Kent rower's all-Britain challenge comes to an end
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by Luke Hollands
lhollands@thekmgroup.co.uk
Kent rower Laura Thomasson and her all-female rowing crew
celebrated
completing their round-Britain row in London this morning.
Laura, 24, who lives at Kingsdown and is a member of Dover
Rowing Club, has been rowing a 24-foot boat called Go Commando with
skipper Belinda Kirk, Bev Ashton and Angela Madsen. They are called
The Seagals.
A message on their website said today:
"Huge congratulations to the SeaGals.
"At 10.24pm this morning Belinda, Angela, Bev and Laura made it
past the finish line under Tower Bridge.
"After 51 days, 16 hours and 42 minutes, their epic 2010 mile
row around GB has come to an end but forever recognised as the
first women ever to undertake the toughest rowing challenge in the
world.
"Huge huge thanks to all our supporters, sponsors, friends and
families."
The girls set off from Tower Bridge on June 1 to race against a
boys' team and to try and break the previous world record of 26
days.
But the conditions put paid to any hope of setting a new record,
and the boys team withdrew from the race.
When they passed under Tower Bridge again this morning, they won
the £15,000 prize and a trophy.
They have already been congratulated by Virgin boss Sir Richard
Branson on their achievement.
Sir Richard Branson said: "Go Seagals! I knew I was right to
back to girls in beating the boys in the first ever Virgin GB Row
and I'm over the moon that such brave women have achieved a world
record in such a spectacular fashion!
"This is why we set up the Virgin Trophy. Belinda, Angela, Laura
and Beverley have pushed through extreme tiredness, hunger and
serious injury to battle on and achieve the goal they set out to
achieve.
"Britain has something to be proud of this summer after all! I
hope they will get all of Britain's support when they row up the
Thames on Thursday to claim their world record and the trophy!"
The girls had hoped to finish on Thursday, but they were held up
by strong winds of the Essex coast.
Friday, July 23 2010
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