Children at a Stowmarket school enjoyed their very own version of the Oxbridge Boat Race this month – competing in a unique rowing challenge.

East Anglian Daily Times: One group managed to row within two kilometres of Norwich Picture: STOWMARKET HIGHOne group managed to row within two kilometres of Norwich Picture: STOWMARKET HIGH (Image: STOWMARKET HIGH)

The Year 9 students at Stowmarket High spent the day under canopies in Stowmarket High Street as they attempted to row the distance between Stowmarket and Norwich.

Tutor group tag teams competed to get closest to rowing the distance – with one team reaching within two kilometres of their destination.

The students were raising money for a new bike shed and other outside resources for when Stowmarket High School invests in a brand new building in 2020.

The children were joined by the town’s Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) who assisted while the students broke for lunch.

East Anglian Daily Times: The children were joined by community support officers, who did their bit to raise funds Picture: STOWMARKET HIGHThe children were joined by community support officers, who did their bit to raise funds Picture: STOWMARKET HIGH (Image: STOWMARKET HIGH)

PCSO Harvey said: “To be part of this worthy fundraising event was a great opportunity for Stowmarket Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) to carry on building the close links it already has with students at the school and have a further direct engagement within the town centre. It was wonderful to see the local community giving so generously to support the Year 9s in their quest to raise funds for a new bike shed.”

PCSO’s Harvey, Durrant, Brown and Perry were encouraged to maintain a stroke rate of 40 beats a minute by their Inspector Shawn Wakeling, who pounded the beat drum to the sound of Michael Jackson’s ‘Beat It’.

The students rowed 330km between them, raising a total £377.68.

Richie Forde, Head of Year said: “A huge thank you to the town council for allowing us to host the event in the town centre and a very well done to all involved. The students are already looking forward to doing it again.”