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This year's AXA PPP healthcare British Indoor Rowing Championship sees the introduction of the Redgrave Team Challenge. There are two categories in the challenge, J16 (Year 11) and Corporate/Fitness, and these both have male and female subcategories. The J16 event is open to anybody under the age of 16 as of August 31st, 2004, while the Corporate/Fitness event is open to all businesses, health clubs or fitness clubs. It is not open to rowing clubs, universities, or indoor rowing clubs.

Both events require teams of four to race 1,000m, and will be run under a heat and final format, with the fastest 10 teams going through to the final. Engraved tankards will be awarded to the first, second and third placed teams in each event, while a brand new Indoor Rower will be given to each of the four winning teams.

The entry fees are £50 for the Corporate/Fitness event and £25 for the J16 event, with 100% of the fee going to the Sir Steve Redgrave Charitable Trust.

To enter the Redgrave Team Challenge: http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/entryform_team.php
For more on the AXA PPP healthcare British Indoor Rowing Championship: http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/
For more on the Sir Steve Redgrave Charitable Trust: http://www.concept2.co.uk/rowing/redgrave.php

Pete Marston, who won the bronze in the Men's Open at the last Grand Prix series and was part of the MAD Team IRC 100,000m World Record squad, is one of the most well known names on the Indoor Rowing circuit. Not only for his outstanding performances, but also for his willingness to help as many people as possible, both at races and on the message board. On Thursday the 20th of May 2004, Pete's brother, David, very suddenly and tragically died of cancer. He was just 28. Pete made the decision to talk about his experience on the message board. Here is the link to his story: http://www.concept2.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5080

Such was the response from Pete's topic that many people wanted to do something in aid of charity. The Marston family requested that any money raised goes to Cancer Research UK. On Sunday the 4th of July at Coleshill Leisure Centre, the MAD Team IRC and Team Oarsome IRC will be doing a Large Team 100,000m together in aid of Cancer Research UK. So far there are 20 people taking part but this is where newsletter readers can come in. Organiser Jon Goodall takes over the story:

"The idea of this 100,000m is not about records. It's about raising money for Cancer Research UK. We decided to have a little change to the traditional 10 person 100,000m format to help lighten the load for all taking part. There is no limit on the size of this team. There was once a 71 person Large Team in the USA for a 24-hour row. As a result we are inviting any who wish to take part to get in touch and do so! The current age range is 7-55 years old with the maximum splits ranging between 1:09 to around 3:30, so you don't have to be a world-class sprinter by any means. The more the merrier! Entry is £5 per person with all money going to Cancer Research UK. We have also set up online donations at http://www.justgiving.com/charity100k that has had a fantastic response so far!

"Other teams will also be in action at Coleshill Leisure Centre. Last year the local Police and Fire Services also took part!

"I can honestly say that the team spirit from a 100,000m is second to none. If you would like to join us in this 100,000m with the MAD Team IRC and Team Oarsome IRC, or even if you wish to put your own team together, then please do. Each person on our team will row around 10-12 strokes per go before changing over. There is no minimum standard and it's all for a very good cause! This is an experience you'll remember for a long time!"

Jon Goodall can be contacted by phone: 07952 790 638 or email: jon.goodall@btopenworld.com

This year's Concept British Ranking is now on-line at http://www.concept2.co.uk/ranking/ and contains over 10,000 entries for eight individual distances and five team events. Get in. At the moment, it's only available on-line, but we will, however, be producing a PDF of the whole thing for people to download and print off. We'll start doing the PDF in about a fortnight, so make sure you have a look at your times on-line before then and email webmaster@concept2.co.uk to let us know if there are any errors.

Meanwhile, if at the moment you're busy slapping your skull and muttering like three kinds of loony tune about how you've missed the boat, then don't forget that you can enter the on-line world rankings all year round at http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/

There have been a number of new World 2,000m records set recently. First off, Britain's Rob Francis finally loses the Under 12 record that he's held for so long, with Croatia's Marian Uroic stealing in with a new time of 7:13.2. Also in the Junior events, Australia's Sarah Hubbard has set a remarkable time of 6:33.9 for the J18 Hwt Women's category. Finally, at the other end of the spectrum, the US's George Braceland has set a new 90-99 Hwt record of 11:01.9.

For the full list of world records: http://www.concept2.co.uk/racing/records.php

For those of you who want to take advantage of the additional wowee zowee functionality of the PM3, but want to keep their old Model C Rower, it is possible to retrofit a PM3 to a Model C. In order to help those of you out, we've recently introduced a part-exchange scheme, whereby you can receive 30 pounds off the normal price of 175 quid in exchange for your old PM2 or PM2+. For more information, contact Concept 2 on 0115 945 5522 or info@concept2.co.uk.

