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BBC News
15-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
All-female team triumph in World's Toughest Row
Sharks, towering waves, broken oars and calloused were just some of the many obstacles faced by the Army's first all-female Force Atlantic team during a 3,000-mile rowing team took part in the annual World's Toughest Row, which sees competitors row from the Canary Islands to more than six weeks, Imogen "Imy" O'Brien, Becca Glover, Sheri Lucas and Emma Gibb called their 8.5m rowboat "Rosie" home. Setting off from San Sebastián on 11 December, the team took 46 days and 55 minutes to reach Nelson's Dockyard in Antigua on 26 finished second in the Women's Class and in 18th place overall. For Ms O'Brien, the skipper, it was the final moments of the journey that stick in her said: "It was a Biblical storm, I've never seen rain like it, I've never felt wind like it. "It just highlighted the whole trip and how difficult it was that, less than a nautical mile away from the finish line, we nearly didn't finish because we were being blown past the exit."When they stepped on to land, they were greeted by family and friends, who Ms O'Brien said "had sacrificed so much to support us to achieve this". "I've never felt emotion like it," she said. "I wish we could just bottle and keep it, the ending was wild.""A wild adventure, the hardest thing that I've ever done. It took a lot, it took teamwork, it took resilience, it took problem solving. "But we're glad that it was difficult, that added in the depth we needed and we stand here today hoping to inspire others that they can go on and achieve anything they want to achieve." 'Never give up' Speaking during a talk with students at Reading College, in Berkshire, Emma Gibb said she hoped her team's work could inspire young people to chase their dreams."Hopefully it just gives them that feeling of just never give up and just go for what you want to go for and challenge yourself," she said."We are a minority and, if anything, we want to show women there are so many opportunities."Hopefully people can relate and just see that actually we're just a group of four women, we had an idea, we had this culture and all these values and we brought it to life."Reading College student Callum, 19, said meeting the rowers had certainly inspired said: "It really emphasized the importance of team work and how that links to problem solving and how that can be applied to not just rowing but so many more areas."It really just made me realise that if you can trust your team and your team can trust you, you really can get anything done." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Independent
29-01-2025
- The Independent
King congratulates military crews on ‘gallant' 3,000-mile row across Atlantic
The King has praised the 'courage, perseverance and indomitable determination' of four military teams who completed a gruelling 3,000-mile rowing expedition across the Atlantic. Charles sent a message of congratulations, saying the crews had shown 'the finest quality' of the armed forces during their 'gallant' journey, and wishing them an 'extremely well-deserved rest'. The four teams: Team V3nture, Oarsome Army Educators, Force Atlantic, and HMS Oardacious Valkyries; took part in the World's Toughest Row – a non-stop, unsupported race across the Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua. Each team rowed more than 1.5 million oar strokes, rowing for two hours and sleeping for two hours 24 hours a day, facing blisters and sores, storms, and 40C heat. TeamV3nture, comprised of soldiers: Charlie Newman, Rob Cross and Rob Treasure, who met and became friends at Sandhurst; set a record as the first military trio to complete the crossing, finishing in 40 days, 17 hours, and 40 minutes. The team is raising money for the charity Macmillan Cancer Support in honour of Captain Rob Treasure's father, Stephen, who died from cancer in 2021. The King, head of the Armed Forces, wrote: 'I wanted to send you all my heartfelt congratulations on completing your gallant rowing expedition across the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. 'Your courage, perseverance and indomitable determination set us all a wonderful example of teamwork and endurance and I am full of admiration for your achievement. 'In undertaking such a journey, you have certainly demonstrated the finest quality of the military, and I have no doubt that your accomplishment will inspire your communities and provide generously for the charities you represent.' He added: 'This brings you my warmest good wishes for an extremely well-deserved rest.' The message was signed Charles R. Force Atlantic, the Army's first all-female team, completed the journey in 46 days and 55 minutes, raising funds for The Girls' Network charity. The team was made up of: Captain Imogen O'Brien; 6 Regiment RLC Warrant Officer Class One Sheridan Lucas; 1 Medical Regiment's Major Rebecca Glover; and Defence Primary Healthcare nurse Corporal Emma Gibb. Oarsome Army Educators: Dec Lynn, Jess Hunter, Gian-Luc Angiolini, and Graham Doyle; crossed the finish line in 44 days, 6 hours, and 38 minutes, raising money for the Army Benevolent Fund. The all-female HMS Oardacious Valkyries, the Royal Navy's official rowing team, finished in 46 days, 12 hours, and 26 minutes, supporting the Young Women's Trust. The crew were: Lieutenant Commander Izzy Rawlinson; Petty Officer Aaby Aldridge; Lieutenant Commander Nic Hall; and Lieutenant Commander Ali Aindow.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
