The Concept2 Schools Indoor Rowing League 08/09, which involved over 4,000 teams and nearly 20,000 competitors from right across the United Kingdom, has just finished. But with National Schools Sports Week coming up (29th June-3rd July) there is a bonus round open to all-comers. Teams of four are to row 2012metres ? the distance linking with the year of the next Olympics, (for full details see the League section).

The Fours competition has a increasing number of primary teams entering, reflecting the growing popularity of Indoor Rowing in primary schools. The same numbers of boys and girls teams, 380, entered in Year 8. Year 9 boys had the largest entry and year12/13 girls the smallest. The pattern of entries mirrors the fall-off in participation of adolescent girls seen nationally.

The total distance rowed over the 6 winter rounds was 14.7 million metres equivalent to rowing to Australia!

Gold medal winners in the fours competition were:

Year	Gender	School
5/6	Boys	Peterborough High School
	Girls	Daneshill School, Okshott
7	Boys	Daneshill School, Okshott
	Girls	Peterborough High School
8	Boys	Portchester School, Bournemouth
	Girls	Woodhay High School, Bury
9	Boys	Colmers Sports College, Birmingham
	Girls	Stratford Grammar School
10	Boys	Portchester School
	Girls	Guildford High School
11	Boys	The Grange, Chester
	Girls	Cedar Mount High School, Manchester
12/13	Boys	Colston?s School, Bristol
	Girls	Itchen College, Southampton
Teachers/Parents	Men	Reading Bluecoat School
	Women	Reading Bluecoat School

The high number of entries again this year is evidence that schools find that the sport appeals to a large range of pupils. The positive feedback received reflects the enthusiasm of the pupils for the lively and involving nature of the competition. One of the most encouraging aspects of the competitions is the participation of children who have had little or no success in ball-skills based activities, and who are delighted to find an activity in which they can experience the joys of teamwork, and even winning!