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Friends paddle around Mersea Island on giant SUP for RNLI

Colm O'Laoi From left to right, Oli Jordan, Andy Large, Jess Ashley and Matt PayneColm O'Laoi
From left to right, Oli Jordan, Andy Large, Jess Ashley and Matt Payne paddled around Mersea Island on the giant paddleboard

A group of friends were not deterred by the weather as they circumnavigated an island on a giant paddleboard (SUP) for charity.

Jess Ashley, Oli Jordan, Andy Large and Matt Payne paddled 21km (13 miles) around Mersea Island, Essex, in aid of the RNLI.

They had rain, sunshine and thunderstorms during the challenge on the eight-person board on Friday.

But they said they were "really pleased" to complete it in five hours.

Barry Scott the group taking part in the challengeBarry Scott
Mersea Island is an island in Essex that lies in the Blackwater and Colne estuaries to the south-east of Colchester

The quartet, who run the East of England Paddlesports group, undertake a fundraising challenge every year, alternating raising money for the RNLI and Mind.

Barry Scott Oli Jordan, Andy Large, Jess Ashley and Matt Payne on the paddleboardBarry Scott
They paddled 21km (13 miles) in five hours
Barry Scott the group taking part in the challengeBarry Scott
The group has raised nearly £2000 so far for the RNLI

Ms Ashley, 35, from Great Bentley, said the challenge went better than they expected, given the weather conditions, and they had luckily paused for food when the thunderstorms rolled in.

Barry Scott Jess Ashley, Oli Jordan, Andy Large and Matt Payne on the giant paddleboardBarry Scott
The group said they believed they were the first to paddle around Mersea Island on a giant paddleboard

She said they believed they were the first people to paddle around Mersea Island on a giant SUP, and it was "so nice" to be able to paddle on one board together, rather than on separate paddleboards.

The group, who were supported by a rescue boat, raised almost £2,000 for the charity.

Colm O'Laoi Oli Jordan, Andy Large, Jess Ashley and Matt Payne on the paddleboardColm O'Laoi
Jess Ashley said it was "so nice" to be able to paddle together on the same board rather on their own individual ones
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