By Chris Finch

Aya Barake was the star of the day when 40 aspiring Paralympians took part in the Wandsworth Schools Indoor Rowing Championship.

The event, which doubled as trials for disabled students to represent the borough at this year’s London Youth Games, saw five schools battle it out for supremacy.

Rowers raced for two minutes, each trying to get the furthest they could before the time ran out, with Barake of host school Linden Lodge taking top spot.

Her distance of 463m was 40m further than her nearest rivals from Garratt Park School - Sarah Kessira, Lucia Rogers and Harrison Brookes.

The highlight of the day was an unbelievably close relay race between all five schools in a 10-minute race, with a changeover every 60 seconds.

Oak Lodge, Garratt Park and Linden Lodge stormed out to an early lead, before Linden Lodge dropped back and Oak Lodge pulled away.

But the drama was still to come, as in the final couple of minutes, Garratt Park pulled back and looked set to nip their rivals on the line but the time expired and Oak Lodge won by a narrow margin of seven metres, the equivalent of about half a second.

Despite just missing out on the relay race win, Garratt Park PE teacher Mike Darcy was delighted with the competition offered to his pupils.

“It was a very, very close race and perhaps a few lazy changeovers cost us, but it was really good. We had two or three strong rowers who came in near the end and pushed us on,” he said.

“We went to the London Youth Games with a few of them last year, and they really enjoyed it then, and again at this event.

“Adaptive indoor rowing is a really good sport for people who don’t have the best hand-eye co-ordination, but have their full body strength.”

Tim Richmond, Head of PE at Linden Lodge School, said: “It was a brilliant event, and great to have children of all abilities able to take part and compete against each other.

“To have a sport like adaptive indoor rowing that is accessible to all children within a special school setting is really important, and means a whole range of children can compete.”

The day was one of around 30 events taking place across the city as part of the London Youth Games’ #NOWITSYOURTURN week, encouraging young people inspired by London 2012 to get more involved in competing and volunteering in sport.

To find out more or to get involved, go to londonyouthgames.org.