Olympic effort secures rowing crown for Teddington

6.35.10pm GMT Wed 7th Mar 2007

Home advantage helped Teddington School storm to victory in the Competitive Edge Indoor Rowing Championships on Friday, 2 March.

The Broom Road school hosted and triumphed in the third annual event, part of Richmond Council's initiative to get more young people taking part in competitive sport. It featured seven of the borough's eight secondaries and Clarendon School for children with special educational needs, each fielding teams of 16 pupils, with two boys and girls from each age group going head-to-head. The indoor rowing machines were linked up to a race simulation on a giant screen allowing rowers and spectators to keep up with the excitement. Olympic rowing medallists Sarah Winkless and Kath Grainger dropped by to give encouragement and present awards.

Cllr John Coombs, Cabinet Member for Sport on Richmond Council, said:??"This superb event is hugely popular with all who take part and further evidence of the success of our Competitive Edge project. To have two Olympic medallists on hand to show just what can be achieved through competitive sport was an added bonus. I hope the experience will inspire our youngsters to try their hand at rowing, and who knows, maybe even go on to represent Great Britain at future Olympic Games."