Iona's Atlantic Challenge Great Britain 2020

**UPDATE**

So we are still awaiting confirmation as to where Atlantic Challenge will be held next year. However, we are confident that we will be back on the water soon!

Meanwhile I thought I would let you know what I’ve been up to. This lockdown has been tougher on me than the one last year. Purely because the darker nights and cold wet weather have got in the way! However I did complete 50 miles in January and raised money for Maggies Centres which was such an amazing achievement because i know Maggies Centre have been an incredible support system for people fighting cancer up and down the country.

I have also been taking part in regular online zoom classes every week with Bekkah Fit and also attending her bootcamp on a Saturday in West Kilbride now that the outdoor exercise rules have eased. I’ve also increased my daily water intake, got in my steps and made healthier food choices which I’m feeling all the more better for! I’ve still managed to sneak the odd Prosecco and sweet treat in but it’s much less now!

Maintaining my motivational levels and increasing them have been a big part of my life the last few months. I’ve pushed myself and I am now seeing results physically and mentally. My fitness levels are much better and I am loving feeling fit and ready to go.

Gyms open up next week and I’m ready to make more progress so I can bring everything I have to the next training camp. Here are some photos of what I’ve been up during lockdown to keep and increase my fitness levels!

I will keep you updated as to the teams plans for next year! 🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Happy New Year to you all !

Last year as you may know myself along with Team Great Britain were supposed to be off to St. Petersburg- Russia for Atlantic Challenge 2020. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 that was unable to take place and we all stayed put.

With no flights across to Russia and no training down in Portland I have definitely felt absent from
rowing. We have every finger crossed that at some
point in the year we can get back together as a team and ROW!

We also hope to be competing again in the next year or so, nothing has been confirmed by our trustees as of yet. Keep an eye out for that announcement.

To not be able to see the team in 2020 was strange. Atlantic Challenge has become a massive part of my life and it has definitely been missed. However, we have managed to get together for some Zoom calls which has been fun!

I will be in touch with all my sponsors soon once the trustees have updated us.

Meanwhile I hope you all keep safe and have a happy 2021, here is a photo of some of the trustees and the team and I on our Zoom call, you may see some familiar faces !

🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Happy Easter Everyone! I hope you are all keeping safe during this surreal time.

In light of recent events the decision has been made by Atlantic Challenge trustees to postpone Atlantic Challenge 2020 St. Petersburg till 2021.

This decision is very much the right thing for all nations and I am very much looking forward to seeing everyone from across all nations next year In Russia.

The dates of next years have not been confirmed as of yet. We are still waiting to hear from the hosting nation (Russia). As soon as they are confirmed I will update you all.

I would like to take the time to thank each and everyone of you for the continued support you have given me, I feel very lucky and I am looking forward to getting back to the gym and on the water when all of this is done.

I would also like to thank my sponsors; Scottish Sea Farms, Knox Nets, Northern Marine Service, Gael Force Group and Biomar. I appreciate the support you have shown me. I can only say that my dream of bringing home gold with team GB still stands and I can't wait for the training, hard work and laughs to come.

For now I shall continue to do my one bit of exercise a day and keep as healthy as possible so I am ready to get back to it the minute I can. Until then...keep safe everyone!

In light of recent times I would like to take the time out to thank each and everyone of you.

At the moment everything is very much up in the air However, I want to ensure my sponsors that whilst I cannot attend the gym I will be training at home the best I can to maintain my fitness and mental health.

Thank you to my sponsors:
Scottish Sea Farms
Knox Nets
Northern Marine Services
Gael Force Group
Biomar

Also a big thank you to Sports Scotland for the use of their amazing facilities.

I hope both my sponsors and all my supporters are keeping safe and well in these next few weeks. I will be in touch with more updates.

Happy Monday everyone!

It’s 8am and I have a done a training session already...6.30am starts are sometimes awful at first but once I remember what it’s for they are the complete opposite.

Thank-you for you’re continued support and kind words.

Happy 2020 to all my followers!

This year is a very important year for me and the rest of the GB team. We are now counting down until we head out to Russia to compete in the ‘Atlantic Challenge 2020’.

Some of you will know this is my second time being accepted on to Team GB and it is an honour to be re-selected. It is also an honour to represent Scottish Rowing.

I can’t wait to get training with the team again in the hope we pick up some gold medals along the way again.

Thank you to all my sponsors; Northern Marine Services, Scottish Sea Farms, Gael Force, Knox Nets and Biomar. You’re continued support has enabled me to follow my dreams.

Happy 2020 to everyone. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

Not long to go now.

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me in my next challenge with Team GB.

I would like to say a big thank you to all my sponsors;
Scottish Sea Farms
Knox Nets
Gael Force Group
Northern Marine Sevices
Bio Mar
for their generosity and kindness. You guys have all made it possible for me to compete in Atlantic Challenge 2020 and it is so surreal to think I will be travelling out to Russia very soon.

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THE MOST EXCITING NEWS YET!

With just under a year till I head of to Russia I am so pleased to announce I have hit my target of raising £2000!

Biomar have kindly agreed to be a main sponsor. I am so thankful to all the team at Biomar. It means so much to me. I have such a strong network of people who want to back me and it constantly amazes me. Biomar have now got me to my target and I am so grateful. I can’t wait to tell you all about ‘Atlantic Challenge’!

I will be sure to keep my sponsors and all of my kind followers updated with my progress throughout the next year. I will be releasing something special for all my sponsors in the next coming weeks so they can see a little bit more of what we do.
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Hello everyone! I’ve been away all week down in sunny Portland training with team GB ahead of next years contest, in Russia.

It’s been a very successful week of training, meeting new team members and catching up with current ones!

You will be all glad to know that the team are doing fantastic and we are all very proud of our achievements this week, nothing went massively wrong...apart from me having a little visit from the ambulance after having an allergic reaction! Let’s just say no more necterines for me. 🍑

I would like to say two big massive thank-yous!
Firstly thank you to my sponsors for making this whole adventure possible. I’m so grateful to you all and I cant wait to share all the news with you.
Scottish Sea Farms Ltd
Gael Force Group
nets
marine services

I would also like to thank the coaches on the Great British Team for all their hard efforts to ensure we are all up to scratch on and off the water.

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