Latest news with #World'sToughestRow
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Brendan Gleeson, Rhasidat Adeleke among recipients of Lord Mayor Award
Brendan Gleeson and Rhasidat Adeleke were among several people who received awards from the Lord Mayor of Dublin at a ceremony tonight. The event is held every year to honour citizens of Dublin who have made a real difference. It recognises the achievements of both individuals and groups across all sectors. Some well-known faces and proud Dubliners were among the recipients. Brendan Gleeson, who has won many awards during his career, said as "a Dub" this means a lot. "To get an award from your home city," he said with a smile, adding: "There is a need to get more positive about the place." He commended the positivity of the Lord Mayor Emma Blaine in her role. He said while there is no honours list in Ireland in terms of knighthood, "which is no harm", this is a way of society saying to people "you are not unseen" and recognising "the goodness in people" and work happening in the city. Former Ireland international Johnny Sexton, who also received an award, said it is very special to be honoured in this way. "l think it's a very proud room," he said. He also said his children were delighted to be at the event and getting to sit next to Brendan Gleeson who starred in Harry Potter. Lord Mayor Emma Blaine said the areas of particular interest to her were recognising dementia awareness and women and girls in sport. "I have a couple of recipients tonight that represent those goals and ideals beautifully," she said. Rhasidat Adeleke was one of those given an award in recognition of her achievements in athletics and her role in inspiring a new generation of young female athletes. The 22-year-old's mother accepted her award on her behalf as the Dublin athlete remains focused on training in the US and breaking running records. As well as acknowledging incredible talent, the seven awards presented tonight were focused on recognising the extraordinary work done by people in different ways. Two brothers Allen and Jay Bobinac who are originally from Croatia were honoured for their dedication to helping the homeless in Dublin city. Accepting their award they described the excitement around this event being almost like the Oscars. Úna Crawford O'Brien accepted an award for her and her partner Bryan Murray who were acknowledged for their outstanding contribution to the arts, on stage and on screen, and for raising awareness of dementia. Isobel Henderson was given a posthumous award for her outstanding service and dedication to the Girls' Brigade Ireland. Another important award was given to Team Power of 1 in recognition of their achievement in the World's Toughest Row and for raising awareness and funds for Heart Children Ireland and Children's Heart Centre - CHI Crumlin in memory of Saoirse O'Driscoll.
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.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘World's Toughest Row': Veterans pledge to row from California to Hawaii
A group of men have pledged to row from the coast of Monterrey, California to Hawaii to spread awareness about veteran suicides. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Five disabled veterans with decades of experience are participating in what is called the 'World's Toughest Row'. Action News Jax Shanila Kabir spoke to these rowers from the group, Rangeoars Row, who said they will take on 2,800 miles of water starting June 7th. One member said the most difficult part of the journey will be the first 700 miles after leaving California. 'It'll be tough pushing through not only the currents and waves but there's also possibility of a rollover, but the boat will self-ride itself back up,' said JT Mullinax, retired Army veteran. They are spending this week training at Fernandina Beach in Nassau County. Then, they will spend the next several weeks in different cities fundraising for veterans' mental health before their journey. 'Our goal is to continue this and have more veterans come out to either row on the Atlantic or do the world's toughest row back on the Pacific,' said Mullinax. Captain Roy Emerson said rowing is a great way to combat mental health issues, especially for veterans who suffer from PTSD. In Florida, 622 veterans took their lives in 2023, according to the Nationwide, the VA states more than 6,400 veterans died by suicide in 2022. However, Captain Emerson believes the actual number of suicides is much higher. 'Recent studies show that this number is probably double that. So, it is around 44 or more a day. 44 lives are being taken every day and that's 44 too many,' said Roy Emerson, captain of Rangeoar Row. The journey of the 'World's Toughest Row' kicks off on June 7th. Members hope their estimated arrival date will be on July 15th. For more information or if you would like to donate to the cause, click HERE. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
BBC News
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Couple days away from completing Atlantic challenge
A couple in their 60s are proving an adventurous spirit does not stop with age as they reach the final stages of a transatlantic rowing and Bob Parr are taking part in the 3,000 mile World's Toughest Row event after setting off from Spain in have been rowing two hours each in their boat, named after Mrs Parr's father, who was a medal-winning rower in couple, who are expected to arrive in Antigua on Friday, are raising money for ex-servicemen through charity Pilgrim Bandits. Mr Parr's sister Kate Parker said the pair met in Hereford when Bob, 67, was in the services and have always had a strong sense of adventure."They're very supportive of each other in their ambitions - Nicky particularly of Bob because of having been in the services - he's gone all over the world and she has literally followed her man," she said. "Bob has led an incredibly adventurous life, both in the services and when he left in 2000, he went and worked in the film industry, worked in Hollywood and went and travelled all over the world for various different productions that he was involved in."I think it's very hard as you head into your late 60s and 70s and you've lived on adrenalin all your life to give it up."The idea to take part in the challenge came from Mr Parr, his sister said, although he would only do it with his 62-year-old couple subsequently got their RYA qualification for seamanship, "so she knows what she's doing", Ms Parker said."Over time they're just developed this desire to do things. I think it's just become part of who they are," she Parr is is a patron for Pilgrim Bandits New Zealand and "the whole point of Pilgrim Bandits is to encourage people who have lived adventurous lives.. to get back out there and feel how they used to feel," Ms Parker the couple had struggled with the two-hour rowing shifts as well as the total physicality of the trip, but what they had loved most had been wildlife."They've loved the wildlife and I think being out of the everyday mix of the world," she added. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
05-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cornwall rowers finish Atlantic race in 40 days
A rowing team from Cornwall have finished their "epic adventure" to cross the Atlantic Ocean after 40 days at sea. Oars Of Thunder was comprised of champion gig rowers Nathaniel Rothwell and Harry Poulson, as well as Looe Rowing Club members Kim Tolfrey and Sally Crab. The team travelled 3,000 miles (4,828 km) as part of the World's Toughest Row race and finished first in the mixed class, fifth in the four rower class and sixth overall. After reaching the finish line in Antigua, Ms Crabb said: "It was so overwhelming. It was an epic adventure that you can't easily recreate, it was just perfect." Ahead of their launch, Ms Crabb told BBC Radio Cornwall the group had fears including how they would cope missing family and friends, whether they would be sea sick and if they would encounter any sharks. Discussing her personal fears, she said: "For me, personally, I had a fear of the waves and how big they might be."There was a lot of nervousness around the unknown and not knowing what it was really going to be like out there." But the conditions were generally good. She said: "We had a generally pleasant journey; we didn't have any headwinds and we didn't have to put out our power anchor, which would stop us from blowing backwards."So we were always moving forward and, for the majority of that time, we had good winds and good swell." 'There to help' The Looe-based team even encountered plenty of wildlife throughout their journey, including a marlin and a turtle that they managed to save from netting. Ms Crabb said: "The boys leant over and grabbed hold of her and one of them got a knife to cut the netting."She did a little bit of splashing with her flippers because she wasn't keen at first but then she seemed to realise we were there to help her."Despite their stop off, the crew still managed to finish well and needed to put everything into keeping their position. "Towards the end we were so close to the other crews we could see one of their navigation lights, so we went three up to make sure we did finish before them," she said. Oars of Thunder hope to raise £50,000 for the RNLI following their journey.
