Boat Race Athletes Row the Zambezi

Four current and former Boat Race rowers last month completed a 500km rowing expedition including the 2014 Kariba Moon Row.

Anastasia Chitty (Blue 2013, 2014), Alex Woods (Blue 2012, Isis 2011, 2013) and James Stephenson (Isis 2013) rowed 250km non-stop across the world’s largest man-made lake before an enduring further 250km down the lower Zambezi. Boat Race interest is furthered with event Patron Andrew Triggs Hodge MBE (Double Olympic Gold Medallist, Blue 2005), and crew member James Cook, 2014 GB U23 athlete and Oxford Boat Race hopeful for the coming season.

Their efforts were in aid of two charities, Village Water and CLZAfrica. Together with the money raised for the charities, they hope to increase awareness of the importance of clean water and the risks of water related diseases to the Zambian population. Similarly, they hope to raise awareness and funds for the anti-poaching movement in the Lower Zambezi.

Beginning August 10th, despite a prediction of nearly two days, the team of twelve (a combination of Zambian and British athletes) battled sea-like conditions to complete the first non-stop leg in a little over 36 hours – perhaps a little concerned by the heavy presence of crocodiles and hippos! They then averaged 50km per day on the river section through the lower Zambezi game reserve, joined by Dan Cully (Goldie 1987), completing the expedition in a little over a week.

Prior to the row, the team also ran a ‘Learn to Row’ course for 12 to 18 year old school children in Solwezi, some of whom were fast enough learning to later take part in the challenge itself. They have so far raised in excess of £12,000 (with each pound donated for Village Water doubled by the Government DFID), and further donations will be gratefully received via their website: https://hubbub.net/p/karibamoonrow. Congratulations to the team.