KAA crowned National Indoor Rowing Champions

by Vashti Turner  on March 18, 2016  in  Sports

Report by Mr Hajjaj

After several arduous heats, the long awaited finals arrived and on Friday 11^th March a rapidly maturing rowing team won the National Indoor Junior Rowing Championship (NJIRC). KAA were one of several teams to qualify for the finals, representing West London against their equivalents from East, Central and South London.

Two rowers from each school took turns to row as many metres in two minutes as possible. The races tested the mental and physical fitness of all participants. Heart rate levels beating beyond what most of our rowers had ever experienced, lactic acid building up in their muscles, sweat flowing down from their foreheads, but the rowers refused to yield.

As well as grit, determination and the core value of resilience, victory was partly made possible due to the support the team offered one another through words of encouragement, advice and plenty of high fives. It was this team spirit which saw KAA take home the prestigious prize and be crowned London champions!

 The PE department is extremely proud of their efforts and all participants have been nominated for gold merits. We would also like to thank Lawrence Farquharson from London Youth Rowing, who worked tirelessly with our students to identify our talented individuals and also improve their technique in preparation for all of the rowing events this season. We look forward to developing our partnership with LYR for future rowing opportunities.

Quotes of the day

Cameron: “Those two minutes were more difficult than playing a ninety minute match”.

Sohail: “My arms were in pain, but winning made it better”.

Ruby, after recovering: “Can I go again please?”

Jeriel: “It’s all in the leg power Sir!”

Soufiyan: “Did I win that round Sir?”

Khamiya: “Mr Hajjaj wouldn’t stop screaming in my ear not to give up”.

Rowing Team:

Cameron (8 BALON), Jeriel (8 KIDSTON), Khamiya (8 KIDSTON), Ali O (8 DYSON), Lana (8 DYSON), Jeanette (8 SIMMONS), Sohail (7 KAHLO), Ricardo (7 KAHLO), Soufian  (7 NIJINSKY), Ruby  (7 HEPBURN) and Mia (7 HEPBURN).