We read about a great record breaking event involving the Concept2 rowing machine in Great Britain Life today - On the 9th and 10th November, the Ubunye Challenge rowing team held a global 24 hour indoor rowing event breaking 4 world indoor rowing records in the process. The event was organised by members of the Ubunye Challenge who are looking to raise 250,000 pounds for Early Childhood Development projects in the Eastern Cape of South Africa and Zimbabwe. The Ubunye Challenge rowing crew will row across the Atlantic in January 2014 with the goal of breaking the world speed record of 32 days.

During the indoor rowing event the team rowed on Concept2 indoor rowing machines for 24 hours each; their aim: to row the furthest distance possible. The team members were located at different locations around the world: 3 at King Edwards School, Johannesburg, South Africa 4 at Molesey Boat Club, London, United Kingdom 1 at the Innovate High Performance Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe

Over 380 rowers from 10 countries on 5 continents joined as individuals or as part one of 23 teams throughout the duration of the fundraiser. Participants were connected via the event website and communicated through the website and social networks.

Event Highlights were 4 world indoor rowing records -

Ryan Palmer set the 24 hour individual male record - the blue ribband of ultra-distance indoor rowing - by rowing 314,348m. Previous best: 313,250m by Phil Craze in Edinburgh, May 2011. Ryan broke the record with 5 minutes to spare.

Hayley Arthur set the 24 hour individual female record (age group: 20 - 29) with 219,871m (previous best: 215,820m)

Micheen Thornycroft and Murray Faber set the 24 hour mixed tandem record (age group: 20 -29) by rowing 314,815m (previous best: 308,060m).

The University of Cape Town Boat Club set the 24 hour large team mixed heavyweight record by rowing 395,877m (previous best: 383,585m) South Africa (Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Grahamstown, Cape Town)

Ryan Palmer, Hayley Arthur and Micheen Thornycroft are all members of the Ubunye Challenge Atlantic rowing crew.

5,598,147m were covered in total by all 387 participants from 10 countries - United Kingdom Zimbabwe Australia China Czech Republic Dubai Estonia Slovakia USA

4 South African universities entered relay teams of over 20 athletes each, namely the University of Cape Town, Rhodes University, University of Pretoria and University of Johannesburg. Durban Rowing Club entered a team of 28 athletes. 49 Slovakian athletes joined the event & Over 100 students from 5 London based development schools joined in the event