College Boatman takes on the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge

St Edmund Hall’s College Boatman Jim Ronaldson will take part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge this December 2023 to February 2024. Jim along with his friend Ian will complete a 3,000 mile row across the Atlantic Ocean starting in San Sebastian in La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain to Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda.

The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is a world-renowned event and brands itself as the toughest row to complete. Those who take up the challenge do so to test the limit of their physical and mental strength to achieve something unthinkable. Jim and Ian have an average crew age of 65.6 years which will beat the world record for the oldest crew to have rowed across the Atlantic Ocean.

Jim has always loved sport and adventure and has been rowing for 50 years. He has worked as a boatman/coach for the last 40 years and cycles around 120 miles per week in addition to rowing in head races. He has recently been shocked by the news of a rise in mental health crises caused by the pandemic, especially in children and teenagers. He wants to do what he can to help them by raising money for mental health consultants and resources and highlighting the problem.

“I chose to row the Atlantic with Ian to show that no matter what age you are, if you have the will and mental strength you can do whatever you want.” – Jim.

All Hall members can support Jim and Ian by donating to their fundraising page to give to their chosen charities Papyrus: Prevention of Young Suicide and Myeloma UK.

Teddy Hall will be hosting a cake fundraising morning on Wednesday 15 November, 10:30-11:30am in the Old Dining Hall which all Hall members are very welcome to attend. We also wish them both the very best of luck with the challenge.