Over 18,000 students from 70 secondary schools across the region have been competing in indoor rowing competitions since September last year. On Thursday, the best 192 rowers will battle it out to be crowned the North East Get Going Get Rowing champions.

In 2009 a partnership between Competition Managers, the Tony Blair Sports Foundation, SUNEE (Sports Universities North East England), Concept2 and British Rowing was formed to organise and deliver a new Indoor Rowing Competition programme for schools. The main aim of the partners was to develop a competitive pathway from School Sports Partnership level to County level and finish with a North East Regional event.

From the beginning the emphasis has been on establishing a sustainable development programme that will embed indoor rowing as a sport in local schools. Already there is evidence that this is happening, with more schools taking part this year and local rowing clubs reporting an increase in membership.

This exciting fast paced competition will now see young people representing their schools from Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Tees Valley and County Durham race on indoor rowing machines that are wired up to project their performances live on screen.

Clare Harding, Senior Competition Manager for County Durham, responsible for co-ordinating the event says:

"Indoor Rowing in the North East continues to gain momentum and now has a firmly established competition structure in place. The sport has become a greater focus in schools, both in lessons and as an extra curricular activity, providing a new and different opportunity for nearly 18,000 students with the best 192 individuals competing at this Get Going Get Rowing Regional Final. Many of the record holders from last year will be up against some of the region's rising stars, many of who have only had their first experience of the sport this year. You never know we may even find the next Sir Steve Redgrave or James Cracknell here in our region!"

Indoor Rowing was one of the first sports to be supported by the Tony Blair Sports Foundation. It is a modern sport that offers people of all ages and abilities the chance to adopt a healthy, active, lifestyle and has the capacity to provide a cohesive solution to health, education and fitness issues, primarily in schools but also in the wider community.

The 192 participants will compete for different periods of time depending on their age; however a Gold Medal Target has been set so youngsters can compare themselves against others based on their percentage of their Gold Medal Target.

Peter Barron, Trustee of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation says:

"This indoor rowing competition launched only last year, has proved incredibly popular and I am especially impressed that the number of girls taking part since last year has increased enormously. As a Trustee of the Tony Blair Sports Foundation I know how hard everyone involved in this competition has worked to make it a success. All partners want to see this event get bigger and better and to do that we need more people to train as coaches so that more schools and clubs can work with young people. I'd urge anyone wanting to get involved to contact the Foundation. "

To add even more excitement to the event this year all competitors will get the opportunity to turn their hand to kayaking as an alternative sport. The partnership are delighted that Canoe England has joined forces with them and will be running 200 meter sprints using 8 kayak pro ergo machines that will all be linked together to display onto a Regatta race course projected onto a big screen so that students can see themselves perform.