Students To Race In Inter-School Rowing
With just over a week to go, Longtails Rowing Club is encouraging more students to sign up for the inaugural Inter-School Indoor Rowing Championship on Saturday [November 14] at CedarBridge Academy Gymnasium.
The competition will bring together students from schools across Bermuda that have committed to participating in the championship, with boys’ and girls’ races held on indoor rowing machines, commonly known as ergs.
Individual awards will be presented at next week’s event, while the top performers will have the opportunity to advance to the 2,000-metres finals in January, where they will compete for the titles of fastest boy and fastest girl in indoor rowing in this event.
No previous rowing experience is required, and Longtails are urging students who would like to represent their schools to contact their PE teachers.
Longtails Rowing Club wants to introduce more young people in Bermuda to rowing and create an opportunity for students to compete in a sport they might never have tried.
The initiative has received generous corporate support.
AXA XL, Arch Re and Hannover Re donated a total of 18 indoor rowing machines to BCCL, BHS, CedarBridge, Chatmore, MSA, Warwick Academy, Saltus, Sandys Secondary, Somersfield, helping students prepare for the competition and providing equipment that schools can continue using in their physical education programmes.
BEST Shipping also supported the initiative by helping transport equipment to Bermuda.
Although the event has been moved from LifeThyme CrossFit to CedarBridge Academy Gymnasium to accommodate more participants and provide a covered venue in case of rain, coach Henry Adderley has generously offered to lend his rowing machines for the competition.
Longtails coaches and volunteers visited schools last month to introduce students to the machines and help them prepare for the event.
Longtails hopes the championship will become an annual fixture in Bermuda’s school sporting calendar, encouraging more young people to discover rowing.
“The races are short and manageable, and no previous rowing experience is needed,” Zoe Oduntan, the club’s founder, told Bernews.
“It’s a great opportunity to try something new, challenge yourself, and perhaps even discover your next favorite sport.
“Families, friends, and supporters are also invited to come along on to cheer on Bermuda’s young athletes.”
Longtails Rowing Club, a registered Bermuda charity, is dedicated to making youth rowing accessible to young people across the island.
“The club would also like to take this opportunity to thank its many supporters, including the Department of Sport and Recreation, RHADC for providing access to its facilities for indoor rowing training, the Bermuda Foundation for helping fund the Club’s overseas regatta trip in July, and Chubb and Allied World for their early financial support,” Oduntan added.
“Their generosity and encouragement have played an important role in helping Longtails grow and introduce more young people to rowing.”
To sign-up, click here.
For more details, email longtailsrowingclub@gmail.com.
