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Ex-parachute regiment officer eyes rowing record

Emily Coady-Stemp
BBC News, South East
PA Media Mike Ellicock sits in his boat, a combination of a sea kayak and an ocean rowing boat, and holds the oars. He is looking at the camera, wearing a dark blue jumper and baseball cap, with sunglasses rested on the peak of the cap. He is on a river with buildings behind him.PA Media
Mike Ellicock, from Lewes in East Sussex, set off on Wednesday

A former parachute regiment officer has set off on his attempt to break the record for a solo row around Great Britain, aiming to honour his former colleagues.

Mike Ellicock, from Lewes in East Sussex, was wounded in action during a hostage rescue in Sierra Leone in 2000, when he was a 25-year-old parachute regiment platoon commander.

The father-of-three, now 49, is attempting to make history by completing the challenge in less than 80 days.

"I turn 50 this year and to 'celebrate' I thought it would be a good idea to attempt to break the record for rowing around Great Britain," he said.

Fergus Kennedy An aerial view showing a rowing boat in the sea with the sun reflecting off the still water. In the foreground is a white and green pole on top of a metal platform.Fergus Kennedy
He set off from Newhaven in a Canadian-designed boat called Pegasus

He set off from Newhaven on Wednesday in a Canadian-designed boat called Pegasus which is a combination of a sea kayak and an ocean rowing boat.

He will go in a clockwise direction, stopping inland every so often to replenish supplies.

"I'm least looking forward to hitting Thurso, which is one of the most dangerous bodies of water in the UK, maybe in the world," he said.

"But I've trained hard for this challenge and taken advice from experts to ensure I'm equipped to deal with the wild waters there unscathed."

Mr Ellicock will raise funds for the Parachute Regiment Charity.

Fergus Kennedy Mr Ellicock in his boat and heading out to sea. The water is still and blue and the sky is also clear and blue. In the background there is a lighthouse on a harbour wall.Fergus Kennedy
He wants to honour his former colleagues during the challenge

Following his recovery from being wounded in action in Sierra Leone, Mr Ellicock said he "had the privilege of commanding paratroopers on operations again before making a successful and rewarding transition into civilian life".

He added: "Not all my former brothers in arms were so fortunate, and that's why I'm looking to use this challenge as a way to honour them while raising money for charities close to my heart."

He will also fundraise for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

In 2013 he broke a Guinness World Record for running the London Marathon with a 40lb (18kg) pack in three hours, 25 minutes and 21 seconds, and has previously taken on the Devizes to Westminster canoe race, which runs over a 125-mile course from Wiltshire to London.

"This upcoming challenge is from another league though. It's like the next level," he said.

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