Newall, who had always wanted to run a marathon by his 50th birthday, was hugely disappointed when his training was halted by a recurring ankle injury. It was then suggested to him that rowing would be a safer alternative, as it puts less strain on the ankle. Since being introduced to rowing and buying his own Concept 2 rowing machine in 2010, he has rowed over three million metres.
After an impulsive decision in January, Newall completed a 11-week training programme where he rowed over 850,000 metres in preparation for the day. After completing the event Newall thanked his wife Yvonne for her support, main sponsors African & Eastern, club members and, particularly, the people who sat with him for the entirety of the row to keep his spirits up.
