In a remarkable achievement, women’s tandem pairing Hannah Fawcett and Ede Harrison have shattered the record for the UK’s Land’s End to John o’ Groats ‘End to End’ ride, completing the journey in 66 hours, 49 minutes, and 52 seconds. This new record, which awaits ratification by the Road Records Association (RRA), surpasses the previous ‘standard’ time of 84 hours by over 23 hours.
The duo, piloted by Fawcett and stoked by Harrison, began their journey on Sunday at 6 a.m. aboard their distinctive fluoro yellow Dolan tandem, aided by favorable winds. While they initially considered attempting both the 12- and 24-hour records, the expected strong tailwinds did not materialize.
Fawcett, a kidney consultant, and Harrison, the fastest woman in the 2018 Transcontinental race, aimed not only to set a record but also to raise funds for Kidney Care UK. By the end of their ride, they had raised £2,628, surpassing their initial target of £1,000.
The pair had planned a baseline schedule of 72 hours but exceeded their expectations early on, reaching Launceston in Cornwall—79 miles into the ride—an hour ahead of schedule. They strategically managed their energy, taking a significant five-hour break near Newcastle under Lyme during the first night.
Continuing their momentum, they crested the challenging Shap Fell in Cumbria, still 85 minutes ahead of their plan. Although they returned to their original schedule after another five-hour pause on the second night, they quickly regained speed, maintaining their lead through to the finish.
Previously, the men’s tandem record stood at 1 day, 21 hours, and 11 minutes, set in 2015 by Dominic Irvine and Charlie Mitchell, who surpassed a 50-year-old record by over five hours. The achievements of Fawcett and Harrison now highlight the evolving landscape of endurance cycling in the UK.
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