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Indoor Rowing Records

Concept2 Ltd is responsible for the administration of British and Irish records only, World records are recognised by Concept2 Inc in America. All records in this section are either British or Irish records, with the exception of the 2,000m and 2,500m for which we have also listed the World Records. Please see the Concept2 Inc website for World records in the Ranking and Ultra Distance categories.

Individual Rules

2000 Metres

All 2000 metre record-breaking times must be rowed at a Concept2 sanctioned indoor rowing event with witnesses present. In addition all 2000 metre record-breaking times must be rowed on Concept2 Indoor Rowers without Slides

Other Distances

All other record-breaking pieces must meet at least one of the following requirements:

Lightweights

Additionally, in accordance with regulations from on-water events and indoor rowing championships around the world, lightweights must be weighed in no earlier than two hours before their race. Records from lightweights weighed prior to two hours before their race will not be recognized.

All records must be performed on a Concept 2 Indoor Rower without Slides. The air resistance level may be set to an individual preference but cannot be altered during the row.

Weight classes

Lwt men: 75kg (11st 11lbs) or less
Hwt men: over 75kg (11st 11lbs)
Lwt women: 61.5kg (9st 9lbs) or less
Hwt women: over 61.5kg (9st 9lbs)

Age Categories

There are different age categories depending on the record distance/time. Most Senior events are split into 10 year age categories, with the exception of the 2000m records which are split into 5 year categories over the age of 40 for the British records and over 50 for the World records.

Junior age categories are based on school years:

Additional Requirements for Ultra Distance Rows

It is allowable, indeed necessary, for the wheel to stop spinning a number of times during the row. Obviously, your elapsed time must also include all the time that the wheel is not spinning, so you will need to figure out how best to balance your work time and rest time to optimise the rate at which you can accumulate metres.

Team Rules

Use a single Concept2 Indoor Rower with Performance Monitor (PM2, PM3 or PM4). For British records all team members must be British - World record teams can be from mixed countries.

Marathon and Half Marathon Teams

One Hour Teams

Additional Requirements for Ultra Distance Rows

Unlike the individual ultra distance rows the flywheel MUST NOT stop spinning at any time during a team row. A Tandem row is for 2 people, a small team is 3 - 10 rowers and a large team is anything over 10. Mixed teams must consist of at least one third women i.e. one women and up to two men, two women and up to four men, three women and up to six men or four women and up to six men. An additional two people may assist in the changeover between team members