Olympic Atlantic Row

Icon Ocean Rowing Seat – created by Andrew Morris

Dawn Benton — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:23:30 +0000

Andrew Morris has added another string to his bow with yet another of his Icon brands - Icon Rowing !http://www.iconrowing.com/the_seat.html

When Andrew and rower Roz Savage were due to row in 2012 the West-East Atlantic crossing, Andrew thought about the previous crossing and how the discomfort and pain from the seat really was one of the low points in otherwise a fantastic life time experience.

The idea for an improved and top end seat came from the Olympic Atlantic Row (O.A.R), however as Ocean rowing is still in the blood of Andrew, he carried on designing and improving the O.A.R seat and he personally tested it when he rowed Bojanlges across the entire width of the UK and with input from his Ocean rowing friend Chris Martin, also of the Association of Ocean Rowers several prototypes were produced until finally ending up with the ‘ Icon Rowing Seat ‘.

Made from a solid timber base, multi layered memory foam and covered in a double thickness leather, the Icon seat is already proving a real winner.

Ocean rower Leven Brown from www.oceanrowevents.com commented that

‘Icon seats are the best thing that has happened to ocean rowing since oars, boats and the will to row oceans. Best money we ever spent!’

Further details can be found on www.iconrowing.com Orders can be placed online or by phone +44(0)844 870 0032 or email sales@iconrowing.com

OAR team raises over £2000 to buy a new boat for the next generation of ocean rowers and adventurers

Dawn Benton — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:19:35 +0000

When the OAR team first dreamed up the idea to row Bojangles home to the UK, it was clear that this project was to be about much more than their individual challenge. Andrew “Mos” Morris has always been passionate about working with young people, and the motto of the expedition quickly became ‘to inspire the next generation of ocean rowers and adventurers’.

Thanks to the generosity and support of our sponsors and the individuals we told our story to, team OAR has been able to buy a brand new Flashboat for Penryn Rowing Club, allowing them to expand their junior programme.

Phil Starkey from Penryn RC said “It was a pleasure to meet Andrew, and we are so thankful to him and the OAR team for their amazing rowing efforts and for choosing us to receive such a wonderful donation towards a new Flashboat. Many, many thanks. The Flashboat, now registered as Number 3, will be used for training junior members of the club and enabling them to race competitively. We are already taking steps to try and gain more junior members by posting flyers around the local community and are in talks with the local college to arrange a regular event or after school club, where groups of children will be able to come and learn the sport of ocean rowing. Now that we have a much more up to date and comfortable boat, we hope that this will help to encourage youngsters to join the club and stay with the sport.”

In the words of Andrew Morris “It’s amazing how in this Olympic year, people across the country have been inspired by a new kind of role model and are seeking to take up sport as a result. I hope that we too have played some small part in helping young people get out on the water and broaden their horizons. Our thanks also goes to The Rowing Foundation, who facilitated the OAR fundraising efforts and selected Penryn Rowing Club as a deserving club amongst many seeking to encourage more young people to take up their oars.”

The OAR Just Giving Page is still open. If you would like to continue to support the great work of The Rowing Foundation, please click here.

Andrew Morris thanks Sponsors and Supporters of the OAR

Dawn Benton — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:18:39 +0000

Inland Waterways: Day 17

Dawn Benton — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:06:21 +0000

Andrew Morris reflects on his final day rowing through the British Inland Waterways into the heart of London.

Inland Waterways: Day 14

Dawn Benton — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 14:58:06 +0000

A great day on the water today as the OAR team made their way from Bray Marina (right opposite Dorney Lake, the Olympic Rowing Venue) to Twickenham Yacht Club.

Andrew ‘Mos’ Morris put in an incredible 11 hours of rowing almost non stop to cover well over 30 miles, our greatest distance to date. And finally a taste of British Summer time! Lots of day trippers out on the River Thames, plenty of people stopping to ask what on earth we were up to. Credit to the boat at Chertsey Lock who threw across a couple of cold beers when they were told Bojangles had made it all the way from Bristol.

It was gone 7pm by the time Mos made it to Twickenham Yacht Club, where once more we received a warm welcome. Big thanks for the homemade soup and nibbles, sustenance was much appreciated!

The dizzy heights of London town are definitely getting closer.

Press Release: British Adventurer to complete UK row after battling gales and floods

Dawn Benton — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 14:28:19 +0000

Andrew ‘Mos’ Morris ends 200-mile expedition on a high, raising funds to buy boats and inspire the next generation of rowers and adventurers

*** PHOTOCALL MONDAY, JULY 23^RDAT 2PM

*** RIVERBANK BY THAMES ROWING CLUB, RICHMOND ROAD, PUTNEY, LONDON SW15 1JN

British adventurer Andrew “Mos” Morris, whose attempt at a record-breaking North Atlantic row last month was thwarted by icebergs, will complete the UK leg of his expedition this Monday (July 23).

