The King’s School Rowing Club broke and set three new British records and one World record last week.

The club hosted 130 rowers, consisting of 107 students and 34 parents, and each team set out to row 100,000 metres (62 miles or the equivalent of rowing from Chester to Wolverhampton) in the fastest time possible.

Publicity officer Katie Lawrence-Smith said: “The times it took each team to complete the 100,000 rowing machine challenge ranged from just under five hours to seven and a half hours, each team adopted different tactics to tackle the challenge.

“While the male U19 heavyweight large team led by club captains Christian Palmer (U6HF) and Harry Higginbottom (U6HF) chose to do short bursts of 20 strokes each as hard as they could, other teams took turns doing longer 500 metre stints each, which proved a good choice for the girls team headed by Fran Alcock (U6JR) and Anna Willis (U6SW).”

(L to R) Frances Alcock and Anna Willis

The challenge was exhausting with all the rowing machines combined covering a distance of 400km or 250 miles which is the equivalent of rowing from Chester to Glasgow.

(L to R) Ben Stratton, Simon Ellershaw and Harry Higgingbottom

Secretary Angus Menzies (U6HF) said: “After three hours, roughly half way, all the teams were struggling especially the heavyweights whose technique was especially exhausting.

“All the teams however, managed to struggle on through and with the arrival of fresh new athletes all the rowing machines finished under their targets.

“The challenge began at 1am and after six hours each team drew close to finishing the 100,000 metre challenge after a final big push over the line.”

(L to R) Angus Menzies and Daniel Weatherly

Head of Girls’ Rowing at King’s Paul Townsend said: “Being a King’s Old Boy myself it is wonderful to see so many athletes from all age groups working alongside so many parents in the same room at the same time with the same goal in mind.

“There was a wonderful atmosphere all day and the sense of community present will only assist rowing at King’s going from strength to strength. All participants should be extremely proud of their achievements.”