In November, more than 400 students from schools across Leeds came together for an unforgettable day of competition at the Row With the Rhinos Indoor Rowing Event, hosted in the South Stand of the iconic AMT Headingley Stadium.
The event brought together Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils for a high-energy sporting challenge, filling the stadium with excitement, determination and team spirit as students pushed themselves in both individual and team rowing races.
Delivered by British Rowing in partnership with Leeds Rhinos Foundation, the competition forms part of a wider initiative to make rowing more accessible to young people from all backgrounds. The programme aims to introduce students to both indoor and on-water rowing, opening pathways that could lead all the way to regional, national and even international opportunities. By providing a welcoming entry into the sport, the initiative hopes to inspire the next generation of rowers and broaden participation across the region.
Throughout the day, students demonstrated incredible determination as they took on a series of challenges designed to test their strength, fitness and resilience. The competition included individual sprint races, where students pushed for their best times, and a high-energy team relay challenge that required groups to work together and row an impressive 1,895 metres collectively. The atmosphere inside the South Stand was electric, with teammates cheering each other on and schools showing tremendous support as each student gave their all.
Chris Farrell, British Rowing, said:
“The Row with the Rhinos event is a partnership between British Rowing and Leeds Rhinos Foundation working with Leeds Rowing Club and also Trinity Academy Leeds. It’s a great way to introduce the sport for the very first time to those that have never had the chance to give Rowing a go.
“British Rowing are proud to have this very special partnership with Leeds Rhinos Foundation. We are so pleased to be working with a foundation that is the heartbeat of community sport and opportunities for young people and adults across the city of Leeds. Working together, we are ensuring that the opportunity to make rowing, everyone’s sport, is also now a possibility, helping more people in more places, removing barriers that currently prevent them from taking part and aiding new, accessible ways to start and continue in the sport if they wish.
“The inaugural Row with the Rhinos is just the starting point for this project and events like these provide ways that could potentially help someone that has never thought about going into a sport that they could potentially be an Olympian in many years’ time. We cannot wait to see what comes next.”
While the event delivered thrilling competition, its impact reached far beyond the results. Students developed valuable skills including teamwork, confidence, resilience and determination. For many, this was their first taste of rowing and potentially the beginning of a lifelong passion for the sport.
Ben Berry, Partnerships and Projects Manager added:
“It’s been fantastic to host our first-ever Row with the Rhinos event alongside British Rowing. Having 400 students from Years 7 to 9 come along, showcase their rowing skills, compete against one another, and most importantly have a great time has been incredible to see.
“Indoor rowing is such an accessible sport, and it’s something we’d love to see more of in schools across Leeds and the country. Working with British Rowing has been brilliant, not only in helping to identify new talent for their programmes, but also in showing that rowing really is for everyone. It’s a fun way to get fit, stay healthy, and try something new.
It’s been great to see how the students have interacted, both in individual races and by coming together as teams in the relay events. We hope this is the first of many events in partnership with British Rowing.”
Leeds Rhinos Foundation would like to thank British Rowing for their partnership and support in delivering such an inspiring event, as well as the schools and students who made the day so memorable. The Foundation looks forward to continuing to grow this programme and helping even more young people across Leeds discover the joy and opportunity that rowing can offer. Special thank you goes to Leeds Rhinos First Team player Tom Nicholson-Watton for supporting the event and handing out medals to both the solo race winners and group race winners.