Members of Excel Fitness in Estevan posted excellent results through a nationwide rowing machine promotion offered by Concept 2, the company that supplies rowing machines at the gym.
Dawn Densley, who is the manager of Excel Fitness, said members gym were encouraged to go to the Concept 2 website and submit their times for the 2,000-metre distance. The times posted locally proved to be among the best in the country.
“The machines that we offer have a computer on them, and after you do a row on there, a verification code will pop up,” said Densley. “You take that verification code, and you can log that code onto Concept 2’s website, and then it ranks you in the world based on your age or the distance of your row.”
Since a number of members were entering the data, Excel Fitness had a six-week rowing competition that attracted 30 people. The field was eventually whittled down to the top two men and the top two women.
The final was held on June 15. Jackie Beaulieu finished first in the women’s division with a time of 8:04.9, while Nick Ginther was tops among the men with a time of 7:21.6.
Densley said 2,000 metres was selected as the distance because it was viewed as challenging, but also short enough for people to improve their time.
As for the national rankings, the 29-year-old Beaulieu sits first in Canada among women in the 19 to 29 age group with a time of eight minutes and 1.09 seconds.
Other female members entering their times with Compact 2 are Natalie Vincent (fourth in the 20 to 29 age group with a time of 8:41.9), Densley (second among women ages 40 to 49, 8:42.6), Joannah Audet (fourth for women 40 to 49, 9:12.5) and Linda Molyneaux (fifth for women ages 40 to 49, 9:29.2).
On the men’s side, Saige Christenson was second in the 19 to 29 age group, with a time of 6:56.2. Also entered are Ginther (third among men age 19 to 29 at 7:07.4), Darryl Shirley (seventh among men age 50 to 59, 7:40.7), and Bud McLaughlin (sixth among men age 60 to 69, 7:50.2).
Densley believes the gym attained its objective of having people using rowing machines. One member hadn’t used a rowing machine in the past, but she was part of a rowing half marathon on June 21 at the gym.
