A HEALTHY dose of Yorkshire grit has helped a rowing team finish fifth in an epic 3,000-mile journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Row4Victory team – made up of four friends from North Yorkshire – spent nearly 40 days at sea in an eight-metre boat as they competed in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

They rowed around the clock every day since they set sail with 27 other teams on December 12 from the Canary Islands.

Rowing to raise money for military charities Soldier On! and the Royal British Legion, Row4Victory reached the finish line at Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua at 3.32am GMT on Monday.

The team consists of Duncan Roy, a former Royal Engineer from Ingleby Arncliffe; Fraser Mowlem, a serving Chief Technician in the RAF from Linton-On-Ouse; Glyn Sadler, former Royal Marine from Borrowby and Will Quarmby, a landscape gardener from Ripon.

Mr Quarmby was delighted the team completed the challenge and said: “Well, we’ve only gone and done it!

“3,000 miles of open ocean crossed with nothing but oars and Yorkshire grit.

“To see land then lights, then boats, then people really built our excitement, adrenaline and the feeling of achievement.

“The crowning glory was to see the faces of the family, friends and sponsors that were able to make it to the finish line.

“Faces and voices we are used to seeing and hearing in Yorkshire made it truly feel like coming home.”

Sir Gary Verity chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, congratulated the team.

He said: “We’re incredibly proud of Fraser, Will, Duncan and Glyn.

“It’s a huge achievement making such a gruelling journey and to come in in fifth place is a great result for them.

“They’ve shown real Yorkshire grit and courage throughout the challenge and also raised tens of thousands of pounds for two incredibly deserving charities.

“We’re looking forward to giving them a true Yorkshire welcome when they arrive back in God’s Own County.”

Helen Mason, community fundraising manager for the Royal British Legion, said: “This has been an incredible challenge for these four guys who sacrificed Christmas at home with their families to row across the Atlantic and raise money for our armed forces community.”

A founding Trustee of Soldier On, Nicholas Harrison, said that in ten years of charity fundraising they had never received such committed support as from the Row4Victory team.