8 minute read
Sport
A Shore Thing
In June 2021, A Shore Thing’s crew of four rowers - Susan Douglass, Anya Anstey, Charity Phillips and Rebecca Mingo - will set out on an epic adventure, covering 500 miles from London’s Tower Bridge to Land’s End as part of the GB Row Challenge. Susan takes up the story:
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The idea of undertaking something so far out of our comfort zone came about at the end of 2019, and after coming up with a crew name and some branding, Nicola Bathe Business Support very generously supplied us with a website. By the end of the year we’d offi cially begun our mission. We will be crossing the busiest shipping lane in the world, rowing against prevailing westerly winds, coping with heat, rain, fog or whatever weather is thrown at us, and we’ll row in two-hour shifts day and night until we reach our destination. In total it’s the equivalent of 19 consecutive marathons. The crew are all Tamar & Tavy Gig Club rowers which means we are used to the generally fl at and sheltered conditions of the river and have very little experience of the sea. We will need to complete a number of essential safety and navigation courses to prepare ourselves for the diffi cult and constantly changing conditions of the English Channel. In early March 2020 we put on our fi rst fundraising event, a big breakfast. The whole gig club either helped or came along to eat and support us, and we were blown away by the generosity and support we received. We also received some generous donations, including corporate
Becky, Anya and Sue
sponsorship from Egerton Clinical Consultancy, giving us a great start to our fundraising. However, just as we were getting started, coronavirus hit. All our plans to raise awareness of our challenge and fundraise came to a screeching halt, with no more rowing or events for the foreseeable future. We chose to raise money for mental health charities Devon Mind and Cornwall Mind and we feel it’s more important than ever in the diffi cult circumstances we are all facing that these organisations are able to support people and help them deal with the added anxiety, fear and uncertainty. They provide training, counselling and support groups to those in need, and the more money we raise the more people they can help. Currently we are able to train as a group over Zoom, doing some strength training and cardio workouts to keep us fi t and happy, and we look forward to the day we can go rowing together. As soon as we are able, we will be taking sculling lessons - a sliding seat form of rowing similar to the experience in our ocean rowing boat – as well as doing some team building exercises. This challenge will be as much mental as physical, so we need to work on our mental strength and resilience and
prepare for the diffi cult sleep deprivation that will result from a two-hour shift pattern. We also need to assume the worst-case scenario of strong winds and be as strong as possible before the event. A major part of this challenge is raising enough money to fund the trip itself. Ocean rowing boats are highly technical vessels with solar panels, navigation equipment, a device to turn seawater into drinking water (which is also used to rehydrate our required high energy foods) - not to mention oars, shore support and race entry fees. As you can imagine, a global pandemic makes gaining corporate sponsorship a little tricky and fundraising events next to impossible. Therefore we have recently launched a virtual ocean rowing challenge, where anyone can join a crew-based or solo mission with A Shore Thing’s crew and compete with each other in a virtual race along the south coast. We have medals for all fi nishers and prizes available for lots of diff erent categories, not just the fastest, so anyone could win something. It’s a really
exciting initiative that will hopefully allow some of the coastal and gig rowers out there a chance to enjoy some competitiveness this summer, despite all the cancelled events. Data can be entered from rowing, running, cycling etc, and the distance is tracked on a map so you can see how far you’ve come. Whenever we feel overwhelmed by what we’re doing and how far we have to go it’s important that we remember why we are doing this, and how important the money we raise will be to people’s lives. n
Become a Sponsor:
We are accepting sponsorship applications with the chance to brand our amazing ocean rowing boat or our offi cial crew vests which will be used for all promotional activities. For more information see www.ashorething.uk or facebook.com/ashorethinguk or join our virtual challenge at www.myvirtualmission.com/missions/52994/longships-challenge
TRADE SECRETS Sophie Goodwin-Hughes Goodwin-Hughes
The Dartmoor Soap Company
How did you fi rst get involved with making soap?
About 20 years ago as a hobby, whilst studying for my Masters in Occupational Therapy.
When did launch your business?
In 2013. I went on a soap making for business course in 2012 when my son was one – it was the fi rst time I had ever left him for the day - I felt so guilty! I then spent seven months designing scents and packaging, sorting out legal requirements and generally convincing myself it was a good idea!
Where are you based?
Near Okehampton - we have two studios at Kigbeare.
What is your soap made from?
The recipes vary but generally from a selection of olive oil, sunfl ower oil, shea butter, avocado oil, castor oil, coconut oil, beeswax and sweet almond oil. We never have and never will use palm oil.
How do you decide which fragrances to use?
Trial and error - we generally look at a new soap not just for it’s cleansing properties but as an entire product. Then we research which essential oils will compliment the role of the product. For example the dog
shampoo bar contains lavender and eucalyptus essential oils. Eucalyptus is safer for pets than Tea Tree oil but’s also a natural tick repellant. Lavender then relaxes after what can be a stressful, yet essential wash!
How much soap do you produce a week?
We still make in small batches of 50 but we can produce 16 a day.
Can you describe a typical day?
I usually get up at 5.30 to run with the dogs and get a bit of admin done. This ‘me’ time is important at the moment, as everyone is at home so it can get chaotic! Home schooling has been priority, but now the holidays are approaching, lessons have become rather business orientated with
Sebastian, eight, helping dispatch orders and package soaps. Our new natural facial bar goes live this month which is very exciting. No day is really the same. Yesterday’s meetings ranged from speaking to owners of local holiday lets about stocking our guest soaps, to sending samples to Dubai to be presented to the Jumeirah Hotel group!
What’s the best thing about your job?
The fl exibility and environment The fl exibility and environment we work in. I started the we work in. I started the business to stay at home with my business to stay at home with my little boy as much as possible and little boy as much as possible and fi t in around his commitments. fi t in around his commitments. Fortunately this has always Fortunately this has always worked. Kigbeare is a lovely place, I have made some great friends and we have a lovely team who I couldn’t be without!
Do you have any plans or projects going forward?
I did, but this year seems to have its own agenda! I would like to develop our home fragrance range and we have recently been working with Lympstone Manor to create a scent to enhance their customer experience. n
More information:
www.thedartmoorsoapco.co.uk hello@thedartmoorsoapco.co.uk ✆ 07772 459266
NATURAL ARTISAN SOAPS & SKINCARE PRODUCTS
Handmade on Dartmoor using only natural ingredients
• Small batch products, using sustainably sourced and locally harvested ingredients • All our products are free from chemical irritants and contain no palm oil • A range for both women and men. We supply guest soaps too! Come and learn: Makers Workshops available at Kigbeare Studios
