Rowathon sees school teams power through
ROWERS of all ages and experience were powering away at rowing machines yesterday, as the MS Rowathon returned.
The event is organised by the local MS Society and the Guernsey Rowing Club, but last year’s event was delayed due to Covid.
The event was back yesterday, with 10 teams of six spending about two hours covering 30km each.
There were teams from Apex, Guernsey Triathlon and Storm Force Fitness, as well as members of the Rowing Club. There was also strong competition from the schools, with three from the Grammar School sixth form centre and a mixed team from Elizabeth College. One member of the college team was 17-year-old Tabby Dorey.
‘It was tough, but it is really nice to have your friends around you,’ she said.
One of the Grammar teams was made up of students taking part in the IB enrichment programme.
Team captain Connor Mahy said it was tiring, but a really good work out. ‘My family was affected by MS, so I really wanted to get involved,' he said.
Guernsey Rowing Club committee member Paul Montague said this was the first rowathon in 18 months, due to Covid, but the club was glad to be back in its usual spring spot. He added that the Aztech centre was a great location for the event.
‘We are very pleased to see everyone back and it is such a lovely set-up,’ he said.
He added that with the space, they might look to expand the numbers involved next year.
Rowing club captain Ben Vaudin said the event was a great people to get more people into rowing.
The teams were each operating in relays – doing a kilometre and then swapping. But two rowers keen for a bigger challenge were two of the club’s strongest rowers – Simon Johns and James Coquelin. They were doing five kilometres each before swapping and were sharing it between two rather than six people. Despite the extra challenge, they were keeping pace or even exceeding the other rowers during the event.
The MS Society and the Rowing Club have a long history, after club member Colin Fallaize saw an old school friend with MS at Beau Sejour and was keen to help. The rowathon has been taking place annually for about 10 years.
MS Guernsey group co-ordinator Heather Lucas said the event was its main fundraiser, but it is also helped raise awareness. The money goes towards helping people locally.
‘They raise thousands,’ she said.
‘The main thing we spend the money on is the services we provide, such as physio and massage therapy or events like coffee mornings.’
n The Guernsey Rowing Club hold is holding a Have A Go Row on Saturday 18 February at 1.30pm. Meet at the Model Yacht Pond and all aged 16 and over are welcome. Participants should wear clothes and shoes they do not mind getting wet.
