No, not that one – this is Prince from Bexleyheath Academy school. Prince attended NJIRC2012 this year and as you know we ran a competiton to track down as many stall holders and activities as you could during the day and to ensure that you had your ‘passport’ stamped as you went round to prove you had done them all.

Well, Prince did that better than everyone else on the day and won the NJIRC Competiton.

Well done Prince and enjoy making some yummy popcorn with your new popcorn maker!

Contact ssalter@londonyouthrowing.com

Britain’s most successful Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave, CBE, today praised pupils fromEast London after they competed in the final of the EDF Community Rowing Challenge at the London 2012 rowing venue.

The challenge culminated in a regatta race at Eton Dorney Rowing Centre, where the Olympic Games rowing events will took place, on Tuesday (May 1). EDF, an official partner of London 2012, organised the initiative in partnership with London Youth Rowing.

Students from Cardinal Pole (Hackney), Royal Liberty (Havering),PalmerCatholicAcademy(Redbridge), Stepney Green (Tower Hamlets) and Connaught (WalthamForest) have been working with coaches from London Youth Rowing since January. 40 students have taken part in the programme, with many rowing on water for the first time as they prepared for the final event.

Royal Liberty school from Havering won the overall challenge, with points awarded for teamwork, commitment, punctuality and the final race, and all five teams were praised for their efforts. In addition to a sporting challenge, the EDF Community Rowing Challenge aims to provide life skills to the young rowers, helping them to achieve their potential as they progress to further education or into work.

Team EDF* members Katherine Grainger MBE, Britain’s most successful female rower, and Paralympic rowing champion Tom Aggar provided advice and inspiration at some of the training sessions.  EDF Energy awarded medals and prizes to every rower including tickets for tours of the Olympic Park, an Olympic hockey match and trips on the EDF Energy London Eye.

Sir Steve Redgrave, CBE said: “The last time I raced at Dorney Lake was in 2005 during the FISA World Cup.  In a few months time Dorney Lake will be host to the London Olympics. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate place to hold this event. It was fantastic to watch these inspiring young athletes complete the EDF Community Rowing Challenge after training so hard, especially when so few of them had even stepped into a boat before. It’s a wonderful achievement.“

Team EDF member Katherine Grainger, MBE said ‘This is something that’s very close to my heart as someone who’s been involved with EDF Energy and London Youth Rowing for a long time. It’s been an incredible journey for these kids and you could feel the excitement today. This is about so much more than getting in a boat and making it move fast – irrespective of the results, they’ll all have gained so much.”

Gareth Wynn, EDF London 2012 Group Director, said: “It was great to see how committed and enthusiastic the young people who took part in the EDF Community Rowing Challenge have been. The teamwork and discipline they have shown to focus on clear goals will serve them well in whatever they go on to do. I hope that rowing on the same course as the Olympic Champions of London 2012 and meeting some real life champions will have inspired them for the future too.”

Ben Cox, Development Manager at London Youth Rowing, said: “These students have inspired us throughout the challenge. They’ve demonstrated the enthusiasm, dedication and commitment athletes need if they are to go on and be the best. I hope they continue to achieve great things in their lives and continue rowing and competing.”

Jim Downing, Chairman at London Youth Rowing said: “The EDF Community Rowing Challenge has seen young rowers and everyone else involved in the challenge over the last four months – parents, friends, teachers, coaches, working so hard and today we’ve seen the results. It shows that anyone can participate and achieve great things through sport.”

Paul Humphries, Head of PE from Royal Liberty school, Havering comments: “We are delighted to have won the EDF Community Rowing Challenge. It means so much for the pupils to be rewarded for all the hard work they put in. Seeing them develop as individuals and team players, I know the skills they’ve gained will stand them in good stead in the future, whatever they choose to do. I’m proud of the whole team.”

Calvin Bradley, 16 from Royal Liberty school, Havering comments: “I can’t believe we’ve won. To receive medals from Sir Steve Redgrave, our most successful Olympic athlete ever, was just incredible. To learn from athletes, try and do things the Olympic way, and to actually go and experience the Games at the Olympic Park is just brilliant. It feels like we’ve been part of something very special.”

With 20 pupils from Isleworth and Syon school at the boathouse, ready to start at 8:45am this morning, this project really has started to get moving.

With a full timetable of sessions starting from this week, as well as the new junior section of Tyrian Rowing Club starting on Tuesday, it is really exciting times for Junior rowing in Hounslow.

Steve Salter  – Rowing Coach UL Boathouse

For more infon contact Steve on ssalter@londonyouthrowing.com

We offered the chance to run, cycle or row a mile for the charity. We even had one young person who decided to do all 3 of the events and completed the mammoth 3 miles.

Steph Ware from LYR said “We asked everyone to either donate to enter or to donate £1.50 to buy a wrist band. We raised a brilliant £442! 64 participants rowed the mile on C2 machines as, 237 cycled on static Watt Bikes, 139 ran round the track at Lea Velley Athletics centre and, we even had two people who cartwheeled the mile around the track!

Well done all and thank you!

Email Penny on info@londonyouthrowing.com with the answer to this very quick Comp – the winner gets a prize!

Q.    How many metres were covered during NJIRC2012 official racing thius year?

Remember to add your full name, your answer and your address.

Godd luck

The Boys winner is TOM PAGEL from Abingdon School with 1:31.9

The Girls winner is KATE DAMPSTER from Mossbourne Community Academy with 1:50.9

Trophies will be sent out to you – many congratulations from all at NJIRC2012 and LYR

Well done!

Paddy the Performance Coach says…

Did you enjoy the training? Did you know that LYR has centres all around London teaching people to do this on the water. Check out our webiste

http://www.londonyouthrowing.com/programmes/row/

Hope to see you around one of our centres.