Two men have broken the world record for the oldest pair to row across the Atlantic Ocean with the help of a Penarth wellbeing and mental health clinic.

Guy Rigby, 68 and David Murray, 56, began the physically and mentally demanding row at La Gomera in the Canary Islands as part of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

The pair set off in December 2021 on The Entrepreneur Ship and rowed 3,000 nautical miles in 53 days, three hours, and 42 minutes, doing two-hour shifts between them, to arrive at Antigua in the Caribbean.

Both faced some difficult challenges during their time in the Atlantic such as waves that were upwards of 40ft and experienced mental health problems like anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation and loneliness.

To help them through this, they enlisted the help of Gareth Strangemore-Jones, a clinical psychotherapist at Penarth-based Alchemy Life Therapy, who has experience working with athletes in Olympic martial arts and the Team Wales Gymnastics Development Squad.

Mr Rigby said: "Our minds were in tip-top shape all the way, thanks to the Brain Training and Mindfulness for Sports Performance from Gareth Strangemore-Jones.

"David and I worked with Gareth on the mental challenges associated with an unassisted Atlantic row. He has been a fantastic help, explaining many of the drivers of the emotions we would experience and the associated chemical reactions in the brain."

Mr Murray added: "Gareth helped us prepare mentally for our expedition. Steering us through our weekly sessions with clarity, he highlighted that it is not just practical and physical considerations that need to be addressed in preparation for a challenge of this nature."

Mr Rigby and Mr Murray raised over £750,000 for UnLtd - The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, a UK charity that finds, funds, and supports people who are setting up social enterprises with solutions that could change society for the better.

During the expedition, both burned an estimated 12,000 calories a day and had to drink ten litres of water a day to keep their energy levels up.