Rowing Australia, Rowing NZ and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Eric Murray, today announced the 2020 Anzac Day Indoor Rowing Challenge. The event to take place from dawn to dusk on Saturday 25 April will see Australians and New Zealanders unite to record 2504 metres, as many times as possible, at home, on their indoor rowing machines.

The number, 2504, signifies the date of Anzac Day, 25.04.2020, with participants encouraged to log their metres online and donate to either RSL Australia’s ANZAC Appeal or the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist and eight-time World Champion, New Zealand’s Eric Murray said, “What better way for our rowing communities to acknowledge this year’s Anzac Day, and respect our current lockdown restrictions, than to row at home in honour of all those that have served and continue to serve our countries.

“The ANZACs rowed into Gallipoli, on 25 April 1915, and this Anzac Day, Australians and New Zealanders will unite at home to row indoors and honour their memory.”

2016 Rio Olympic gold medalist, Australia’s Kim Brennan, echoed Murray’s sentiments, adding, “We’re calling on Australians and New Zealanders who have their indoor rowing machines at home to record 2504m as many times as possible and take a moment to remember those who came before us.

“While this year’s Anzac Day will be different to others, we know our communities will come together to recognise those who served and continue to serve the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces.”

On the support of New Zealand and Australian representative athletes, Rowing NZ Chief Executive Simon Peterson commented, ‘’As with all New Zealanders and Australians, our athletes are facing challenging times, and we are incredibly proud of their commitment to honour Anzac Day within our respective lockdown restrictions.

“Whist we are saddened normal commemorations are unable to take place this year, we are humbled to have the New Zealand and Australian rowing communities joining us in honouring our Defence Forces.”

Rowing Australia CEO Ian Robson added, “These are unprecedented times and we are looking forward to seeing many of those with indoor rowing machines from across our two countries contributing to the challenge and also to our respective charitable organisations.

“It is also fitting that, as we look to honour our military by rowing this weekend, the Australian War Memorial’s pre-recorded Anzac Day Last Post Ceremony will tell the story of South Australian rower, Private Thomas Anderson Whyte of the 10th Battalion AIF, who was killed during the landing at Gallipoli in 1915. As Arthur Blackburn wrote of Whyte, ‘it was largely due to the courage and endurance of Tom and his fellow-rowers in all the boats that everyone was landed with the minimum of loss.’ Rowing is intrinsically linked to the Anzacs and we’re honoured to play our part in recognising the importance of Anzac Day.”

Those who choose to take part in the event can log their metres between dawn and dusk on the below link, with the country who recorded the most 2504m per participant to be announced on Sunday 26 April.

Click here to enter your metres on 25 April 2020.
Notes
Participants are encouraged to share images of themselves taking part in the 2020 Anzac Day Indoor Rowing Challenge using the hashtags  #AnzacAtHome #TYFYS #StandAtDawn #AnzacDay2020, and tagging Rowing Australia and Rowing NZ.

Please note dawn and dusk times for Anzac Day 2020 are as follows:
Australia: Dawn – 06:10 AEST. Dusk – 17:53 AEST (please check your relevant State Time Zone outside of AEST).
New Zealand: Dawn 06:33 NZST. Dusk – 18:04 NZST

Donate to RSL Australia ANZAC Appeal here: https://anzacappeal.com.au/
Donate to RSA New Zealand here: https://www.rsa.org.nz/donate

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