The second annual Indoor National Rowing Championships are on show next weekend as Zimbabwe's top rowers take to the waters in final preparation for international events set for the beckoning summer period.

The Rowing Association of Zimbabwe together with hosts Innovate High Performance Centre are the organising parties for the country's signature event in the sport of indoor rowing that has in recent years produced African champion and Olympic Games quarter-finalist Micheen Thornicroft.

Kristine Johnson, the Rowing Association of Zimbabwe administrator, told Suburban that the competition had, in its inaugural year, 2015, proved to be an extremely popular event and the hope is to see it grow from strength to strength over the coming years.

"The championships are aimed at providing a stage for indoor rowing enthusiasts to test themselves on a national level and assess their own performance and progress, and to ultimately also introduce new people to this exhilarating sport,'' she added.

A remarkable aspect about the event is that it caters for all ages, shapes, sizes and abilities from rowing and non-rowing backgrounds. Entrants compete against each other on identical rowing machines or ‘ergs’, as they are fondly known in the rowing community, like the ones availed in gymnasia.

Race distances range from 2000m to 500m, either as an individual or in teams of four. To heighten the excitement and competition the machines are wired up together and competitors' progress can be viewed live in real time on a big screen through RowPRO software!

Winners of the Women's 2000m and Men's 2000m will be awarded floating trophies, according to Johnson.

"Demonstrations and guidance on how to use a rowing machine will be available so you can take this new or improved skill away with you and use it in your own gym sessions.Rowing is one of the three most effective low - to no - impact calorie-burning exercises,'' Johnson further elucidated.

"Next to cross-country, skiing and swimming, rowing is about as good as it gets!  It not only tones, but builds muscle for all of the major muscle groups – lower body, upper body, arms and core. It is a full-body workout, working all major body parts in a continuous motion,'' said the administrator of one of Zimbabwe's up and coming sport associations.

Rowing has won several national awards in the past years with national technical director Rachel Davies being named the Annual National Sports Awards (ANSA) Coach of the Year in 2013.

Experts reckon that one of the benefits of regular rowing is a boost to the cardiovascular system. This increases one's heart rate, strengthens the lungs and can enhance the athlete's metabolism. Rowing machine usage puts very little strain on joints.  In addition to the physical benefits it offers, routine rowing is also a potent stress reliever.

Johnson invited both experienced and inexperienced rowers, as well as beginners and spectators to make a date on July 10 and be part of the fun.

"Come and try it out or support from the side lines and cheer the competitors on! It’s your chance to row against or watch the top junior rowers in the country who are in training to compete at the World Junior Rowing Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands this August,'' she enthused.

Entrance for competitors is $10 and $5 for senior school children.