A 24-HOUR row-a-thon was recently held in Penarth, with money raised from the event helping to buy new equipment for the town’s rowing club.

Calvin Pritchard, a junior indoor rowing gold medallist, got proceedings under way at Penarth Rowing Club earlier this month.

He was followed by members of the club, who took turns on rowing machines to complete the 24-hour challenge.

Each participant was sponsored by a local company, with the main event backed by The Water’s Edge restaurant and hotel in Penarth.

Funds raised will help Penarth Rowing Club buy a new sculling boat to enable members to race competitively throughout Wales and the UK.

The club was also given a Community Chest grant from the Welsh Sports Council for the new boat, which is due to be delivered at the end of June. Nick Reeves-Hall, who helped organise the event, said: "It was a great success and the rowing committee would like to thank all the sponsors, because without their support Penarth RC would not have been able to afford the new boat. "The club has just returned from Monmouth Regatta where they had great success winning medals and with the new boat, the club will be entering more races and bringing more medals back to Penarth."