Avatar photo

Ashley Partridge

ashley

A Lincoln local who's lived around the world, as part of an RAF family. He worked in the Falkland Islands and grew up around Leicester, Scotland and Cyprus. A keen musician and reporter, he's managed to combine both loves by interviewing dozens of bands in his career.


Two members of the Lincoln Rowing Centre have broken a world record by continuously rowing indoors for over three days.

Chris Farrell and Sally Hoonaert spent their Bank Holiday weekend taking turns on a rowing machine outside the Holiday Inn on the Brayford waterfront. On Monday morning, they finished with a time of 72 hours and 2 minutes.

The previous record was 60 hours. The pair passed that at 10.30 on Sunday night but powered on until the following morning. Farrell explained that the original plan to swap every hour and rest periodically didn’t work, as their bodies weren’t able to cope.

He said: “We did that for the first two days but we had to change our shift pattern to 2 hours on, 2 hours off. We were burning more calories than we were taking on and needed the energy. By the end of it, we only had around 4 hours sleep in 4 days.”

In 2011, he completed a solo world record attempt by rowing for 41 hours. However, having Sally as his partner didn’t make the weekend’s three-day challenge any easier.

Farrell said: “It was such a relief when we got to 72 hours. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I hope the record isn’t broken any time soon but if anyone wants to attempt it, feel free.”

Sally Hoonaert, shortly after breaking the 60-hour world record

Photos: Steve Hill/Lincoln Rowing Centre

Medieval Torture Instruments organiser Zbigniew Perzyna (L) stretches Kamila Gierko (R)

The Collection museum is preparing for the final week of its Medieval Torture Instruments exhibition.

Since opening on May 19, over 6,000 visitors have stepped back in time to see how people were treated in the Middle Ages.

In May, The Lincolnite picked out the top 5 devices and one of them became the most popular attraction.

The Virgin of Nuremberg, commonly known as the Iron Maiden has been a macabre hit. Victims were placed inside a case made to look like a woman. Wooden spikes lined the interior and were expertly positioned so that they didn’t pierce any internal organs but caused extreme pain.

Another gruesome favourite has been the Inquisition Chair. It was covered in spikes and anyone who had to sit on it would have endured many stab wounds across their body. They were strapped in and the only way to escape would have been to confess their crimes.

However, some of the alleged crimes included being a witch and causing a storm. The use of torture to question people eventually went out of favour as society realised witchcraft was a myth.

After nearly four months, the Medial Torture Instruments exhibition will close on Sunday, September 2.

Collections Access Assistant Maggie Warren previously noted that Lincoln is the UK premiere of the event, saying: “This is the first time this touring exhibition has been shown in Britain.”

+ More stories