Ben Thackwray (born 13 May 1980) is a record breaking British adventurer, explorer, endurance athlete, ocean rower, mountaineer, cross-country skier, ultra distance runner, and former semi-pro footballer.
Thackwray was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire and played semi-professional football for Farsley Celtic A.F.C and Guiseley A.F.C. [1] [2]
He is best known for rowing the Atlantic in 2008 and setting the fastest crossing of the Atlantic in a rowing boat (37 days) [3] [4] from the Canary Islands ( San Sebastián de La Gomera, Spain) to Antigua [5] as part of a 5-man crew aboard 'Oyster Shack' [6] and the Guinness World Record[ citation needed] for the fastest 1000 miles ever rowed in an ocean rowing boat. [5] [7] [8]
In 2010, he and Ian Couch (also a crew member on Oyster Shack) set the fastest British crossing of Greenland. [9]
In 2011 Thackwray climbed Mount Everest, [5] [10] making him one of only six people ever to have rowed an ocean and climbed Mount Everest. [11] [12]
Ben Thackwray (born 13 May 1980) is a record breaking British adventurer, explorer, endurance athlete, ocean rower, mountaineer, cross-country skier, ultra distance runner, and former semi-pro footballer.
Thackwray was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire and played semi-professional football for Farsley Celtic A.F.C and Guiseley A.F.C. [1] [2]
He is best known for rowing the Atlantic in 2008 and setting the fastest crossing of the Atlantic in a rowing boat (37 days) [3] [4] from the Canary Islands ( San Sebastián de La Gomera, Spain) to Antigua [5] as part of a 5-man crew aboard 'Oyster Shack' [6] and the Guinness World Record[ citation needed] for the fastest 1000 miles ever rowed in an ocean rowing boat. [5] [7] [8]
In 2010, he and Ian Couch (also a crew member on Oyster Shack) set the fastest British crossing of Greenland. [9]
In 2011 Thackwray climbed Mount Everest, [5] [10] making him one of only six people ever to have rowed an ocean and climbed Mount Everest. [11] [12]