After already enjoying opportunities to try their hand at the indoor version of the sport, the London Youth Rowing organised event enabled more than 400 youngsters to exhibit their skills in a competitive environment.

The event formed part of Sport England's Satellite Clubs initiative which attempts to make it easier for young people to get into and stay in sport once they leave school.

With over 1,000 such clubs already in process they are well on target to achieve their aim of 5,000 by 2017, they claim.

One budding rower strains to fit in that extra stroke as her schoolmate shouts encouragement


Across four age groups individual and team relay races took place with gold, silver and bronze medals for the fastest boys and girls in each year group as well as prizes for the relay teams that rowed the furthest distance over a 10 minute race.

"It is about giving good people a great challenge", Ben Cox, London Youth Rowing development manager, told insidethegames.

"We don't want rowing to be just a bit of fun and health but we want it mixed with other things.

"This is so we can act as a conduit for kids from other clubs to look at universities, consider their options and get the information they need.

"We find that time in sport makes grades go up rather than down. 

"That approach of training and managing your time effectively rewards you in terms of sport but it is also very much in terms in philosophy of life."

Alongside the other aspects there was also a talent identification centre identifying "absolute raw talent" and, although Cox stressed the aim of the day was participation over performance, he was impressed with the potential of some of the youngsters on display.

There were some impressive young rowers on display thriving on the competitive challenge


Sport England's director of community Sport, Mike Diaper, added his endorsement of the event and of the Satellite Clubs scheme.

"By creating new and appealing opportunities Satellite Clubs is making it easier for young people to get into sport and stay with sport," he said.

"Today's event - university challenge - is bringing together all of the schools who are taking part in the 41 satellite clubs which we are funding through London Youth Rowing. 

"It introduces them to the sport and will also give them a chance to get out on the water.

The participants had the added excitement in meeting a famous face, in the former television presenter Bamber Gascoigne, who was on hand to deliver the prizes.

His presence was especially apt as he was the original host of University Challenge, the television programme after which the event was named.