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British IRC Hall Of Fame

Megan Brown

Year Inducted: 2010

Alan Hanna

Year Inducted: 2010

James Cracknell

Year Inducted: 2010

James Cracknell is one of Britain's most famous sportsmen. Having won 2 Olympic gold medals (Coxless Four - Sydney 2000 & Athens 2004) and numerous World Championship medals, he is now perhaps better known for his endurance endeavours alongside Ben Fogle. James won the BIRC in 2000 beating fellow GB Olympic champion Kieran West (Men's Eight - Sydney 2000) and Italian Olympian Mario Palmiso. James came back in 2001 to defend his title but was beaten by just 0.1 second by Matthew Pinsent, the pair fought it out again 2 years later but again James was just beaten into the Silver medal position.

Debbie Flood

Year Inducted: 2010

Debbie began her sporting career in judo, representing Great Britain as a junior. She got into rowing through the British Indoor Rowing Championship and has since won 2 Olympic silver medals in the quadruple sculls (Athens 2004 & Beijing 2008), and several World Championship golds.

Geoff Knight

Year Inducted: 2008

Geoff's early sporting career was in amateur Rugby League, until turning to running in 1973. He completed eight marathons and numerous other road, cross country and fell races until the onset of knackered knees. This prompted his initial trial of Indoor Rowing in 1992 in order to keep fit until the knees recovered (he's still waiting!). As well as his BIRC successes Geoff has won medals at the English and European IRCs and also Gold at the World IRC in 2005 with a World Record of 7:13.4 which still stands.

Nik Fleming

Year Inducted: 2008

One of the fastest and most consistent competitors, Nik has competed and medaled in every BIRC since 2000 and, having moved into the next age category, broke the World Record with his 2008 win. Only 3 people having beaten him in Birmingham in that time. He has also excelled at the World IRC having competed six times and come away with a Bronze, two Silver and three Gold medals, including the 2008 title in a time of 5:53.4 and the memorable 2002 3-way tie for Gold with fellow GB competirors Tony Larkman and Chris Rushton (5:57.6).

Anna Bailey

Year Inducted: 2006

Since Anna emerged on the scene in 2000, she's proved head and shoulders above anybody else domestically, impressively winning the 50-54 Hwt category in every single year she was eligible for it. In 2006 she set the current championship record of 7:28.0 in the 55-59 Hwt category. And In February 2008 she broke the British record at the CRASH-Bs in Boston in a time of 7:24.9, this would also have been new World record had she not been pipped at the post by the American Susan Hooten.

Graham Benton

Year Inducted: 2006

Graham has now won the Open Hwt category at the BIRC for the last 5 years, and also taken home the Champion of Champions trophy no less than 4 times. What is perhaps most remarkable is that he came to rowing late from a gym background and, due to his phenomenal erg results, which includes a World IRC Men's Open title as well, has since entered Great Britain's talent identification programme.

Cath Bishop

Year Inducted: 2004

The only woman to win an Open event at the championship four times, Cath also has the 1999 World IRC to her credit. Her final British victory in 1999 saw her beat Katherine Grainger into second place, with whom she later took silver in the coxless pair at the Athens Olympics. Cath is the current British Women's 19-29 Hwt record holder.

Arnold Cooke

Year Inducted: 2004

The very definition of a doughty competitor, Arnold has been winning at the British IRC from the beginning, with 16 years separating his first and, what we doubt will turn out to be, his last.

Annamarie Phelps

Year Inducted: 2004

A winner at the first three championships, Annamarie was untouchable at the old 2,500m distance, holding not only the world record, but also winning the 1992, 1993 and 1994 World IRC as well. She still holds the British record for the distance.

Noel Frost

Year Inducted: 2004

It is with great sadness that we have to report that our friend and indoor rowing colleague Noel Frost passed away on the 10th December 2008.

Although Noel's indoor racing career only spanned five years, in that time he won the 55-59 Hwt category twice and the 60-64 Hwt category twice. His British record of 6:31.4 set in 1999 was a full 7.2 seconds quicker than anybody else had gone at that point and it took until 2004 for the USA's Paul Hendershott to break Noel's record. Noel retired from racing in 2000, shortly after winning his second world title, and established the Millennium Cup. The Millennium Cup is awarded every year at the BIRC to the veteran rower whose time is the best when compared to the world record.

Noel was not just an indoor rower though, he was also a coach and enthusiast, encouraging many young people to get fit and healthy on the rowing machine, as well as creating training programmes that are still in use today.

Noel was inducted into the Concept2 Hall of Fame in 2004 and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

John Hodgson

Year Inducted: 2006

The oldest man to ever compete at the British IRC, John Hodgson is a remarkable character, competing for the first time since 2006 John rowed at the 2009 BIRC aged 99! These medals, and his 90-94 and 95-99 Lwt world records, only serve to cap a lifetime of sport and athletics. "I've always considered myself to be one of the lucky ones, because I've always been fit and well all my life. I remember as a teenager when I did cross-country and cycling I used to think that if this is how it feels when you're fit it's well worth it. That's been in my subconcious mind ever since, so I've trained more or less all my life."

Bert Leah

Year Inducted: 2004

Second only to Andy Ripley and Arnold Cooke in terms of titles won, Bert Leah has possibly the biggest medal haul in indoor rowing history, with three golds and a bronze in the World IRC to add to his nine British victories.

Sean Morris

Year Inducted: 2004

For five years in the mid to late 90s Sean dominated the 50+ Lwt division, proving untouchable over the distance five times at the British IRC and twice at the World IRC. A former University Boat Race winner for Oxford in 1963 and 1965 Sean was an outstanding oarsman of his time, before international lightweight rowing was established. He is now prolific on the international Masters rowing circuit.

Matthew Pinsent

Year Inducted: 2004

Although he's only won two titles, along with a silver behind Steve Redgrave in 1991, Matthew would warrant his place for his victory in 2001 alone, when he came from behind to pip James Cracknell on the line by 0.1 seconds, the smallest ever margin of victory in an Open final. As well as his British IRC titles, he's also won the small matter of four Olympics and a record 11 World Championships.

Pauline Rayner

Year Inducted: 2004

One of the dominant forces in veteran indoor rowing over the past decade, Pauline has won more British IRC titles than any woman except Anna Bailey. Her time of 7:52.7 is the current British record.

Sir Steve Redgrave

Year Inducted: 2004

Britain's most successful Olympian, winner of an incredible five golds (and one little remembered bronze) and arguably Britain's greatest sportsman of all-time. Won the first ever British IRC, beating fellow hall-of-famer Matthew Pinsent in the process. His place is also guaranteed by the fact that, not only he is one of only two Brits ever to win the Men's Open Hwt title at the World IRC, but he is the current President of the British IRC.

Andy Ripley

Year Inducted: 2004

A former England and British Lion star, Andy was introduced to the machine by fellow rugby union legend Roger Uttley and has never looked back since. A winner of an amazing 10 British IRC golds, his time of 6:07.7 in winning the 1998 World IRC is still a British and World record.

On Thursday 17th June 2010 Andy lost his battle with prostate cancer aged just 62. He will be sadly missed by all at Concept2.

Matthias Siejkowski

Year Inducted: 2006

As well as winning the British IRC three times, Matthias also holds the open record for the old race distance of 2,500m (7:10.7). And for 17 years he was the fastest man ever on the Indoor Rower with a time 5:37.0 set back in 1991 (New Zealand's Rob Waddell rowed 5:36.6 earlier this year). He was also world indoor rowing champion a remarkable seven times.

Please note: the race distance changed from 2,500m to 2,000m in 1995.