Following the disappointment of Celtic Challenge 2016 having been cancelled last week, a number of the Team Margot Rowers regrouped and headed down to Aberystwyth where the race would have finished over the weekend, really as a bit of a team outing but also to join other rowing teams.

The race organisers convened a meeting at Aberystwyth Boat Club and because the sea conditions were considered too dangerous, announced that there would be a competitive timed race around Aberystwyth harbour.

An exploratory team trip up the Aberystwyth funicular

(l to r): me, Philippa, Vicki, Emma & Mel B

Forty four people took part in the time trial and lots were drawn to make up eleven mixed teams (as it happens, there were 22 women and 22 men), which then raced one lap around the harbour; the quickest time was 5 minutes and 44 seconds.

The four fastest teams were entered into the final (this time two laps of the harbour) and they included the following Team Margot Rowers:

Martin Beaumont
Claire Howard-Vyse
James Howard-Vyse
Mike Smith

Tom (yellow hat) & Mel B (position 2) during the time trials

Claire Howard-Vyse going for it during the time trials

Martin and Mike were drawn in the same boat, along with two of the Arklow Ladies Rowing Team, Lisa Mellon, 2014 winner of the Celtic Challenge Arklow Ladies and Claire Alexander, who has rowed the Celtic Challenge twice (initially in 2008) – as it turns out, the Arklow Ladies rowing team haven’t ever lost the Celtic Challenge !

Along with Lisa & Claire, Martin and Mike came in fastest with a two lap time of 12 minutes and 6 seconds – only 9 seconds separating their boat from the fourth place team.

It’s a fabulous achievement for Team Margot Rowers to have entered the Celtic Challenge for the first time and come away with a win. And it’s also a bit of a fairy-tale ending and very fitting that our team leader, Martin Beaumont has been rewarded with a medal for all his inspiration & hard work.

(l to r) Martin, Lisa, Mike & Claire

The winners celebrate

Moreover, we also won The Presidents Cup, an accolade awarded to the team that raised the most money for the event. In total, all the teams involved with Celtic Challenge 2016 combined raised c. £40,000 for various charities, with over £30,000 being raised by supporters of Team Margot Rowers.

Astonishing.

Well done and THANK YOU to all the Team Margot rowers, donors and fundraisers and indeed to everyone who took part in yesterday’s time trial event, which was a massive triumph.

Team Margot
Together, saving lives

One of the rowers from the Aberystwyth team, Dr Maggie Collingborn (pictured with me) donated her peripheral stem cells last year having signed up via the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry. Maggie has rowed the Celtic challenge 6 times ! winning the women’s race twice and the mixed race once.

Later in the evening I met another rower, Dorian Davies, who also donated his peripheral blood stem cells last year. Another amazing person who I feel so pleased to have met.

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Previous posts about Team Margot Rowers:

https://www.teammargot.com/the-celtic-challenge-2016-has-been-cancelled/

https://www.teammargot.com/day-trip-to-lymington-for-sea-rowing-practise/

https://www.teammargot.com/getting-ready-for-the-celtic-challenge-2016/

https://www.teammargot.com/guest-blog-team-margot-were-oarsome-at-the-one-and-only-great-river-race/

On the way out to celebrate last night

Andi, Mike (with winners medal!) & Sharon

(l to r) me, Victoria, Philippa and Tim – we came 6th in the initial round of the time trials (Victoria & Tim are from the Shropshire Rowing Club)

Philippa & I with Jimmy Tyrell & Alan Blair, the gentlemen who started the Celtic Challenge

The Presidents Cup – Thank you for all your donations & for fundraising for Team Margot Rowers

Yaser

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