Concluding the indoor racing season in Great Britain

An enthusiastic 1300 competitors filled the new host venue in Nottingham, Great Britain and went as fast as they could for 2000m on the indoor rowing machine. Roger Bangay was the sole competitor that set a new World Record. Bangay did this in the 75 – 79 lightweight men’s category, in a time of 7:24.1.

The remaining 21 records were more local with nine new British records, two new Irish records and 10 new championship records. The new record that really brought the 900-strong crowd to their feet was set by indoor rowing regular Graham Benton. Benton, 38, from Great Britain set a championship record in the men’s 35 – 39 heavyweight category. The previous record that stood for 14 years for the category was held by none other than Sir Steve Redgrave. 

Concept2 representative Sam Granville watched Benton’s race, “Graham’s race plan was to get to the half-way point in good shape, holding a strong rhythm and then put the hammer down. Graham said afterwards that at the half-way point he was slightly concerned that he wasn't going to get the record but with the crowd behind him he was able to push on through breaking the record by one second. Sir Steve's record was 5:51.1; Graham’s new record is 5:50.1.”

In the open women’s category no new record was set but the Czech Republic’s Pavlina Zizkova took away the fastest time. Zizkova, who races in the pair on the Czech national team, had a clear 11-second win finishing in a time of 6:55.1.

Starting out on a long career in indoor rowing was the youngest competitor, Matilda Larkin. Larkin, aged eight, comes from a rowing background as both of her parents are former international rowers.

This is the first year that the British Indoor Rowing Championships have been held in late March. Granville explains, “Previously the BIRC fell in the middle of the indoor rowing calendar, so we were keen to try the event after all of the other home nation races so that it could form the culmination of the indoor rowing season in the UK.”

For full results click here