PSSP Primary Indoor Rowing Championships 2020

Primary Indoor Rowing Championships 2020

312 children from 30 PSSP primary schools came along on Tuesday 28th January 2020 to take part in our annual Indoor Rowing Championships. 

We are extremely grateful that Mr Rob Pearsall, Head Teacher at Plymstock School, offered to host the event for us again this year, and we were also very fortunate to have 15 students from Plymstock School’s Leadership Academy to support both the PSSP and the children taking part.

As well as the indoor rowing races, we also had some taster activities set up in an adjacent hall.  Children were able to show off their best moves on our dance mats, have a go at paddling on our kayak ergos and see what it’s like with more than one person in a ‘boat’ on our ergo sliders.

The primary schools were split into Minor, Intermediate and Major categories, based on the number of children on roll in Key Stage Two.  We started our Championships by running all the individual races - each child tries their hardest to row the farthest in 2 minutes.  This is by no means an easy feat; the sheer determination from everyone who took part was clear to see and the support from their friends and team-mates was incredible! 

Minor Schools – Individual Results

Congratulations to Aidan (Austin Farm Academy ‘Cambridge’) with 444 metres and to Zuzanna (The Cathedral School of St Mary) with 434 metres!

Intermediate Schools – Individual Results

Congratulations to George (Wembury Primary School) with 445 metres and to Scarlett (Drake Primary Academy) with 432 metres!

Major Schools – Individual Results

Congratulations to Dylan (Elburton Primary School 1 ) with 442 metres and to Gracie (Chaddlewood Primary School) with 453 metres!

With the individual races complete, we were then onto the team races; all 8 children in each team take part in rowing for 30 seconds, a total of 4 minutes.  Seamless changeovers are key to these races…

A huge total of 870 metres from Austin Farm Academy ‘Cambridge’ broke the record for the Minor Schools Team Race and an equally impressive 857 metres from Wembury Primary School broke the record for the Intermediate Schools Team Race!

Minor Schools – Team Race Results

1st Place               Austin Farm Academy ‘Cambridge’ with a total of 870 metres

2nd Place              St Paul’s RC Primary School with a total of 791 metres

3rd Place               St Edward’s Primary School with a total of 769 metres

Intermediate Schools – Team Race Results

1st Place               Wembury Primary School with a total of 857 metres

2nd Place              Eggbuckland Vale Primary School (1) with a total of 782 metres

3rd Place               Mary Dean’s Primary School (1) with 771 metres

Major Schools – Team Race Results

1st Place               Bickleigh Down Primary School with a total of 854 metres

2nd Place              Elburton Primary School (1) with a total of 846 metres

3rd Place               Chaddlewood Primary School with a total of 837 metres

Finally, after adding together, the individual and team race totals, we discovered the overall results…

Our PSSP Indoor Rowing Champions for 2019/20 are:

• Minor School - Austin Farm Academy ‘Cambridge’ 
• Intermediate School - Wembury Primary School
• Major School - Chaddlewood Primary School 

The atmosphere at this event is always electric and today, it really caused some sparks to fly!  Or should that be ‘row’?! 

Well done to every one who took part in the competition today!  We have seen some excellent examples of how you promote the Olympic and Paralympic values; Friendship, Respect, Excellence, Determination, Inspiration, Courage and Equality.

Thank you to all the adults from the primary schools for coming along with the children today, it would not be possible without the support from you!

Thank you to Mrs Hughes for organising the Leaders from Plymstock School.  Well done to you all - each of you were incredibly helpful and supportive and should be very proud of what you achieved.

Finally, thank you to the rest of the PSSP Team, who made this event the success it was!