Pegasus Round is Go!
You may have heard about our exciting collaboration with ex-Paratrooper Mike Ellicock and his ambitious attempt to break the record for rowing 2,000 miles solo around Great Britain.
After months of intense training and fundraising for Support Our Paras - Mike set off on his epic journey this morning, Wednesday 30th April.
A sudden, favourable shift in weather meant the attempt had to begin earlier than planned. Sadly, this means our send-off event at The John Harvey Tavern in Lewes, originally scheduled for this Saturday, has been cancelled. But don’t worry - we’ll be sure to celebrate properly when Mike returns!
Having completed his final preparations onboard his boat Pegasus, Mike set off from Newhaven, Sussex, today 11:00 am, Wednesday 30th April.
Mike, from Lewes in East Sussex, will be attempting to make history by completing the challenge in under 80 days, making him the fastest person ever to row solo around Great Britain.
“I turn 50 this year and to ‘celebrate’ I thought it would be a good idea to attempt to break the record for rowing around Great Britain,” says Ellicock.
“The Parachute Regiment motto is ‘Ready for Anything’ and this rowing challenge takes inspiration from former Paratroopers John Ridgway and Chay Blyth who set the record for crossing the Atlantic in a rowing boat in 1966.
“Half a lifetime ago, as a 25-year-old Parachute Regiment platoon commander, I was wounded in action during a hostage rescue in Sierra Leone but made a full recovery and subsequently had the privilege of commanding paratroopers on operations again before making a successful and rewarding transition into civilian life.
“Not all my former brothers in arms were so fortunate - and that’s why I’m looking to use this challenge as a way to honour them while raising money for charities close to my heart.”
Having been a fan of Harvey’s beers since arriving in Lewes in 2006, I approached the brewery to support the challenge. It is fantastic that they have been willing to produce a unique ‘Pegasus Round’ beer to help raise funds, and I hope that Harvey’s loyal customers (and many others) will try a bottle or two – and then buy a few more as a result…
This is not the first time Mike has undertaken an epic challenge having previously taken on the Bob Graham Round and the Devizes-to-Westminster Canoe race. In 2013 he became a Guinness world record holder for running the London Marathon with a 40lb (18kg) pack in three hours 25 minutes and 21 seconds.
Mike will be attempting the challenge in a Canadian designed boat which is a combination of sea kayak and ocean rowing boat merging manoeuvrability and speed with stability and additional carrying capacity.
It will also enable night rowing to exploit the power of the tide more effectively.
He added: “I’m least looking forward to hitting Thurso which is one of the most dangerous bodies of water in the UK, maybe in the world, but I’ve trained hard for this challenge and taken advice from experts to ensure I’m equipped to deal with the wild waters there unscathed.”
To celebrate Mike’s challenge and support the cause, our limited-edition Pegasus Round IPA is now available online and in our brewery shop - with £1 from every bottle sold donated to Support Our Paras.
Harvey’s are delighted to be supporting such a motivating and inspiring individual as Mike as he embarks on his exciting journey to raise money for such a worthy cause.
Zoë Prescott, Harvey's Marketing and Design Manager, expressed her excitement, stating:
When Mike told us of his plans and love of Harvey's, we were proud to offer our support. As a Lewes local, Moyleman runner and committed charity fundraiser, his journey truly captures the spirit of ‘We Wunt Be Druv.’ Today, he set off on this incredible challenge, and we look forward to following his progress every nautical mile of the way.
For more information about the record attempt, donate to Support Our Paras or to keep track of Mikes progress, visit www.pegasusround.uk you can also see updates on his Instragram feed here.
News Articles: The Independent , Sussex Express
For further details or additional comment about Pegasus Round please contact:
Phil Steere, Harvey’s Marketing and Executive, on 01273 480209, or by email: marketing@harveys.org.uk