The 6ft 2in rower from Newark, Nottinghamshire set off up the Bristol Channel two weeks ago (on July 7) and is due to arrive in Putney, south-west London at 2pm on Monday.

During his UK row, Morris, 48, has battled a range of adverse weather and water conditions, including rivers and canals that have burst their banks, floods, storms, gales and torrential rain.

His 200-mile route from the west coast of Britain to London, began in Clevedon, North Somerset on Saturday, July 7 and took him up the Bristol Channel, through inland waterways including the Kennet and Avon canal, and the River Thames.

He made the journey in his ocean-going rowing boat, Bojangles, which is 23ft long and 6ft wide and is manufactured from lightweight Carbon-Kevlar.

Along the way, he was waved on by crowds of well-wishers as he passed through cities, towns and villages including Bath, Bradford on Avon, Devizes, Pewsey, Hungerford, Newbury, Aldermaston, Reading, Henley, Bray and Twickenham.

He was also given daily encouragement and support by teams of volunteers from The Amber Foundation, a residential charity that offers a fresh start to homeless unemployed young adults and helps them gain employment and accommodation.

Andrew Morris said today: “The foul British weather has made this row tougher than expected but I just forged ahead. The weather has been the worst in my memory. The rivers have been running at 5-6 knots and the River Thames still has red flag warnings up.

“Despite the Atlantic set-back, I was determined to finish on a high and to honour our pledge to raise funds for the next generation of British rowers and adventurers.

“Rowing has a great history in Britain and some of our greatest Olympic moments have been due to our success in the sport. So, this is our way of leaving a legacy to be remembered long after the OAR Project rowing challenge is over.

”I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers and members of the public who turned out to support me along the way.”

The trip has raised funds to buy rowing boats for able-bodied and disabled young people, part of the OAR Legacy, which is aimed at encouraging young people to get out on the water and broaden their horizons. The OAR Legacy fund is being administered by The Rowing Foundation, a registered charity whose purpose is to promote the participation in rowing of young people (those under 18 or still in full-time education) and the disabled of all ages.

The North Atlantic row was called off after Canadian ice experts warned about the scale of local ice movements. This followed an event two years ago in which a large chunk of ice, calculated by scientists to be 40 metres thick, broke away from the glacier in Greenland.

The 251-square-kilometre “ice island”, which separated from Greenland’s north-western coast, was the largest iceberg to form in the Arctic since 1962. Recent weather conditions have worsened the ice break-up.

End

Notes to Editors

The Charity

The OAR Project is about much more than rowing. Morris and his team are working in conjunction with The Rowing Foundation to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds get onto the water and try out rowing for themselves.

1. Go to www.justgiving.com/OARProject and follow the instructions to make a donation. You can leave your own message for the crew and if you’re a UK taxpayer, The Rowing Foundation will be able to claim back GiftAid, and boost your support by 25 per cent.

2. Donate by text – send a text message with the code OARP99 and the amount you’d like to donate (£x) to 70070. If you’re a UK taxpayer, just follow the simple instructions on the text you’ll receive in order for The Rowing Foundation to be able to claim back GiftAid and boost your support by 25 per cent.

Money donated to The OAR Project Legacy fund will be administered by The Rowing Foundation and used to buy boats. Rowing clubs around the UK will be able to put in an application to fund up to 50 per cent of the value of a boat. Primary use of the boat will be for able bodied and disabled young people to get onto the water and have the chance to try out rowing. Further details about the scheme and information about how to apply will be available on The Rowing Foundation website www.therowingfoundation.org.uk.

The OAR Project is at www.oar2012.com

The Amber Foundation is at www.amberweb.org

The Rowing Foundation is at www.therowingfoundation.org.uk

Andrew Morris the Businessman

Andrew Morris is the Chairman and Founder of multi-awarding winning international logistic companies. In addition, he’s the Founder of Icon Motorcycles (www.iconsheene.com) and Icon Motorsport, who specialise in unique, bespoke vehicle design and manufacture.

He also owns and races a 1990 Formula One Lotus, which is the only running Lamborghini-engined F1 car in the world.

