What started off as a ‘tongue in cheek’ remark after a Sunday morning training row has turned into reality as 12 members of Yarmouth Gig Rowing Club will attempt to carry a Gig Rowing Oar across the Island of Wight during this year’s Walk the Wight.
A tongue-in-cheek idea becomes reality
The official Walk the Wight website calls the Bembridge to Alum Bay 26.5 mile route ‘Challenging’ and the addition of a 12 foot heavy wooden oar isn’t going to make the task any easier, but the team are determined to complete the task.
How to carry a 12-foot oar across an island
There was much discussion about how to carry the oar during training sessions, but eventually just a simple on the shoulder style, carried by two members at a time for 20 minutes before passing onto the next pair was decide upon.
Setting off at dawn this Sunday
So the team will set off from Bembridge at 6am this Sunday, oar in hand heading for Alum Bay, what an OAR-something to do.
Support the club’s fundraising effort
So far they have raised over £1,300 and are well on the way to their target of £1500 – further donations can be made online.
What the club’s chairman had to say
Keith Campbell, Chairman of Yarmouth Gig Rowing Club, said,
“Walk the Wight has always captured peoples’ imagination and as a club based in Yarmouth we are delighted to not only take part with this slightly ‘off the wall’ challenge, but also have the opportunity to try and put something back into something that is so important to our Island community.”
News shared by Alistair on behalf of Yarmouth Gig Rowing Club. Ed
