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ANGLO AMERICAN BOAT CLUB: VIRGIN GB ROW 2010
Aktuelle Nachrichten 2010
Four female rowers have become the first women ever to row around the coast
of Britain.
The women who spent 51 days at sea in a tiny boat the length of two minis
ended their epic 2,000-mile journey this morning at Tower Bridge in London.
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By becoming the first women ever to row around mainland Britain their time
of 51 days 16hours 42minutes has been accepted for a Guinness World Record.
Belinda Kirk, 35, from Bristol, Royal Navy nurse Laura Thomasson, 23, from
Dover, IT support manager Beverley Ashton, 29, from Wantage, Oxfordshire and
Angela Madsen, a wheelchair-bound 50-year-old grandmother and former US
marine from Long Beach California are raising money for the servicesı
charity, Help For Heroes.
When they set out from Tower Bridge in London on June 1, they were taking
part in Virgin GB Row 2010 - the worldıs toughest rowing race.
They were racing a team of four men around the British mainland.
But when the male team gave up after less than two weeks, the women carried
on alone and without any assistance for five more weeks.
During that time the Seagals, as they are known were: swamped by huge waves
which put the boatıs water maker out of action; almost sunk by a rogue wave
that flooded the front cabin, survived storms, navigated some of the most
treacherous tides on the planet, almost been mown down by ships, bombed by
the RAF and they have run short of food.
Angela Madsen actually broke her finger setting off a flare to warn off a
ship that was on a collision course. She then carried on rowing with a
broken finger by strapping her hand to the oar.
Because of bad weather and strong winds, their journey has taken three weeks
more than expected and they packed enough food for just 40 days.
And earlier this week a power failure onboard the boat meant they ration
drinking water.
Sir Richard Branson who sponsored the event by awarding the first-ever
Virgin Trophy to the winners, said: ³Go Seagals!!! I knew I was right to
back to girls in beating the boys in the first ever Virgin GB Row and Iım
over the moon that such brave women have achieved a World Record in such a
spectacular fashion!
³This is why we set up the Virgin Trophy Belinda, Angela, Laura and
Beverley have pushed through extreme tiredness, hunger and serious injury to
battle on and achieve the goal they set out to achieve.
³Britain has something to be proud of this summer after all! I hope they
will get all of Britainıs support when they record up the Thames on Thursday
to claim their World Record and the Trophy!²
After passing under Tower Bridge at the end of their epic journey, the four
women had an emotional reunion with friends and family they havenıt seen for
more than seven weeks. They completely missed the world cup and Wimbledon
passed them by.
Throughout the journey, the girls were able to contact the outside world via
their Samsung Wave phones, donated by Samsung and Virgin Media. Video from
their journey is available on our YouTube link or from our press gallery.
During the race the crew sent back blogs and video from the boats. All
available on our press gallery (below)
High resolutions images and video of the Seagals crew and their boat during
the race available at Virgin GB Row press gallery:
http://www.w-w-i.com/virgin_gb_row/index.php
(Click on Media
registration)
QUOTES:
Skipper Belinda Kirk said: ³Skipper Belinda Kirk, 35, from Bristol said:
³When the menıs team gave up the race at Landıs End we were determined to
make it to the finish but not one of imagined weıd be at sea for 51 days.
³With every day of delay itıs been hard to keep going but we did it and
weıre so proud of our achievement. I canıt wait to get home and sleep in a
bed for more than two hours at a time!²
Laura Thomasson said: ³Weıre so excited that the race is over. There were
days at sea when we believed it would never end. Itıs a fantastic feeling to
be home.²
Beverley Ashton said: ³³Without doubt the hardest aspect is the mental
challenge, sure 12hrs of rowing a day is a physical test but it becomes a
manageable, known quantity.
³Mentally there is a lot more to take on, the uncertainty of how long you'll
be out here for, being confined to such minimal space, no personal space,
constantly on top of others and little contact with the outside world; in
addition to these, for me, the fact I find the open water an uncomfortable
place to be.²
Paraplegic Angela Madsen, 50, from Long Beach, California said: ³I have
rowed both the Atlantic and the Indian ocean and rowing around Britain is
certainly among the hardest Iıve ever done. Iım glad to be back.²
About Virgin GB ROW 2010
GB Row is being run by the Anglo American Boat Club, named after an historic
race, launched in 1872.
Sir Richard Bransonıs daughter, Holly, set off the race at Tower Bridge on
June 1. At one stage the women were 80 miles in the lead as the women and
men raced towards Landıs End.
The men were forced to abandon the race after spending four days anchored at
Landıs End. Their anchor became stuck and they had to get help to lift it,
which broke the rules on assistance.
THE FUTURE
Virgin GB ROW 2010 is the prequel to a much bigger race to be held in 2011.
As many as 20 teams have already expressed interest in racing around the UK
next summer
VIRGIN GB ROW BACKGROUND
In the summer of 2005, Grenadier Guards officer Lt William de Laszlo, Lt Ben
Jesty, Sgt James Bastin and civilian Will Turnage became the first people
ever to row around Great Britain.
It took them 26 days 21 hours and 14 minutes a record that has stood for
five years.
Will de Laszlo came up with the idea of a non-stop round Britain rowing race
to raise money for Help For Heroes.
Though only two crews took part in GB Row this year, a race with as many as
20 crews competing is already being planned for 2011.
For more information, please visit: http://www.gbrowchallenge.com
SPONSORS
Virginıs founder and chairman Sir Richard Branson not only sponsored the
event but the Seagals will be the first ever recipients of the Virgin
Trophy, which Virgin will award to those who complete extraordinary
challenges.
Virgin GB Row 2010 was also sponsored by Virgin Media and Virgin.com.
Additional Sponsors:
Samsung sponsored GB Row 2010 with their latest smartphone. The Samsung Wave
allowed each of the women to stay in touch with the world and record their
incredible journey on the phone.
The Mary Rose Trust are also sponsors.
The Seagals are sponsored by New Zealand lawn firm, Haigh Lyon.
For more information, please contact:
Virgin GB Row 2010 media team
Mike Ridley E: mike@ridleymedia.co.uk
M: +44 (0)7836 376943
T: + 44 (0)1474 854545
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