Once again it was time for "blood sweat and tears" at the 2010 British Indoor Rowing Championships held at the NIA Birmingham last Sunday 21 November.

Rowing Coach Kevin Sellar working for Plymstock Schools Sports Partnership trained 38 students from seven schools within the Plymstock Partnership covering the full year groups 7 - 13. Training started back in September with selected students who had attended School rowing clubs and shown to have the skill and fitness required for the event. All the preparation done Saturday was spent travelling up to Birmingham and relaxing ready for the big day. Racing started with the J16 year 11 boy's, Tom James DHSB was looking at a top ten place and succeeded with 8th, Aaron Bowkett from Longcause special School a credited 44th. Chloe Brew Y10 Coombe Dean was the star of the day winning her heat but only to be pushed to second place silver medal by one metre in the second heat. All 7 year 10 girls scored PB'S. This year saw a lot of the "old School" rowers' move into the J18 category. We had three girls and three boys in the light weight divisions. Amber Waters DHSG a beginner to indoor rowing only started this term chased down the leading pack and secured 4th place close behind Lucy Marker Tavistock CC and Laura Elver Heles School finished 13th + 14th. The boys followed with Lewis Todd Ridgeway 6th and a PB, Jack Nottley Plymstock 12TH and Sam Todd Plymstock 35th PB. In the J14 year 9 race, Elliot Robinson DHSB and Ryan Adler Ridgeway were sat next to each other race on!! At the start Ryan took the lead then Elliott took the lead for the four minutes the lead changed regularly to see Elliott pip Ryan at the post by 2 metres less than half a stroke that's racing? The girls J14 Y9 followed and we had another tremendous race with 4 girls Emily Dart, Catherine Fairbanks and Sally Moss Plymstock along with Lauren Dawe DHSG. All set PB'S and went one better in the team race taking the Silver medal.
Jack Clench DHSB followed in Sir Steve Redgraves steps, with Type one diabetes. Jack and Jack James DHSB set PB'S with 20/21st placing in a large field of 88 rowers. The J13 girl's race had the largest entry of the day 109, Rebecca Butchart and Jess Yabsley took this in their stride and finished 10th + 11th.
The days racing finished with the team racing to which Plymstock SSP came into their own walking away with two gold's and one silver team medal. The J13 boys had a cracking race and secured 4th , J14 Girls Silver, J15girls Gold with Zoe Blackoe pulling incredible 1.38 splits and anchoring the team for the gold medal. The j15 girls B team 13th, J16 Girls 7th and J18 boys Gold, destroying the opposition with Jacob Dawson rowing splits down to 1.11 and gaining an eleven second lead.
Congratulations to all who took part and achieved so much over the training and racing period.
A big thank you goes to the coaches and helpers who without their time the trip would not be possible. Paul Johnson Adaptive Rowing Coach, Rhiannon Halliday BR CDO. Sonia Clatworthy HO PE DHSG, Steve Crowe Longcause special School, Tom Hughes and James Rogers Dry Instructor's Plymstock School.

PLYMSTOCK SSP TEAM RESULTS.

GOLD - J18M YEAR 12/13. DISTANCE 4000M - 11:34:5. 1.26.8/500m split.
Jacob Dawson, Jacob Roberts, Jack Nottley -Plymstock, Sam Twine Tavistock.

7th - J16F YEAR 11 4000M - 14:43:5 1:50:4/500m split.
Rebecca Bojanitz, Micheala Priest Plymstock, Holly Stead, Imogene Mackie Heles

GOLD - J15F YEAR 10 4000M - 14:18:0. 1:47:3/500m split.
Zoe Blackoe Heles, Natalia Rye-Carieggas + Megan Ball DHSG, Chloe Brew Coombe Dean.

13th - J15F YEAR 10 4000M - 16:04:4 2:00:6/500m split.
Rebecca Butchart, Emma Minter Charlotte Roberts Plymstock, Summer Henderson DHSG.

SILVER - J14F YEAR 9 3000M - 11:21:4 - 1:53:6/500m split.
Emily Dart, Catherine Fairbanks, Sally Moss Plymstock. Lauren Dawe DHSG.

4th - J13M YEAR 8 3000M - 11:42:1 - 1:57:0/500m split.
Jack Clench, Jack James DHSB. Daniel Rose, James Nicholson Longcause special School.

DATES FOR THE SCHOOL DIARY ARE:

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2nd February 2011 Plymouth City Championships - Primary and senior Schools. Host Plymstock School. Individual racing and team event. School entries to Kevin Sellar

4 March NJIRC Leh athletics club London. National School Championships. Kevin Sellar to organise SSP squad.

30 March West Regional Championships. Host Marjons. Entries to Rhiannon Halliday CDO British Rowing.

For further details contact; Kevin Sellar 07722569557 email ksellar@plymstockschool.org.uk.