A team of 12 rowers from Wisemans Bridge Rowing Club, Saundersfoot, are training hard in preparation for participation in one of the most gruelling rowing events in the UK - The Celtic Challenge.

This event is a rowing race from Arklow in Ireland to Aberystwyth in mid Wales, a staggering 90 miles - if it were possible to row in a straight line across the Irish Sea! It usually takes the 25 teams between 15 and 24 hours, depending on the weather and sea state - and on how the rowers themselves cope with sea sickness and fatigue as the row progresses.

In an effort to make their participation as safe as possible, the Wisemans rowers have been working on physical training to develop fitness and stamina and training in navigation and route planning. They have been working with Andrew Lowe and Steve from the RNLI at Tenby Lifeboat Station on personal safety awareness, learning how to maintain and check life jackets, and other safety equipment and have man overboard practice sessions in the pipeline.

They hope that no one ends up in the water, but just in case, they want to have an established plan of action in place and there is no one better to advise and help with this than the RNLI volunteers who have so much experience in retrieving people from the water. Their help has been invaluable.

The rowers have been busy planning and holding a number of fundraising events to raise funds to cover the costs of taking a support boat and an inflatable boat to Ireland to assist them and meet the entry requirements. They held a pub quiz night that was very well attended. They have also had a car wash, raffles, beach Olympics and cake competition.

On March 8, they are having a social night with the band P'tcheaow playing at the RAOB Club in Kilgetty - tickets are available for £10 and a disco will follow, making it a good night out (email [email protected]">[email protected]).

On March 22 they have a Mexican themed night with delicious food, drinks and fun at the Shoreline Café in Saundersfoot - tickets £12.

They have also been contacting local businesses requesting support in the form of sponsorship for equipment, fuel and supplies for the challenge and have had a positive response so far.

The club is a very sociable club and new members are always welcome - just contact them via the web site and there you can see some of the activities they have been involved in over the last few years. From April onwards, you can go on down to Wisemans Bridge at 6 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and join them for a row or just watch the fun and games and join them in the Wisemans Bridge pub for a drink afterwards.