PHOTOS:
Llanion Warriors - ready for action
A rough life on the ocean wave
After four months of intense indoor and outdoor training throughout the very cold, wet, windy, dark months since January, our team of twelve rowers set off for Eire, to tackle the arduous Celtic Challenge. This biennial event pitted 23 crews from all over Britain and Ireland, against each other, over the 100k overnight course from Arklow to Aberystwyth.
This year the team was housed by an ex Pembroke RFC player, Tom Moylan, near Rathdrum, some 14 miles from Arklow, in a beautiful valley in the Wicklow mountains.
No voyage can be contemplated unless a team has the support from an experienced skipper, crew and navigator on a solid boat. When they knew we were entering this event again, Blue Thunder Charters, run by Will and John Fennenberg, quickly volunteered their services for the third successive year, with Ed Neil (the jovial, experienced Milford Pilot) enthusiastically throwing himself into the team again. The team was also very grateful to the Sunderland Dive Group, who kindly loaned their rib for transfers at sea.
The Club has entered teams for the last three challenges and has always used the event to raise funds for local charities. Between 2008 and 2012 the Club has put £16.5k into the following local charities, Macmillan, CRY, Paul Sartori Foundation, The Sunderland Trust and The Pembrokeshire Spitfire Appeal.
This year the charity pot, which will be equally divided between Mencap Gardens (Stackpole) and The Paul Sartori Foundation. The management team at Santander Bank (Pembroke) has very kindly agreed to match fund our efforts and so swell the charity pot even further.
The following organisations and businesses have also given very generous charitable donations:
Pembroke Managing Agency (London), RWEnPower (Pembroke Power Station), Blue Thunder Charters, MSS (Marine Stores), East Lalnion Boatyard, Andrew Rees Butchers (Narberth)), Evan Evans Brewery (Llandeilo), Santander Bank (Pembroke), Sevenspice (Pembroke Dock/Kilgetty/St Davids), J.E.Lawrence Ltd, St Brides Clothing, Svitzer, Ashdale Engineering and Lifting Services, Celtic Wines Ltd, Port Engineering, Pier Engineering, South Hook LNG, The Sunderland Dive Group, Ledwood Mechanical Engineering, Llanion Signs, Heatherton, Kingswood Engineering, K&K Insurance, LKC Contract Service Ltd., Upton Farm Foods, StenaLine, Milford Haven Port Authority, Healthspan (Guernsey), Nash Farm Shop,Young Bros, Wickes, Redhall Engineering, Mr Hadyn Phillips, Sealand Pembroke Ltd, Old Kings Arms Hotel (Pembroke), Jolly Sailor (Burton), Heatherton, EuroSource Ltd (Bridgend), GRP Mouldings,The Room (Pembroke), Beach Break Café (Manorbier), Valero Volunteers, Begelly Beads, Europcar (Pembroke Dock), Cresselly Inn, SFW Ltd (Mr George John), Welsh MEP Team, Hydraulic Projects International, Carew Inn and Tudor Lodge, BDS Contracts, Mr George Lewis, The Cornstore, N.E.Thing, Oakwood, Manor House, The Watermans Arms, Tree Solutions, The Royal George, Pembroke Castle, Pembroke Rugby Club, Lloyds Pharmacy (Pembroke), Something Different (P.Dock).
Despite a very tough home leg, during the last 8 hours of the race, the rowing team gained a very creditable 13th place. After some well-earned food and drink in Aberystwyth, the whole team thanked all of the organisers and safety craft for their support.