The National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships, run by London Youth Rowing, returns for a blockbuster series of events in 2024. NJIRC will once again take place in both Leeds and London following the success of last year’s duel events. This year's events, like previous, are proudly supported by British Rowing, Concept2 and the Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust.
Nearly 900 participants will be descending on the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds on Friday, 23 February before the event heads south. NJIRC London sets up shop at the Copper Box Arena once more with 2600 entries expected on Friday, 1 March.
Both events will kick off with the Year 12 and Year 13 2000m event before switching to some of the younger athletes racing over the shorter, 2 and 3 minute distances. NJIRC also offers races for individuals with special educational needs or a disability before attention turns to Senior and Junior relay races over 2112m, the length of the Henley Royal Regatta Course.
NJIRC was first established back in 2007 with 840 participants racing at Hammersmith Hall. By 2019, NJIRC was a staple of the indoor rowing and wider sporting calendar. The event moved to the Copper Box Arena at the Olympic Park which has since become its London home.
When the pandemic hit, London Youth Rowing refused to let it hinder their growth and participation numbers. Like many sporting events, NJIRC went virtual with more than 10,000 school children racing in online challenges and leagues.
Today, London Youth Rowing employs 10 full-time coaches, multiple part-time coaches and office staff to accommodate working with around 10,000 young people in schools, youth clubs and rowing clubs across London each year.
London Youth Rowing launched the Active Row Leeds programme in September 2021, building on an earlier programme run by RowUK. Active Row Leeds is the first time London Youth Rowing's school engagement programme has run outside London.
The programme is aiming to work with up to 25 state secondary schools, backed by funding from the Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust. Additional funding from The Gemini Boat Race Bursary scheme has funded rowing machines to allow the programme to expand into schools in Bradford and Wakefield.
London Youth Rowing, in partnership with Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust and Concept 2, further announced expansion of its successful Active Row programme. A new programme launched with schools in Nottingham from September 2022.