ROWERS have set a new record for the 10-mile journey from Windermere’s southern tip at Fell Foot Park to Brathay at the lake’s head.

Staff and students from the University of Cumbria battled it out on the water as part of Sport Relief 2020.

University vice-chancellor Professor Julie Mennell led the staff team to victory in two hours 11 minutes - beating the previous record of two hours 25 minutes set by RAF rowers in 2008.

The students finished in two hours 17 minutes. They included Amber Woods, a first-year conservation and biology student at the Ambleside campus, whose was celebrating her 27th birthday. Originally from Kenya and now living in Kendal, she said she was glad to have taken part, adding: “It feels so good.”

Prof Mennell said: “It was an exciting experience and I would like to think we could make this an annual event with other universities joining in.”

Teams across the UK were invited to take part to raise money for the British Inspiration Trust which supports young people with mental health difficulties.

Ambleside technician Pete Waite, the support boat skipper, said the teams rowed brilliantly. “We started with some Force 2 winds, but it picked up to Force 6 in the middle,” he said. “It was a real challenge for them all.”