BAD weather and stormy seas were not enough to put off team ‘Abercrannog’ after their hopes of competing in the Celtic Rowing Challenge were dashed when the race was forced to be cancelled due to adverse conditions.

The team of rowers made up from the clubs in Llangrannog and Aberporth decided instead to put their training to good use - but on dry land with a row outside The Ship in Llangrannog.

The team raised a fantastic £2,320 for the RNLI and Ty Hafan but getting aboard a set of rowing machines and powering their way through an extremely tough 90 miles - the distance they would have covered had the race between the Welsh coast and Ireland gone ahead as planned.

Team spokesman Samantha English said: “We had an epic day on Saturday, we were all completely exhausted but completed the 90 mile crossing on each of the four rowing machines.

“We were humbled by the support we received from our two villages and from our families and friends.”

The Celtic Challenge is a biennial Rowing Race across the Irish Sea from Arklow in Ireland to Aberystwyth.

This year’s event was due to take place over the weekend Friday, April 29 to Monday, May 2.

The race would have been ending when the boats cross the harbour entrance in Aberystwyth.

This year there were 23 entries, including boats from London, Shropshire, Paris and Berlin, as well as from both sides of the Irish Sea.

Organisers from the Celtic Rowing Challenge reported that over £40,000 was raised in total for charity.