HUNDREDS of West Dorset young rowers descended on a Weymouth secondary school to race in a qualifying event for a county competition.

Pupils worked in teams of four to cover a distance of 2,012 metres on indoor rowing machines and supporters cheered them on as a big screen depicted their progress.

The event at Wey Valley School and Sports College attracted teams from Royal Manor Arts College on Portland, St Osmund’s and Thomas Hardye in Dorchester, Budmouth College, All Saints, Thornlow Preparatory and Bridport’s Sir John Colfox School.

It was the second inter-school competition organised by Portland Gig Rowing Club but this year, with the support of the Wey Valley Sports Partnership, it tripled in size.

Club chairman Dave Ferris said: “It was our second year and it’s gone from 40 participants to 120, which is great as we want to keep it growing.

“Our rowing club members gave up their time to teach the pupils to use the machines, just for the love of the sport.

“Wey Valley was an excellent venue and Dale Rhodes really helped us to boost numbers, get the kit and the hall. We also had support from Katherine Morris of British Rowing.”

Students in Years Seven to 11 took part in individual trials before taking on the Team 2012 relay challenge, which was the Dorset School Games qualifying event.

The competition finished with an optional 500m sprint.

Ferris added: “Colfox School won it overall, although Thornlow pupils were runners-up by just 0.3 seconds – that was an impressive competition and really got everyone going.”

Wey Valley Sports Partnership organiser Dale Rhodes said: “The rowing competition was a Dorset School Games qualifier.

“The School Games is a new Government initiative and this will be the first year. It’s going to be a big one because it coincides with the 2012 Olympics. Indoor rowing is one of 14 sports qualifiers going ahead.

“The winners from each year group will now go through to represent West Dorset on July 13 in Bournemouth at the Dorset School Games, which is being held to coincide with the Olympic Torch Relay.”

The Cornish Pilot Gig Association supported the event by lending four indoor rowing machines, in addition to the Wey Valley-supplied machines.

Portland Gig Rowing Club charity is calling for sponsorship to help fund four rowing machines – priced at around £900 each – that would be taken around the schools to enable pupils to train for future inter-school events.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Ferris on 07854 953606.

Find out more about the Dorset School Games at activedorset.org/Programmes