A GROUP of female rowers aged between 30 and 60 broke four British and world records between them at a gym in Meliden last weekend.

A total of 23 women, split in two groups of either those aged 30-39 or 40-60, broke the records for the longest continuous row in each category (26 hours), and the greatest distance covered in a 24-hour row.

In the event, dubbed “We Rowed All Night”, the 30-39-year-olds rowed 327,079m in 24 hours, while the 40-60-year-olds managed 324,963m, breaking the records for both age category.

This was between 1pm on Friday (March 25) and 3pm on Saturday at @TheStudio, where personal trainer Caroline Gray, who competes on the indoor rowing circuit competitively, is based.

The rowers were also taking on this challenge for two causes: firstly, Cavernoma Alliance UK, a charity for those affected by cavernoma (a cluster of abnormal blood vessels, usually found in the brain and spinal cord).

They were also rowing for “Move a Marathon”, a fundraiser in memory of Ethan Ross, who died aged 17 following a crash on the A55 near St Asaph in September 2020.

The proceeds from “Move a Marathon” will go to Wales Air Ambulance and 2Wish, a charity who helps those affected by the death of a young person.

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The group of women, many of whom also row competitively, came from across the UK and Sweden, having been connected through their mutual love of rowing, to meet in Meliden to take on the challenge.

People are still able to donate to their online fundraiser page, with £770 having been raised so far.

Caroline, who take part in the record-breaking row herself, said: “We’ve had t-shirts made and will get certificates from the people who monitor the world records.

“They’ve been submitted to Concept2 (a manufacturer of rowing equipment) and are just going though verification at moment.

“We did it in three-minute intervals, rotating between the two teams constantly for all 26 hours – (there was) one person (rowing) from each team for every three minutes.”

Caroline, who has owned her gym since November 2020, said that, by 3pm on Saturday, she was: “Tired, but elated that we’d done it. It was a fantastic vibe; everybody was just supportive of each other - it was actually very enjoyable, in its own way.”

The rowers were inspired to raise money for Cavernoma Alliance UK, as close relatives of two participating have this condition, which can cause stroke-like symptoms and seizure.

The “Move a Marathon” cause was also selected after another rower nominated it as her chosen charity.

To donate, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/werowedallnight.

For more on Cavernoma Alliance UK, go to their website at: www.cavernoma.org.uk.

To add to the donations to “Move a Marathon”, go to: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/moveamarathonforethan22.