King congratulates military crews on ‘gallant' 3,000-mile row across Atlantic
The King has praised the 'courage, perseverance and indomitable determination' of four military teams who completed a gruelling 3,000-mile rowing expedition across the Atlantic. Charles sent a message of congratulations, saying the crews had shown 'the finest quality' of the armed forces during their 'gallant' journey, and wishing them an 'extremely well-deserved rest'. The four teams: Team V3nture, Oarsome Army Educators, Force Atlantic, and HMS Oardacious Valkyries; took part in the World's Toughest Row – a non-stop, unsupported race across the Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua. A message from The King congratulating the four military teams — Team V3nture, Oarsome Army Educators, Force Atlantic, and HMS Oardacious Valkyries — on their successful completion of the 3,000-mile Atlantic journey for the @toughestrow. @TeamV3nture set a record as the first… — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) January 29, 2025 Each team rowed more than 1.5 million oar strokes, rowing for two hours and sleeping for two hours 24 hours a day, facing blisters and sores, storms, and 40C heat. TeamV3nture, comprised of soldiers: Charlie Newman, Rob Cross and Rob Treasure, who met and became friends at Sandhurst; set a record as the first military trio to complete the crossing, finishing in 40 days, 17 hours, and 40 minutes. THEY HAVE DONE IT! 🥳 40 DAYS, 17 HRS, 40 MINS! 💪 AND WOW! WHAT a finish that was! 😲 An ENORMOUS congratulations, and enjoy the recovery boys. 🍻🍔 Please remember to donate at — TEAM V3NTURE (@teamv3nture) January 21, 2025 The team is raising money for the charity Macmillan Cancer Support in honour of Captain Rob Treasure's father, Stephen, who died from cancer in 2021. The King, head of the Armed Forces, wrote: 'I wanted to send you all my heartfelt congratulations on completing your gallant rowing expedition across the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Wow. What a phenomenal video! 🎬 After 40 days and 40 nights, this incredible team, have done it! 🥰 This video has absolutely broken us – there's just been WAY too much emotion for one 24 hour period! 🥹 Please donate if you can at — TEAM V3NTURE (@teamv3nture) January 21, 2025 'Your courage, perseverance and indomitable determination set us all a wonderful example of teamwork and endurance and I am full of admiration for your achievement. 'In undertaking such a journey, you have certainly demonstrated the finest quality of the military, and I have no doubt that your accomplishment will inspire your communities and provide generously for the charities you represent.' It's 7 days out until race start! If you want to keep track of our journey download the app @ybtracking We're raising funds for @TheGirlsNet #gettingready #boatprep #team — Force Atlantic (@ForceAtlantic) December 6, 2024 He added: 'This brings you my warmest good wishes for an extremely well-deserved rest.' The message was signed Charles R. Force Atlantic, the Army's first all-female team, completed the journey in 46 days and 55 minutes, raising funds for The Girls' Network charity. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Oarsome Army Educators (@oarsomearmyeducators) The team was made up of: Captain Imogen O'Brien; 6 Regiment RLC Warrant Officer Class One Sheridan Lucas; 1 Medical Regiment's Major Rebecca Glover; and Defence Primary Healthcare nurse Corporal Emma Gibb. Oarsome Army Educators: Dec Lynn, Jess Hunter, Gian-Luc Angiolini, and Graham Doyle; crossed the finish line in 44 days, 6 hours, and 38 minutes, raising money for the Army Benevolent Fund. PHENOMENAL! 🥳 After 46 days, 12 hrs and 26 mins, the team have completed the World's Toughest Row – Atlantic 2024…and these photos show us how incredible that finish was! 💥 Team – enjoy everything; you deserve every moment of this! 🙌 — HMS Oardacious Valkyries (@hmsoardacious) January 26, 2025 The all-female HMS Oardacious Valkyries, the Royal Navy's official rowing team, finished in 46 days, 12 hours, and 26 minutes, supporting the Young Women's Trust. The crew were: Lieutenant Commander Izzy Rawlinson; Petty Officer Aaby Aldridge; Lieutenant Commander Nic Hall; and Lieutenant Commander Ali Aindow.