Also, on the PM3 front. A couple of minor bugs that appear in the PM3 firmware have been discovered and Concept 2 is in the process of testing a release candidate (Version 81) that appears to fix most of the known items. If you've been having the occasional problem, or if you would like to beta-test, you can get a copy from Concept 2 USA's web site. To try the new software, go to: http://www.concept2.com/products/pm3/betaupdate.asp

For more information on the PM3: http://www.concept2.co.uk/rower/pm3.php

Sport Relief this year is centred on the concept of going the extra mile and, to mark the occasion, the weekend of Sport Relief sees two indoor rowing events. On July 10, there's the Evesham Golden Mile. Now in it's third year, the Evesham race is a popular event, taking place at the same time as the Evesham River Festival, guaranteeing a real carnival atmosphere, as well as post- race celebrations and fireworks that go on until long into the night. Apart from the Mile, the Evesham race will also feature a one-minute challenge, which costs a pound to enter and with all proceeds going to Sport Relief.

The Sunday also sees a Mile event, this time taking place just down the road from Evesham at Warwick Boat Club. "Do The Mile" is a new event this year, and hopefully it will be well supported. Those of you planning to do the Evesham event are urged by both organisers to attempt both and make it a proper Mile weekend.

For more information and contact details on both these events, check out the Forthcoming Events section at the bottom of the Newsletter.

Tel's Tales is the question and answer column written by three-times Olympic rowing coach Terry O'Neill. If you've got a question you'd like him to answer, send it to tels-tales@concept2.co.uk.

John Stephenson: "Staff at my gym have asked me to moderate my rowing action/speed on the Indoor Rower. I work at the highest resistance level (10) and include a 30 second sprint in my normal workout to raise my pulse rate (when my heart monitor shows that I have dropped below my Training Zone). The sprint takes the strokes per minute (SPM) into the 70 and 80s and on the return action there is a brief loss of chain tension, which causes a slight 'whiplash' action. The reaction is safely limited by the design of the machine. "The 30 second sprint adds variety and a motivational element to my workouts and I am reluctant to reduce the intensity. My Concept 2 training consists of 30+30+20 sessions = 80 minutes at an average 50 SPM, which normally gives me a pulse rate of 100. My Concept 2 workout is part of a comprehensive weight resistance and cardiovascular routine. I have a strong upper body and my technique has a fast arm action and limited leg movement. I find this gives me the highest SPM and I have aspirations to enter indoor rowing races. "The British rowing team must work at high intensity levels and I find it hard to believe that the Rower would be damaged by high SPM. The machine is there to serve me. I do not exercise to serve the machine. "I am aged 67 and weigh 14st 9lbs."

Terry O'Neill: If this is what you want to do then carry on; it will have no detrimental effect on the machine.

The only two points I would add are one on the adjustment of the chain tension and one on efficiency of training.

As you mention the chain starts to swing up and down at extreme high rates and this can be addressed by increasing the tension on the shock cord which pulls the chain back into the box section.

With regards to your comment about the GB team. Yes, they do train at a high intensity, but stroke rates would normally range between 38-42 at the high end. Unlike the rowing machine, the movement of the rower up and down the slide has a negative effect on the boat speed. Because rowers are training to row in a boat, there is no point in moving at such rates, especially as this can only be achieved by corrupting the technique of the stroke.

A charity rowing indoor marathon at Dawlish Leisure Centre by a group of Newton Abbot Rugby Club enthusiasts raised over 1,500 pounds for the Rowcroft Hospice in Torquay.

"We're highly delighted at the result, and the cash we raised may increase with late collections of sponsorship and donations," said Keith Ellis, the organiser of the marathon.

The eight who took part, besides Keith, were Gareth Thomas, Lee Williams and brother Jamie Williams, Maxine Hill, Jack Witham, Steve Fern and Chris Pomeroy.

All completed the 26.1 mile (42,195m) course. "It's the second time we have rowed a marathon for charity," said Keith. Last year they collected 1,400 pounds for a private charity.

If you've taken part in a charity rowing event, drop us a line at editor@concept2.co.uk.

The Inaugural City Health Club Games is a new competition coming to London this September. Promising to be the first of its type, you can compete individually, against colleagues, associates or for your Health Club. The games are about competition, fun, motivation, challenge, personal achievement and raising money for Charity.

Whatever your level of fitness and skill you can take part. Enter for your own personal challenge or for the competition.

Every entry will go in a prize draw to win a break for two at Audleys Wood, a luxury Victorian Hotel.

The events include: Row 2,000m;Team Row4*500m; Run 1mile; Run 5k; Swim 100m; Bike 5k; Bench Press; Squash; Push Ups; The Plank; Body Fat Test; Superthon Super Six - the ultimate gym challenge! The competing clubs are: Champneys – City; Fitness Exchange: Broadgate, Cutlers and Fenchurch Street; LA Fitness – City; Slim Jim's; Vision Fitness – Blackfriars. But if you are not a member of a health club, or your club is not listed, you can still take part.

Contact info@thefixuk.com for more information on the competition or membership for the participating Clubs or visit http://www.thefixuk.com.