Posted: 23/06/11
Staff and students in battle of the boats
Staff and students at West Nottinghamshire College competed against each other in a cross-college rowing challenge.
Over the last fortnight, 154 staff and students across college sites in Mansfield and Ashfield have rowed 110,500m – the equivalent of almost 70 miles – using indoor rowing machines.
Sport development co-ordinator Craig Homer devised the challenge – consisting of a 300m sprint and a 1,000m endurance test – to introduce more people to physical exercise during their lunch hours.
The 300m sprint was completed in 54.4 seconds by engineering and technology student Chris Wilson, while the 1,000m endurance test was completed in 3 minutes 45.6 seconds by learner support co-ordinator Pete Benyon, based at the college’s Ashfield campus.
The Ashfield campus also came tops for the most distance travelled, notching up 21.5 miles in just two lunchtime rowing sessions, and boasted the eldest competitor in 67-year-old premises assistant Mick Lilley.
Craig said: “Indoor rowing is a great opportunity for a physical work-out, which provides cardio-vascular exercise as well as developing strength in many muscular areas.
“The rowing challenge proved to be a great hit with staff and students and I’ve had excellent feedback from everyone who took part.”
The rowing machines used in the challenge were loaned by Nottingham-based Concept 2 Rowing Ltd.