Andrew is also the Chairman of the Allseas Group, (www.alseasglobal.com) the heavy-lift freight company he formed in 2005. With headquarters in Nottingham, it has a turnover of more than £30 million and has customers in 50 countries worldwide, with offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Brazil and Dubai. Allseas Global Logistics offers unrivalled expertise in handling the most difficult, challenging and time-critical transportation tasks.

His company International Export Packers (www.exportpackers.co.uk), a large out-of-gauge specialist packing business, is one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of wooden cases and crates.

Another of his companies, The PA Freight Group, (www.pafreight.co.uk) which he founded in 1988, employs more than 100 staff.

End

Press Inquiries

For all press inquiries, more information, pictures or to arrange an interview with Andrew Morris, please contact:

Alec Lom on alec@aleclom.com and 07802 401302 or

Naomi Coe on naomi@oar2012.com and 07851 601121.

Inland Waterways: Day 13

Dawn Benton — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:00:46 +0000

Andrew Morris takes Bojangles down the historic Henley Royal Regatta course, after stopping for a spot of lunch at the world famous Leander Rowing Club.

Inland waterways: Day 11

Dawn Benton — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 17:53:07 +0000

Another wet day on the inland waterways. We started out from Theale, destination Reading. Final day on the Kennet and Avon canal was one of twists and turns and we spent a fair amount of time negotiating reeds, and a few trees…

Once again great support along the way especially as we came into Reading city centre. Thanks to the welcome committee from the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, who bid us farewell as we entered the River Thames.

Also great to see the guys from the Amber Foundation back with the support team, the extra pairs of hands have been greatly missed on the locks over the past couple of days.

Next stop, Henley-on-Thames tomorrow. Can’t wait to take Bojangles down the historic Regatta course.

Don’t forget we’re raising money for the Rowing Foundation along the way, to buy boats for young people, getting the next generation of rowers and adventurers out on the water. To find out more or make a donation click here.

Should have more pictures for you soon, but in the mean time check out our twitter feed, @oatlanticrow.

Inland Waterways: Day 9

Dawn Benton — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:39:04 +0000

Another day of rain and drizzle for the OAR team on the Kennet and Avon Canal but spirits are high as we’re joined by guest rower, Chris Martin.

Chris was one half of the first and only team ever to row across the Pacific Ocean, in none other than Bojangles! Her epic maiden voyage of 7000 miles took no less than 189 days, 10 hours and 22 minutes. Conditions only slightly different to those on the Canal.

For any aspiring ocean rowers out there, Chris is going to be hosting an open row day along with Mos in Twickenham on Sunday 22nd July. Come and find out what rowing an ocean is like and see whether you’d be up for the challenge. Bojangles will also be available for you to try your hand at the oars. Find out more here.

Running a little behind schedule on the inland waterways after a day caught in the weeds on Saturday, but nothing the mighty pulling power of Mos and Chris can’t make up! Good ground was covered this morning between Kintbury and Newbury. Hitting the water again after a brief stop to refuel the support team, we’re aiming to make it to Aldermaston tonight.

Check out the OAR Twitter page for our latest position and do stop by and say hello if you’re in the area!

Inland Waterways: Day 5

Dawn Benton — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 10:20:05 +0000

Today a task of marathon proportions lay ahead for Andrew ‘Mos’ Morris, Bojangles and the OAR support crew; the notorious stretch of locks up Caen Hill. No fewer than 29 locks over 2 miles, rising a total of 237 ft.

Luckily, team OAR had a fantastic team of volunteers on hand from the Amber Foundation, who had perfected their drill through the locks over the last couple of days. It went a little something like this;

Amber crew Dom and Tyler run ahead to open up the next lock

OAR mother ship (a narrow boat more commonly known as foxtrot) enters lock

Mos punts Bojangles into lock and maneuvers alongside the mother ship

Mos jumps off Bo and onto the mother ship, tying her alongside (very hazardous in wet conditions)

Amber crew and Mos fend Bo off the side of the lock with oars/mop/variety of limbs

Amber crew Jo and Keely close lock gates behind Bo and the mother ship

Dom and Tyler fill the lock, easing Bojangles up to the next level before opening the gates

Mos punts Bo out onto the pond

Jo and Keely run ahead to open next Lock

REPEAT 29 TIMES…

Of course we all had a bit of fun along the way, and were invited to join a celebration of the amalgamation of the waterways half way up. Bouncy castle and all! Even when the heavens opened after lunch, the Amber crew worked on. By the time we were greeted by the Mayor of Devizes at the top of the hill, everyone was soaked to the skin, but still smiling! A massive thank you to our amazing team. Job well done.

Technical difficulties uploading photos but stay posted over the weekend or check us out othe twitter @oatlanticrow for regular updates!