May 5, 2019

It’s now or never

By

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Team Margot Rowers next to our support boat, Mistral and support crew

Team Margot Rowers next to our support boat, Mistral and support crew

Team Margot Rowers first formed & began training for the Celtic Challenge over four years ago.

A year later, much to our disappointment, Celtic Challenge 2016 was cancelled because of bad weather.

The event is usually held every two years, but because of the ‘no go’, it was run the following year in May 2017. Only 4 of the 13 boats that started actually completed that crossing, owing to stormy weather.

Regrettably, Team Margot Rowers were one of the casualties and our team was forced to retire two thirds of the way across, having led for much of the race. Mercifully, in spite of various issues the team experienced during the race, no one was badly injured.

Tonight will be one of the darkest (no moon) & coldest on record

Tonight will be one of the darkest (no moon) & coldest on record

Our skipper, Martin with the race organisers. Martin won’t be rowing but is joining on the support boat. His broken shoulder hasn’t impaired his verbal abilities in any way. Chin up Martin !

Our skipper, Martin with the race organisers. Martin won’t be rowing but is joining on the support boat. His broken shoulder hasn’t impaired his verbal abilities in any way. Chin up Martin !

Today, after much training & preparation, Team Margot Rowers are once again set to start Celtic Challenge 2019 at 12 noon, after a sufficiently good “weather window” opened.

Frankly, this is the latest possible time that this endurance race can possibly begin. If now there are any last minute weather issues, this years race will likely be cancelled. All being well, we hope to arrive sometime before lunchtime tomorrow, on Bank Holiday Monday, having successfully rowed across the Irish Sea.

The delay of the race start from either Friday or Saturday has meant a longer stint in Arklow than we originally envisaged, which has of course meant more time away from family for everyone involved, and during a holiday period. The commitment, strength and resolve of the rowers has been immense, but it has been more than matched by the commitment support and understanding from their families at home.

We are delighted to welcome the newest rowers to the team: Digby Koe, Jane Magabe, Holly Pelling and Sarah Mottram who have joined relatively late in the scheme of things, owing to unforeseen issues arising and the resultant drop outs. We are blessed to have them aboard and given their stirling performances during training, we line up at the start in a good place with spirits high.

Thank you also to our fantastic support team, Catherine, Richard and Chris, who are so ably led by Keith Mander. They leave us feeling as safe as I believe is possible prior to embarking on such an adventure.

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Ian during Celtic Challenge 2017, wearing the ridiculous French Navy glasses which are supposed to alleviate sea sickness (they didn’t work!)

Lastly, whilst we are of course rowing in Margot’s name to encourage everyone who is eligible, particularly those who have mixed heritage to register as stem cell and bone marrow donors, I wish to dedicate this race to one of our rower allumni, Ian Ross who is fighting his own battle at home. This one’s for you, Ian.

Team Margot
Together, saving lives

To read about our last attempt during Celtic Challenge 2017: https://www.teammargot.com/the-celtic-challenge-2017/

If you’d like to donate money in support of Team Margot Rowers, we would be enormously grateful.

Track our Celtic Challenge 2019 progress via the YB Races app.

Thank you for all your support ? and to everyone involved ☘️
________
TEAM MARGOT ROWERS
CELTIC CHALLENGE 2019 TEAM:

Brent Harris
Digby Koe
Dr Phil Ancliff, (Margot’s Consultant)
Emma McPhie
Holly Pelling
Jane Magabe
Jonathan Foster Kenny
Melinda Manuel
Sarah Mottram
Sharon Lamb
Teon Rosandic
Yaser Martini, Margot’s father
Skipper: Martin Beaumont (injured but aboard the support yacht)

TEAM MARGOT ROWERS ALUMNI:

Andi Rosandic
Andy Webb
Ben Hampshire
Bronwyn Crockett
Claire Alexander
Claire Howard-Vyse
Ian Ross
James Howard-Vyse
Matt Burgess
Michelle Ridgewell
Neil Griffiths
Philippa Esson
Rob James
Stephanie Von Werthern
Tom Singlehurst
Will Slack

HONORARY ROWERS:
Mike Smith
Jeff Hathaway, Margot’s Grandad
AJ Durrant, probably the worlds best builder
#teammargotrowers

Husband to Vicki and father to Oscar (2007), Rufus (2008), Digby (2015), Humphrey (2017) & Margot (2012-2014)

Posted in: Journal