Indoor Rowing

Indoor rowing offers people of all ages and abilities the chance to adopt a healthy, active, lifestyle. It can also provide a focus for community activity and by working with local community centres, local groups and schools we can increase participation by targeting those who do not take part in traditional sports.  Indoor rowing improves cardiovascular fitness, can combat osteoporosis, and is conducted on equipment which works upper and lower body muscle groups simultaneously. New technology enables users to train and race online in a series of leagues.

The Foundation has worked with Competition Managers, British Rowing, Sports Universities North East England, Concept2 and the local Strategic Health Authority to organise and support the first ever North East school indoor rowing competition - Get Going Get Rowing.  

Jen Armstrong of the North East Strategic Health Authority says:

"Indoor rowing is a fantastic way to encourage children to see physical activity as fun and interactive.  The partnership commissioned research to identy what impact the Get Going Get Rowing initiative has had and we were delighted but not surprised that the early results suggested that indoor rowing attracts those children who are less likely to run on a track or play team games.  Children felt it had a larger impact on things like their health, fitness, confidence and general happines with 85% of students saying they felt healthier since they started rowing." 

The Tony Blair Sports Foundation will work to promote and increase participation in this sport and to grow the competition across the region.  To do this however, we need more people to train as Indoor Rowing coaches and instructors so that more young people in schools and local clubs can be fully trained to take part.