Just to say thank you to all those who supported the efforts I made yesterday. I finished the 100Km of rowing in 8 hrs and raised £940 so far (split 50:50 between the ocean row and Great North Air Ambulance).

I was actually relieved and surprised by how easily it went, It was about 5degrees and I stopped for about ten minutes each hour for food and water.

A good marker for a days ocean rowing?

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A Big thank you to Angelo Savarino and the other selectors for the university, Colin Blackburn and Fraser Kennedy for assisting my rowing efforts this year.

Both the small financial contribution and your backing make continuing with rowing at top level that little bit easier.

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After a very indifferent return to the rowing season. I am pleased with the 5th I earnt in the BUSA Mens Open Championship single sculls event over 3Km on the trent the other weekend. As a mate from uni said, "What you are so pleased about you didn't win. You did not even medal." True, none the less, I was pleased to be competetive in a very strong event containing half a dozen internationals (at one level or another).

Having stuttered with injury and illness throughout most of October it has given me a bit more confidence to carry into the long hard winter months (Nov, Dec, Jan) that the sacrifices are worthwhile???



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As some who read this will have already been aware - I went to a boarding school called Christ's Hospital. This rather bizarre place still insists on celerbrating its History in style and so I made my way down to the Fishmongers Hall, for a fantastic dinner and as much port as any of us could drink.

It was a pleasure meeting up with old friends. But, more over, I was very grateful for the encouragement I recieved from many an older, wiser and more intoxicated Old Blue wrt this little voyage.

I would especially like to thank the gentlemen who so kindly forwarded me a contribution toward this escapade. And look forward to the next opportunity I have to beg borrow and steal from those who have already given me so much.

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Thank You to Mel Reed from the uni press office and Karen Thomas from ITV for helping do a short piece on Weds 11th October. The piece looked and it may be making its way south to ITV London for the weekend - where I live (d?) with my dad in amersham.

Keep your eyes peeled!

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Well 31 miles may not be quite an ocean but non stop in 26 degree heat, you still end up with a sore bum and sore hands. Unfortunately I was unable to post the sub 4hr time that I wanted but 4hr 11mins was enough to win my catergory comfortably.

The event was well organised and i recommend that those looking for a stepping stone to Ocean rows it is a useful test of how you cope when your bum is sore and and hands are raw.

I can say that I stuck to my breaks schedule however, With it being a much warmer day than I had anticipated, I did not rashion my water as well as I could have.

On the brightside I feel I have learnt a bit about my limits and have a better idea of what it is likely to feel like to row for a day?? - I Hope?


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As a change to my usual pre season routine, I thought I would try and row the Boston Marathon. At only 31 miles and if all things go to plan around four hours, not exactly of ocean preportions but none the less it shall be the furthest I will have rowed non stop.

I have been steadily increasing my mileage in my single and am looking forward to travelling down on saturday. The Evening Chronicle have agreed to do a little piece again which is great.

Wish me luck.

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Why? Is usually the first question that people ask me when they discover how epic this voyage is going to be. Essentially, I can't explain it in a sentence or in a word, I can only say that since finding out about this expedition opportunity, I have nothing but respect for those who have completed Ocean rows and especially for Richard and the extent of his ambition.

So I guess the next question would be why bother? Why not invest the best part of £20k and over 2 years of your life into say a career or building a family or a home. Since the beginning of September, I have received some very encouraging support from people in the North East and Newcastle. In essence we will be taking each and everyone of our supporters and doners with us through every stroke of this voyage, and every stroke our closest supporters will be helping us to take.

When I arrived at YMCA Lakeside for the selection weekend, I had a completely different perspective to the one I had when I left at the end of the weekend. The journey being undertaken is far more than a person or group of persons enduring suffering whilst at sea. The whole Journey encompasses a spiritual, emotional and physical journey.

I CANT WAIT!!!



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I would like to thank Sarah at the Sunday Sun (North East Sunday paper) for publishing my first article.

Click here to view the article

Thank you for your support, the article was also published in the Herald and Post which is distributed free around the NE.

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