some fun at Grantham’s indoor rowing festival

Overall winners Charles Read Academy

Youngsters from across South Kesteven have pitted their rowing skills against each other in an indoor rowing festival. In the first event of its kind in the area, 90 children from four schools from across the district gathered to compete in the event at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre on December 3 co-ordinated by Inspire +, Newark Rowing Club and SKDC. Relays teams with Key Stage 3 students in one team and Key Stage 4 and Sixth Form aged students in another, competed in individual races and team relays. The Charles Read Academy in Corby Glen won the overall prize for the event but the individual and relay honours were shared between participants from The King’s School, KGGS and Priory Ruskin Academy. SKDC Venues and Facilities Manager Paul Stokes said: “We hope this will be the first of many indoor rowing festivals at the Meres. “Indoor rowing is a sport that anyone can get involved in, no matter what their sporting ability is. The teams really got into the spirit of the competition. “We thank Inspire + and Newark Rowing Club for helping co-ordinate a great event. “Rowing is fantastic for fitness and we hope the youngsters had a great time competing in a new sport that will help them towards more active and healthy lifestyles.” The students will now have the opportunity to attend a taster session at Newark Rowing Club to try rowing on water. Anyone interested in learning to row can contact the club by emailing newarklearntorow@gmail.com There will also be a county round of indoor rowing for year 8s and 10s in March at the leisure centre as part of the Lincolnshire SportWinter School Games.