Robert Horrell is one of our community of gigrowers and rows for Appledore Pilot Gig Club.
Recently Robert has taken part in Conquor the Cape which he saw advertised in January this year and at end of February he decided to give it a go. Robert says this was mainly because he has walked a large chunk of the coast path anyway.
So Robert dusted off the ergo and started training to get some sort of fitness back (after he broke his toe in December so was unable to train for a while) hence the unfitness.
After a while things improved and Robert did a couple of marathons one of which was sub 3hrs also a 100k which he said hurt . While Robert was trying to get some sort of race plan in his head he realised that if he was rowing 725,000m in the race a million was not that much further (so he thought). Robert looked up what the records were for his age group, to his surprise there were none . No one ever in his age group had ever succeeded in putting in a time.
At this point he decided to have a go at the world record.
Robert contacted two of his friends David Schiller and Richard Watts both from the village of Appledore to witness and record the rows. They agreed and they were set.
So the start of the race arrives . Robert was armed with 3ton of jelly babies , banana’s, chocolate biscuits, 3 x roll on Sheild and a extra large tub of vaseline ready for the off.
So first day Robert managed 165km and Robert said it nearly killed him rowing from 12.02 am to 12.30pm with a short break them 8pm to midnight. Robert was meant to do another 12 hrs shift but at this point Roberts body said no and he went to bed at 1am.
Second day Robert changed his plans and rowed another 145km rowing 10k at a time with stretches and food every hour. Rowing from 6am to 12midnight 18hrs with breaks.
Third day 135km
Forth day 140km
Final day of the race 150km to finish.
Robert said ‘To my amazement I had won the event and also beaten all but one of the pairs crews in a time of 4days 23hrs and 52minutes.
Some great guys and girls rowing this event .
Sarah and Lucy non stop rowing record simply brilliant!’
At this stage Robert decided to press on for the 1,000,000m record that needed setting. Through Thursday with a later start Robert managed 105km , into Friday Robert did 115km to leave 55km for Saturday morning, which Robert completed around 12.45pm.
This gave Robert a time around 7days 12hrs and 45minutes, he is currently waiting for exact time to be confirmed and record confirmation.
Whilst Robert was doing this he was raising money for Bideford Boxing Club, who do some great work with young and old in his community.
So Robert has managed to win a ultra distance indoor rowing event 725km Conquor the Cape!
Set a new world record for 50 to 59 yrs and the heavy weight division
Raise £1,000.00 to date for the BABC
THIS AT THE AGE OF 55YRS OLD .
Robert says
‘I am very happy and proud of this . This also wouldn’t of been possible without Toni my wife, David Schillers and Richard Watts.’
Amazing achievement Robert Horrell well done and thank you for telling us about it!
Well done. Fantastic effortxx😊😊