News & Press archive for October, 2009

Organisers of the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships (NJIRC) have announced that the 2010 event will be held on Tuesday, March 16^th next year.

Once again, the event will be hosted by London Youth Rowing (LYR) at the Battersea Evolution Events Arena, in South West London and will again be in conjunction with the Boat Race Company; the organisation that stages the annual Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race, which next year will take place on April 3^rd a couple of miles up river, starting from Putney Bridge.

NJIRC, now known to thousands of young rowers as “En-Jerk”, has grown exponentially since it was founded in 2007. More than 2,000 rowers competed at NJIRC 2009, compared with only 800 who participated in the inaugural event. It’s thought that the 2010 finals could involve even more young rowers from clubs and schools all over the UK.

LYR, the charity organisation dedicated to increasing access to rowing for young people all over London, has played a central role in promoting NJIRC. LYR’s Programme Director, Matt Rostron, said the 2010 event would be bigger and better than ever.

“Now is the time for clubs and schools to get involved,” said Mr Rostron.

“There will be individual and team races for all ages and abilities, which are great for encouraging participation in rowing or rewarding a long winter of training. Also we will have an array of other stands and sports on the day, so there will be plenty to keep young athletes occupied between races.”

For more details on NJIRC 2010 visit the London Youth Rowing website at

http://www.londonyouthrowing.com/events/njirc/

Contact : Matt Rostron, London Youth Rowing:

Tel:                   0207 490 5044

Email:   mrostron@londonyouthrowing.com

London Youth Rowing Limited (LYR) and Thames Rowing Club (Thames) have announced a formal alliance that will increase access to rowing for young people in West London.

This week’s signing of a Service Level Agreement between LYR and the Putney Embankment-based club provides a formal framework for the two bodies to work together, allowing LYR to develop further Thames’ junior section for 11-18 year olds.

LYR has already been working with Thames for some time, developing programmes that have encouraged young people to take part and brought young people to the club for coaching. These new recruits now represent Thames RC along with other clubs as part of LYR composite crews.

Paddy Ryan, LYR‘s Performance Coach, will be responsible for ensuring the success of these composite crews in regattas and other regional and national rowing competitions.

Paddy said “Thames Rowing Club is one of the country’s biggest and well respected rowing clubs and for them to be as keen for the new partnership as we are, is a great boost for all of us who love rowing.”

This partnership enables both LYR and Thames to consolidate progress already made in encouraging young people to experience indoor and on the water rowing within Wandsworth and surrounding London boroughs.

This full service level agreement, along with strengthened links to Barn Elms Boat House and Furnival Rowing Club at Hammersmith, has dramatically expanded the presence of LYR in West London, allowing the organization to increase its outreach and development of junior rowing along the Thames.

LYR Programme Director Matt Rostron, who played a central role in negotiations, hailed the expansion as significant.

“With this new link and agreement, LYR is able to reach far more of London’s young rowers and offer them more access to on water rowing than ever before, it’s the start of a really new exciting period for us”.” he said.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

London Youth Rowing:

Telephone;                    0207 490 5044

Email Matt Rostron;       mrostron@londonyouthrowing.com

Website;                       www.londonyouthrowing.com

All LYR participants must wear a boyancy aid until they have completed a capsize drill. These are held every few months in indoor swimming pools across London.

Some handy hints from the coaching staff about taking the LYR Capsize Drill;

1)      Hold the riggers when capsizing

2)      Immediately get your body out of the cold water by getting your body on top of the up turned boat. (Especially in the winter season)

3)      When trying to re enter the boat make sure that when you have both handles in your hands… DONT let go!

4)      Steady the boat with your oars (Make sure they are flat on the water / not turned square)

5)      Push all your body weight over the boat to get the boat steady & then straddle the boat with your legs.

6)      Keep your oars steady / flat on the water and put your feet back into the boat

To loose the boyancy aids you gotta take the test!

Thanks to LYR Community Coach Steph Ware for these!