NEW WORLD RECORD

FASTEST 8 TO ROW AN OCEAN

On Saturday the 31st March, Liam and a team of 7 other men, crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 34 days, becoming the fastest 8 ever to row across the Atlantic and the 4th fastest team ever to cross an ocean.  An incredible feat, considering that ocean rowing is considered by many to be the hardest challenge that man can face.

Full details can be found on this site, and diaries of the event in the blog with photos in the main gallery.

Liam is looking to have another attempt on the record in 2013, if interested in joining the team, contact him by email: liam@red-white.co.uk

---

PLANS RACE TO THE NORTH POLE

TRAINING AND EXPEDITION PLANNING

Liam is meeting with a potential team this week to start planning a trip to the North Pole for early 2013.  The project looks hugely exciting and challenging.  Arctic training will take place both in the UK on hills, in Norway and Canada, prior to the event.   More information can be found within this site.

Six years ago my middle son was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer, although he survived it and the chemotherapy that followed, it taught me a lesson about the fragility of life, and I have always tried to live life to the since that day. 

I have always been fascinated by the outdoors, and the wilderness.  From a small child I have loved hiking in the hills and sailing on the seas.  I had a childhood full of adventures, and these have simply grown as I have aged, and the opportunities have increased.  These challenges are therefore almost always personal, however every penny that I can raise for the charities I support, both motivate me, and give resonance to what I am trying to achieve. I intend to complete three major challenges over the next three years; row the Atlantic, walk to the North Pole, and run a The Marathon de Sables (Desert Marathon).   They are all challenges which are beyond my skill set, but training has always been as important to me as the event itself, so i look towards the next few years with confidence. 

I have always enjoyed the response that Chay Blyth gave on being asked why he chose to row across the Atlantic Ocean in 1966.

‘Why did I do it? Because at the end of my days, I am going to be lying in my bed looking at my toes, and I’m going to ask my toes questions like ‘Have I really enjoyed life?  Have I done everything I’ve wanted to do?  And if the answer is no, I’m going to be really pissed off’. 

Prior to rowing the Atlantic a friend gave me a copy of a poem written by President Kennedy, it above all else reminds me that attempting something is often as important as success.

The credit belongs to the Man

Who is actually in the arena.

Whose face is marred

by dust and sweat and blood.

Who knows the great enthusiasms,

The great devotions

And who spends himself in a worthy cause.

Who, if he wins, knows the thrills

Of high achievement.

And if he fails

At least he fails daring greatly.

So that his place shall never be

With those cold and timid souls

Who know neither victory nor defeat.

JFK, 1962