King's Charity Marathon Ergo

After last years marathon ergo success the club decided to bring their efforts together to attempt a charity ergo marathon with a twist, getting as many members of the club and supporters on the rowing machine as possible. With each competitor rowing between 200-600 metres at a go the King's school marathon row of 42,195 metres was covered in a very competitive time of 2 hours, 29 minutes and 48.3 seconds. Although this hasn't broken any world records it was great to see over 100 current pupils at the rowing club take part as well as coaches, the Deputy Head and Headmaster of the school. In total £63.14 was collected for the Hospice of the Good Shepherd from spectators who were at the club to support the school pudding races. Money was also collected for Movember during the morning, the charity which raises money for the fight against prostate cancer.

The annual pudding races were held this Saturday on a glorious clear winters morning. In total 99 school rowers competed on the water in VIIIs whilst another 32 pupils competed indoors on the rowing machines. After three hours of action packed side by side racing, the crew sponsored by Cazenove Capital Management, "Balthasar", were crowned winners of the 2011 pudding races by 1 length over the crew named "Scrooge". In the gym there were some very competitive battles on the rowing machines in teams of four, with the team of Harry Strudwick, Alastair Andrady, Christian Palmer and Katie Lawrence-Smith finishing as eventual winners.

All the members of the winning teams were awarded their Christmas puddings by the Mayor of Chester. Following the racing the club recognised past members of the club with a boat-naming ceremony. Single Sculls were named after Tom Menzies, Katy Levitt and Charlotte Gillies, past captains of the club. The MP for Chester, Mr Stephen Mosley then spoke to the spectators before officially naming a new single scull after Mark Machin. Mrs Imfeld spoke in place of her son, Franz, who this year has had a coxless pair named after him after his silver medal at the Junior World Rowing Championships in 2009. Gavin Mitchell, winner of the Visitors' Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 1993 with the King's School Rowing Club launched the girls' squad new coxed four. Finally Mrs Karen Shapland, teacher and coach at King's launched the new girls' VIII.

A wonderful morning for all involved, whether past members or new recruits this year. The morning was run with help from the KSRCPA, many thanks to all who assisted with food stalls, the barbecue, second hand kit and KSRCPA merchandise stalls. In total 131 pupils competed on the morning, their fancy dress outfits unlike the normal attire normally seen on a Saturday morning at the club but their enthusiasm for the event was plain to see for all. Many thanks also to the 150 supporters and spectators throughout the morning and who made the event one of the most enjoyable and well-supported pudding races in recent years.

Pudding Race and Boat-Naming photo album