County rowing success

Redwood School claimed an impressive haul of medals at a county schools indoor rowing competition in Wigan

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Budding rowers from Rochdale’s Redwood School claimed an impressive haul of medals at a county schools competition in Wigan last Wednesday (16 January).

Following trials earlier the same week Redwood had 18 pupils competing in the disability indoor rowing event at the Robin Park Arena, part of the Greater Manchester Schools Games series.

Pupils from Redwood - a special needs secondary school - returned with four gold medals, four silver and three bronze and Sports Development Coordinator David Butterworth praised the students’ efforts.

“I am exceptionally proud,” Mr Butterworth said.

“We are quite passionate about our sport here.”

Indoor rowing involves competitors using rowing machines with their ‘boat’ projected on a screen and rowers compete to row the furthest distance in a set amount of time.

Redwood School’s Dwayne Atkinson, Frank Keatings and Brandon Shaw all earned gold medals in their respective year groups as did the year eleven boys relay team, rowing an incredible 1003m in four minutes.

Sajjida Rafiq, Gary Oliver, Kyle Cavanagh and the year eight boys relay team won silver medals and Patrick Youngblood, Ellis Bowers and the year eight girls scooped bronze.

Mr Butterworth also stressed the importance of the competition in allowing pupils the opportunity to participate in county-wide events.

“It is second-to-none in my opinion,” he said.

“It gives pupils the opportunity whereby they are taking part alongside mainstream students.

“They can see what they do and they can feel as though they are taking part in the same event.

“I don’t know of many other competitions or events that give them that opportunity.”