Row-A-Thon… And On… And On…
22 June 2007
The rowers get ready for their 24 hour challenge.
In those conditions, you really learn about team working, You have to stay alert and motivated – and your body clock has a major effect at different times too.
”Richard Robinson, Lecturer in Public Services
Yesterday – on the longest day of the year – 40 BTEC First and National Diploma Public Services students in the Peak District town of Buxton faced one of the toughest challenges of their lives.
In teams, for 24 hours, using two rowing machines placed under the great domed roof of the Devonshire Campus, they rowed a distance equivalent to 587km. That’s 365 miles – or 14 marathons.
At 11am yesterday an air horn was sounded by Ian Harris, Duty Manager at Waitrose in Buxton, to signal the start of this ‘Row-A-Thon’ in aid of Cancer Research UK. Waitrose is supplying the students with £300 worth of food and energy drinks for their overnight ordeal, and more than 200 bottles of water have been donated by Buxton Water.
The Row-A-Thon was conceived with an extra purpose in mind entirely relevant to the course these students are studying – as an endurance exercise to give them an insight into the stamina required to work in public services!
Richard Robinson, 35, a lecturer in Public Services at the Devonshire’s Buxton College of Further Education, spent 15 years as a physical training instructor in the Royal Navy before he became a teacher two years ago. The Row-A-Thon, he says, is similar to an exercise they used to do on deck, called ‘Row The Suez Canal’.
“I’m calling this ‘From Buxton to Derby (plus a little bit more),” said Richard. “Row the Suez Canal used to cover a distance of about 80 miles. We expect to row much further than that.
“Our BTEC First and National Diploma prepares students for a range of uniformed services. The majority of students go on to work in the armed forces, and many join the police and fire and rescue services. They learn about teamwork, leadership, diversity, law, and criminology, undertaking outdoor activities along the way.
“This event is a great chance for students to get a sense of the energy required to work on watches. These might be four nights then four days, followed by four off. At sea, it could be four on and four off.
“In those conditions, you really learn about team working, You have to stay alert and motivated – and your body clock has a major effect at different times too.”
The students hope to raise at least £2,000 for their chosen charity. Working in two squadrons split into mixed crews, Squadron A competed with Squadron B. Squadron A won the light-hearted contest by about four miles.
“During the Row-A-Thon, the students will need to work together to keep one another going,” says Richard. “I’m expecting both rowing machines to average over 12km per hour. It will be hard work, but good fun. We’ll have some music and after every four hour stint a crew can rest for four hours.”
Ian Harris, Duty Manager of Waitrose in Buxton, said: “Good luck to all the students doing this. We hope they raise the money they’re aiming for. Waitrose is always happy to sponsor local events for charity and to support the community. This is the fourth time this year we’ve been able to help out with a student-led event.
“In everything we do, we’re keen to promote healthy eating. For example, we’ve supplied free fruit and vegetables for a ‘Five A Day’ campaign, and today’s event is a great opportunity to provide essential fuel for the rowers.”
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