Adaptive stunner at French indoor rowing champs

Perle Bouge set a new World Record in the women’s TA (trunk and arms) recording a time of 3:52.2. Bouge was a silver medallist at the London Paralympic Games in the TA mixed double sculls. She knocked just over a second off the former indoor record which was owned by Josiane Lima (BRA). Over the 1,000m race Bouge kept her stroke rate in the high 30s, using high 40s at the start and finish.

The World Record in the men’s AS (arms and shoulders) went to Pascal Daniere who clocked a swift 3:47.9. Daniere broke his own World Record, set in 2011, by nearly three seconds. Daniere held a stroke rate in the high 40s to get the record which saw an average pace of 1:54. Daniere races the AS men’s single sculls internationally.

One of the most anticipated events was the open men’s with French Olympian Cederic Berrest racing. Berrest’s Olympic men’s double sculls partner Julien Bahain is currently in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Bahain is rowing the Atlantic in an attempt to break the speed record for two people. Berrest won the event clocking a time of 5:55.8.

The open lightweight men’s event also caught the public’s eye when Jeremie Azou broke the French indoor rowing record for lightweights. Azou finished in a time of 6:06.8, ten seconds ahead of Pierre Houin in second. Azou raced at the London Olympic Games, finishing fourth in the lightweight men’s double sculls.

The event attracted 300 competitors for the championships and 1,900 in total which included "Open de France" – those not competing in the championship events. This is the first year of the championship event while the "Open de France" has been going since 1999.

For any given race 80 ergs were connected together with a further 80 ergs used for warming up. The event was held at the "Palais des Sports Marcel Cerdan" in the city of Levallois (bordering Paris). There were about 1,500 spectators cheering on the athletes.

French press officer Yannick Bersot said the growth in popularity of indoor rowing was the stimulation behind setting up the championships. “Indoor rowing has become a very popular activity not only for rowers but also for fitness addicts,” says Bersot. “It's also a good way to get new people to know more about rowing and subscribe to a club after the event.”

For more results go to: www.aviron-indoor.fr/