World Record breakers!

Members of The King’s School Rowing Club became world record breakers after rowing a million metres in 17 hours, 20 minutes and 25 seconds. On Friday 5 October, 38 girls and 50 boys broke the previous time for the High School U19 Million Metre Rowing Challenge (mixed).

This was an incredible achievement for the club and the King’s School Rowing community, who rowed the distance in memory of ex-oarsman and alumni Finn Abberton (OKS 2014), who sadly died in 2017. The remarkable event also raised more than £3,000 for F.A.I.R, a charity dedicated to funding research into the causes and treatment of auto-immune diseases, a cause supported by Finn.

The determined rowers started the mammoth challenge at 6am and, with the help of a team of supporters from the King’s School Rowing Club Parents’ Association (KSRPCA), finally finished victorious at 11.20pm.
Cakes, flapjacks and plenty of pasta and sandwiches helped to keep much-needed energy levels up as the rowers took it in turns to clock up the admirable distance.

Director of Rowing Mr Blackham said, “As a club we wanted to commemorate Finn’s life, which was so sadly cut short in 2017. Finn was a fine oarsman and young man, who rowed in the boys 1st VIII at King’s for two seasons.
Rowing a million metres was a fantastic way to galvanise the club, parents, alumni and athletes.

The athletes were fantastic on the day, breaking the record by almost an hour and raising, currently, a total in excess of £3,500 for F.A.I.R, a charity which was close to Finn’s heart and will no doubt make a real difference to athletes in the future. It was a terrific day and one to remember for the club.”

The money raised will be presented to Finn’s family at the annual Pudding Races, held at the boathouse on Saturday 8 December. Special thanks must go to Owen Parsonage (U6DUT), Oliver Irvine (U6FOX) and Jack Roberts (U6DUT) who were instrumental in organising the event and representatives from the KSRCPA for their fabulous support.