ENGLAND POLO WINS FOURS CLASS Wednesday 22nd January 2014
The Atlantic Polo Team has completed the world’s toughest rowing race in 48 days 7 mins, winning the fours class and finishing 2nd overall, ahead of 11 other teams. England Polo players, Henry Brett, James Glasson and Bobby Dundas (10th Viscount Melville) alongside amateur polo player Fergus Scholes, took on the challenge as novices to extreme maritime sports.
Rowing 3000 miles, from La Gomera to Antigua, in shifts of two hours on, two hours off, 38 year old Henry from Witney in Oxfordshire, 39 year old James from Midhurst in Kent, 29 year old Bobby from Chippenham in Wiltshire, and Fergus from Blandford in Dorset, who turned 31 on the water, competed in the arduous race to raise money for The Brooke, Hilton in the Community Foundation and Right to Play causes.
“The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is something we feel extremely privileged to have experienced, yet would not have wished upon our worst enemies - we have been through hell and back again out there. Most did not expect us to even get to the start line, we are delighted to have won the fours & be 2nd out of the entire fleet “ comments Henry Brett.
The team has faced severe conditions during the crossing and two men were thrown overboard whilst battling 40ft waves. Racing neck and neck against friends and fellow fours, Row2Recovery, The Atlantic Polo Team nudged to the lead on New Year’s Day and stayed ahead for the duration of the nail-biting race.
Talisker Brand Manager Sophie Brookes comments: “The Atlantic Polo Team has done tremendously well to win the fours class of the 2013 Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, during which the team faced extremely unforgiving conditions. Bobby and Fergus visited Talisker distillery on the Isle of Skye in Scotland before they left, looking out at the rough Atlantic Ocean surrounding the island one last time before setting off they discussed the tough battle ahead of them. All of us at Talisker would like to applaud them for facing the conditions head on and coming out on top in their class.”
The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge saw 16 teams from around the world start the race on the 4th December 2013 from La Gomera in the Canary Islands. With two teams airlifted to safety following capsizes and one team rescued by a passing Bulk-carrier ship, only 11 teams remain in the world’s toughest rowing race.
In order of position, here are the 11 teams still competing in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge:
- Row2Recovery: Two injured servicemen and two able-bodied members of the Armed Forces from the UK are raising money for Help for Heroes. Trooper Cayle Royce and Corporal Scott Blaney, both of whom suffered life-altering injuries whilst on duty in Afghanistan, are rowing across the Atlantic Ocean with Captain James Kayll and Captain Mark Jenkins. For further information, please visit http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/row-2-recovery/.
- Adventure 4 a Cure: Australian soloist Andrew Abrahams is rowing across the Atlantic Ocean to raise money for the Lions Club of Rochedale Springwood and Couee Community. The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is particularly difficult for soloists because the boat has to be anchored when competitors are sleeping to ensure the boat does not drift off course. For further information about Andrew’s crossing, please visit http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/adventure-for-a-cure/.
- Atlantic Row 2013: Londoners Dan Howie and Will North are raising money for Cancer Research, Leukemia & Lymphoma Research and St Anna’s. For further information, please visit http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/atlantic-row-2013/.
- 2 Boys in a Boat: Jamie Sparks and Luke Birch from the UK are raising money for Breast Cancer Care. To find out more please visit: http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/2-boys-in-a-boat/.
- Nordic Endurance: Stefan Erlandsson and Erik Grafstörm from Sweden are hoping to break the current record for a pairs row across the Atlantic Ocean. For further information, please visit http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/nordic-endurance/.
- Bolton Atlantic Challenge: Mark Brocklehurst, Nick Griffiths, Matt Nuttall and Finn Christo are from Bolton, UK. Having never rowed before, the team made the decision to take on the world’s toughest rowing race two years ago to raise money for local charity Bolton Lads and Girls Club. For further information, please visit http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/bolton-atlantic-challenge/.
- Team Prosecta: Jimmy Strandberg and Frederik Nilsson from Sweden are testing their friendship to the limit by rowing across the Atlantic Ocean together. For further information, please visit http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/prosecta/.
- Atlantic Inspiration: Viktor Mattsen from Sweden attempted to row across the Atlantic in 2011, but crashed out half way through due to a violent storm. Viktor is rowing with Scott Etherington from the UK to raise money for Diabetes UK and Barncancer. For further information, please visit http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/atlantic-inspiration/.
- Atlantic Forces: Warren Burns, Howie Raw, Jane McIntosh and Liz Beauchamp from the RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, are rowing together to raise awareness and money for the Alzheimer’s Society, RAF Benevolent Fund and Action for Children. For further information, please visit http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/atlantic-forces/.
- Atlantic Quad: Simon Hartwright, Matthew Collier, Tom Alben and Eoin Hartwright are raising money for Cool Earth and Helen and Douglas House. To find out more, please visit: http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/atlantic-trio/.
- Inspirational Friends: Friends Hannah Lawton and Lauren Morton are raising money for Myton Hospice and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust in memory of their friend who died aged 23 of cervical cancer. To find out more, please visit: http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/inspirational-friends/.
Teams rescued during the race:
- Atlantic Splash: Neal Marsh, Marc Alderman, Tom Hyland, Bastien LeClair and Terry Munson from Kent and Sussex are rowing to raise £200,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Tall Ships Youth Trust, British Heart Foundation and the Macular Society. For further information, please visit http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/atlantic-splash/.
- Astro Sweden: Swedish soloist Christer Kjellner. Christer has wanted to row across the Atlantic Ocean since he was a child. For further information, please visit http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/astrosweden/.
- Team Neas Energy: Nick Rees and Ed Curtis will be rowing to raise £250,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer after Nick’s wife was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 33. To read about their story, please visit http://www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/the-teams/team-neas-energy/.
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