Take a huge, new, state-of-the-art Athletics Centre not far from the 2012 Olympic Park. Add in over 1600 young indoor rowers – plus their hoards of enthusiastic supporters, 40 ergo rowing machines, four giant video screens and some of the top names from present-day British rowing. Result: the unique, exciting, day-long competitive rowing festival that was NJIRC 2011.

The competitors rolled up in their busloads on Friday 4th March to this year’s new venue – the Lee Valley Athletics Centre in North East London. This huge, bright, modern arena was voted by all to be an ideal setting for the big event. It was easily able to accommodate the huge crowds and all the extra activities on offer this year.

The day got off to a flying start with the longest individual races - the 2000m distance. But the most deafening noise levels were reserved for the popular highlight of the day - the Boat Race relay. A team effort, rowing the full distance of the famous Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race. The girls’ race was won this year by King Edward’s School Whitley, with Plymstock SSP taking the honours for the boys. They will all get to follow the actual Boat Race on March 26th on the River Thames in boats provided by the Royal Marines – a hard-earned, and unforgettable, prize.

The GB athletics heroes who regularly train at the Lee Valley Centre didn’t seem to mind this mass invasion of their territory. Olympic Gold Medalist Christine Ohuruogu even agreed to hand out some medals before she began her training session!

She wasn’t the only celebrity to join us. Members of both the Oxford and Cambridge crews helped cheer on the athletes, and Mark Hunter, who won a Gold Medal at Beijing, presented medals to some of the lucky winners.

Katherine Grainger, the three-time Olympic Silver Medalist who is also a trustee of London Youth Rowing was, as always, a wonderful ambassador for the charity and for the event. She met the young athletes, signed photos and gave autographs, as well as kindly doing an excellent piece to camera for the BBC TV news.

Concept 2, one of London Youth Rowing’s sponsors for NJIRC, worked hard to make sure the technology kept up with the speed of the racing, and even managed to do it with a smile on their faces!

Volunteers are a key part of this annual event and we thank every one of the 140 strong team who worked solidly for the whole day. We truly couldn’t do it without them.

It’s been an amazing year for NJIRC, with a high calibre of athletes entering, enormous effort being put into the races by one and all, and great cheering and shouting from the sidelines.

And we firmly believe that 2012 will be even bigger and better than ever!

All the results from the day are available on London Youth Rowing’s website, www.londonyouthrowing.com/njirc. We will be adding photos, as well as images from the Graffiti Wall in the next couple of days. Find London Youth Rowing on Facebook to get lots of inside tips, extra news items and exclusive photos.

For further information on NJIRC, or how to get involved in rowing in your area visit the London Youth Rowing website – www.londonyouthrowing.com, on Facebook – search ‘London Youth Rowing’ or contact the event organiser, Lindsay Rae on 0207 515 0005.

London Youth Rowing is a registered charity based in East London, charity no. 1122941