Fantastic achievement for Aberdyfi's Mixed team.... Overall Winners of 2019 Celtic Challenge!

 Out of sixteen teams taking part in the 2019 Celtic Challenge rowing race across the Irish sea, Aberdyfi Rowing Club’s Mixed team were first over the line just after 6.am on Monday May 6th.

After a wait of two days until conditions were favourable the teams finally left Arklow in Ireland on Sunday, May 5th to row throughout the night to reach the finish at Aberystwyth the following morning.

The Ladies, Mixed and Miscellaneous teams left Arklow at 12 pm on Sunday with the men’s teams leaving  two hours later at 2pm.

Aberdyfi Mixed were first across the line at 6.09 am on Monday, May 6th in a time of 18 hours and 19 minutes and were the overall winners, first Welsh team to cross the line, winners of the Mixed team category and the first Mixed team ever to win the Celtic Challenge. 

Chairman of Aberdyfi Rowing Club and a member of the Chessington Holidays Vouchers said, “ This race is a tough challenge and I am so proud of all of our team-we did incredibly well and it was a wonderful achievement.”
“ We had a great start from Arklow and conditions were favourable which meant we had a good crossing. We were definitely a happy team and there was a great camaraderie amongst us all which kept our spirits up.”
“ Everyone on the team played their part in our success – huge thanks to David Chapman and John Ward on the rib and to Pete Jennings , Chris Smith , Howard ,and Jack Whittle on our support boat ‘September Joy’  and also to Ian Brown and Tom Jones who were
indispensable in towing  our boats to Ireland  and transporting the crew  around in Ireland. What a great team.”
“ When the race began on Sunday we were leading all the boats almost from the start and the fact that we managed to keep ahead the whole way shows our determination and courage and proves that all the long, hard hours of training have been worth while!”
“ Thanks to all our supporters and of course to  the organisers for another terrific Celtic Challenge. We look forward to another one in two years’ time!