2021 Anzac Day Indoor Rowing Challenge

Rowing Australia and Rowing NZ today announced the 2021 Anzac Day Indoor Rowing Challenge. The event to take place from dawn to dusk on Sunday 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, 25.04.2021, 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.

The 2020 challenge was undertaken by 1,500 rowers – just 14% of the total number of Anzac lives estimated to have been lost during the Gallipoli campaign alone. The total recorded distance rowed by both countries was 19,398 kms – roughly one and a half times the distance from Albany, Western Australia (where the ANZAC troops departed from in 1914) to Anzac Cove in Turkey. Whilst New Zealand claimed the challenge in 2020, Kiwis and Aussies alike acknowledged their efforts were first and foremost undertaken to honour our Anzac brothers and sisters – past and present.

Proud supporters of the development of rowing in both nations, the Colgan Foundation will once again support this year’s event, pledging to donate $3,000 to the winning nation’s ANZAC Appeal and $2000 to the runner-up. The recently debuted Colgan Cup – introduced to celebrate friendly Trans-Tasman rivalry – will also be awarded to the winning nation. The Colgan Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation founded by Sean P. Colgan to benefit athletic, scientific, environmental, and education communities.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist and eight-time World Champion, New Zealand’s Eric Murray said, “This time last year both New Zealand and Australia were in full lockdown restrictions due to COVID-19, yet both nation’s rowing communities came together to acknowledge Anzac Day. The ANZACs rowed into Gallipoli, on 25 April 1915, and this Anzac Day, New Zealanders and Australians will unite to honour their memory. This year we hope to see an even greater support of our combined history, and invite everyone once again to row in honour of all those that have served and continue to serve our countries.”

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.”

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 Tuesday 27 April.

How to participate:

• Click here to enter your metres on 25 April 2021
• Please note dawn and dusk times for Anzac Day 2021 are as follows:
  • Australia: Dawn – 06:09 AEST. Dusk – 17:53 AEST (please check your relevant State Time Zone outside of AEST)
  • New Zealand: Dawn 06:33 NZST. Dusk – 18:17 NZST
• Donate to RSL Australia ANZAC Appeal here
• Donate to Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association here.
• Participants are encouraged to share images of themselves taking part in the 2021 Anzac Day Indoor Rowing Challenge using the hashtags #AnzacAtHome #TYFYS #StandAtDawn #AnzacDay2021, and tagging Rowing Australia and Rowing NZ