The Four Oarsmen: The Four Oarsmen to Challenge the Mighty Atlantic

250 days to go!

The Four Oarsmen set to take part in Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge on 12th December 2017 to raise money for MIND and Spinal Research

In just 250 days from now The Four Oarsmen will compete in The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, a 3,000-mile rowing race across the Atlantic Ocean from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua. The Four Oarsmen are four close friends with a burning desire to win the race and raise much-needed funds and awareness for Mind and Spinal Research, two charities close to their hearts. Each a 6’4” rugby player but with limited previous rowing experience, The Four Oarsmen are hard in training to take on and win one of the most demanding mental and physical challenges known to man; rowing the Atlantic.

Close friends since school, Dicky Taylor (31), George Biggar (31), Peter Robinson (31) and Stuart Watts (34) are on a mission not only to be the first crew into English Harbour, Antigua but also to raise a substantial amount of money and awareness for Mind and Spinal Research. George’s father Mike, a past Scotland rugby captain, sustained catastrophic brain damage in a car accident. His mother, previously a successful lawyer as well a trustee for MIND, recently died after a life spent battling with mental illness, making Mind a particularly important charity (and mental health a particularly significant cause) for George and the team. Pete also has a strong connection to Spinal Research, with two close friends tragically paralysed through spinal cord injury, one during a rugby game in Hong Kong and the other in a horrific cycling accident. Through his experiences of the devastating effects of spinal injury and the hope of finding a cure for paralysis, Pete has become a huge supporter of the work done by Spinal Research.

With just eight months to go, The Four Oarsmen now have their boat so will be spending plenty of time training in the North Sea.

Although none of The Four Oarsmen have a history of rowing, they have taken on numerous cycling, canoeing and hiking challenges between them to date; taking on the Atlantic Challenge together as a four was the obvious next step. Being a powerful and driven team of intrepid adventurers, The Four Oarsmen have set the standard as the team to beat. Their ordeal will start in 250 days on December 12th finishing, if their challenge goes to plan, in mid-January 2018 when they cross the finish line in English Harbour, Antigua.

Ends

For further information and images please contact:

Saltwater Stone

Clive Bartlett

Tel: 01202 669244

Email: c.bartlett@saltwater-stone.com