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The sound of ergs spinning, teammates shouting from the barriers, and race calls echoing across the hall set the tone early as NJIRC North 2026 got underway inLeeds on 27th February. From the first race to the last, it was a busy, loud and high-energy day, with 751 race entries and 655 competitors taking to the floor.

With 35 schools and clubs on the start list, the programme moved quickly and the racing stayed tight throughout. For many, it was a first experience of racing in front of a crowd; for others, a return trip with unfinished business. Either way, once the countdown hit zero, every race had intent behind it.

Redhill Academy Trust had travelled up from the Nottingham area and were out in force, fielding one of the largest groups of the day and featuring across a widespread of events. Their presence was hard to miss, both in numbers and in the noise they brought to the sidelines. Alongside them, the GORSE Academies Trust, Leeds also delivered a strong combined entry across their schools, helping to fill out race after race and keeping the standard high right across the timetable.

The overall split of 335 girls and 320 boys meant full fields and competitive racing across the board. As the day wore on, more and more races came down to tight margins — with late pushes, overlapping finishes and plenty of tired athletes collapsing over their handles at the line.

Away from the headline results, there was plenty going on across the floor. First-time racers finding a rhythm, crews building confidence through the piece, and teammates tracking every metre from the barriers. For a lot of those taking part, it was about putting in a performance for their school and seeing how far they could take it on the day.

At the sharp end, the standard was high. Several winning performances edged close to long-standing British junior indoor records — many of which have stood for nearly a decade — with top athletes finishing within striking distance of those marks. In a number of categories, winning distances sat within a narrow margin of national benchmarks, underlining just how competitive these races have become.

There were standout efforts across the programme, including particularly strong performances in the older year groups where pacing and control made the difference. In several finals, the gap between first and second came down to only a handful of metres, keeping the pressure on right to the line and producing some of the most exciting racing of the day.

Leeds Rowing Club were prominent throughout, featuring in a number of top finishes and continuing to build on their recent progress. Their results reflected a programme that is clearly gaining momentum, with athletes performing well both here and on the water.

Taken together, it made for a day that felt full from start to finish — busy, competitive, and properly loud at times — with something happening in every corner of the race hall. Thanks are due to Concept2 for their continued support of the event, and to the team at the John Charles Centre for Sport for hosting the competition in Leeds.

NJIRC North formed the first part of this year’s wider championship, followed by NJIRC Virtual, which ran across a three-week window allowing schools and clubs to log and submit verified scores, before the series concluded at NJIRC South on 20th March. NJIRC North and NJIRC Virtual have been introduced to increase accessibility, ensuring that competitors and schools on tight budgets are no longer reliant on travelling to London to take part. Across all three formats, the aim remains the same: giving as many young people as possible the chance to take part, compete, and see what they can do.