The Nowra-based part of the challenge was held on Sunday at the Fleet Air Arm Museum and it proved to be an overwhelming success.

Shoalhaven Rowing Club was the only regional centre in Australia to host the challenge and Rowing Australia would have been pleased with the local crew’s efforts.

Originally, only capital cities were going to host indoor rowing challenge events, but Nowra got to host a local event after concerted lobbying from the Shoalhaven crew.

Nowra had hosted successful challenges in the past two years.

Shoalhaven Rowing Club members Katrina Ward and Harry Davis helped organise the local event.

The number of competitors proved the Shoalhaven deserved to host the challenge.

“We were the first area to get over 100 competitors,” Mr Davis said.

About 106 people took part in the challenge which also supported the Cancer Council.

The youngest rower was 10-years-of-age and the oldest 89.

“There was a good mix of community members,” Mr Davis said.

People came from Melbourne, Sydney and Jamberoo to take part in the event.

It was for all ages and all abilities.

“Some people had never done any exercise before and they loved it,” Mr Davis said.

“Others had never tried competitive sport before and came up and had a go.

“It was held in a non-competitive and supportive environment.”

Rowers took part in a range of events – two kilometre, one kilometre and 500 metres.

Ms Ward did a lot of work in a lead up to the event.

She organised free training sessions for people with the aim of showing them just what they could achieve.

Ms Ward wanted to break down barriers, inspire people and encourage them to take part in a healthy activity.

Many people, during their journey, got fitter, healthier and now feel better about themselves.

Thanks to a Local Sport Grant Program the 30 school aged children in the event had their entry fees subsidised.

The grant also helped pay for all the cabling which connected all the Concept2 rowers to the central computer which allowed them to project the race onto the big screen. 

Shoalhaven Rowing Club, Crossfit Shoalhaven and Crossfit Jervis Bay supplied the rowing machines.