A Sandbach man training to be a lifeboat crew member has completed one of his toughest challenges to date – rowing across the Irish Sea in a longboat. 

Dave Hursthouse (pictured below)was part of the 12-person crew to take part in the longboat challenge at the weekend to celebrate two milestone anniversaries. 

The Irish challenge celebrated the 160th anniversary of the first lifeboat to be stationed at Porthdinllaen and the 200th year of the RNLI. 

He said: "Honestly one of the best adventures I've ever had! Great company of an amazing team, setting off in the dark from Wicklow in Ireland was eerie, watching the sun rise fabulous! 

"Clear blue skies, flat seas and no land in sight for at least half of the 15 hours it took us to row over to Porthdinllaen in Wales, humbling support from friends and family on boats that came to meet us. 

"Of all the parts I expected to ache, my backside from rowing sitting on a hard bench was not one of them. 

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"A massive thanks to RNLI Wicklow and Sailing club for their hospitality, Mike for the loan of his support yacht, Rob and Nerys for not only letting us use their Tenby longboat but also joining us for the row, friends and family for their unwavering support and to everyone who donated to help keep a lifeboat presence in Porthdinllaen for another 160 years! 

"So very proud to be part of such an amazing crew." 

Dave has joined the Porthdinllaen lifeboat crew on the Llyn peninsula as a trainee all-weather lifeboat crew member as we told here

There is a JustGiving page here for the challenge which has already reached £5,082. 

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