ROWERS at a Twickenham club were celebrating this week after fellow member and Teddington resident Debra Veal successfully completed her Transatlantic row against all the odds.

Debra, aged 27, works as a businesswoman when she is not out on the water braving the wide oceans. She started training only last year.

Members of Twickenham Rowing Club, located on Eel Pie Island, were extremely excited about her finishing the three month journey this week.

She left from Tenerife on October 7th and arrived in Port St Charles, Barbados last Saturday to be greeted by her twin sister, her husband Andrew, her mother and her two brothers.

Speaking to reporters Debra said: "There were low times but I never doubted I would make it. There was something within me that wouldn't let me give up.

"My overall memory is the overall peace, tranquillity and beauty of the ocean which was really enlight-ening."

Andrew began the journey rowing along with her but had to abandon ship after he developed a fear of the ocean, an illness which had him shivering, curled up and unable to talk.

A fellow rower from the club, Helen Bendell, said: "It's an achievement for both of them, they have always worked as a unit throughout the crossing. We are enormously proud, the whole club is very excited.

"She started training at our club last summer. I think she had only a little bit of rowing experience. Andrew had quite a lot, he is a National champion. He has been supporting her all the way since he left the boat. "She had a satellite phone on board the boat and they talked all the time. They continued to work as a unit. We are proud of them both.

"No celebration is planned as yet at the club, but I'm sure there will be."