Brathay Row Runner Fundraising Night

On Thursday 5th July, Temple Heelis and The In Group Kendal held a fundraising Wine Tasting Quiz evening at Kendal Rugby Club to help meet their fundraising targets for raising money for The Brathay Trust for the Row Runner Challenge event on Saturday 21st July.

Two teams of eight rowers from Temple Heelis and one from The In Group are joining teams from Cumberland Building Society, Moore and Smalley Accountants and Crosby Granger Architects rowing Lake Windermere from Brathay Hall boathouse all the way to Fell Foot ( some 10 and a half miles). Then there is a run up nearby Gummer’s How (1000 feet or so) by some members of each team and down again, and then the teams are to row all the way back to Brathay bay.

The teams are all complete rowing novices (or at least claim to be) and it is hard to identify a clear favourite or whether the challenge might be too much for one or more of the office bound businesses who are putting out teams.

Almost 80 people attended the wine tasting (certainly an easier sell than Row Runner itself!) managed and presented by Andrew Trueman of Grape Expert Tastings. Andrew presented reds and whites from around the world and invited teams to guess country, price, grape and year.

Clues were given but clearly there were those taking part who were better focused or had more educated palates than others. Most were just happy to take part and enjoy the excellent facilities at the club and the increasingly noisy company.

A team of four from Moore for Money achieved the remarkable feat of getting every single question right and deservedly took away first prize.

With a generous array of raffle prizes donated by numerous local businesses boosting the takings the event raised £600 towards the teams’ fundraising targets. Thanks to Cumberland Building Society, the Waterside Café, Shire Homes, Neko Sushi, Julian Wilson Electrical Contractor, Magennis Plumbing & Heating and The Brewery Business Club for their generosity.

In the meantime, the Challenge itself is looming large in the thoughts of those taking part.

Will the heatwave break? If not, is there even going to be enough water left in Windermere come the 21stJuly? Almost 50 good folk are about to find out just how much fun can be had sat in a crowded rowing boat for 7 hours!

Perhaps next year the challenge might begin and end with a Wine Tasting Quiz, and none of this healthy outdoor exercise will feature…!

A special thanks to all who came on Thursday and supported our cause and who offered the teams their best wishes for the big day.