The gauntlet has been thrown down for the Isle of Man’s record breaking ‘Row the Rock’ team by a group of oil workers from Wales. 15 employees from Murco Milford Haven oil refinery in South West Wales have challenged the Manx Viking longboat rowers to a four hour, head to head race. The ‘Row the Rock’ crew circumnavigated the Island in a record time of 25 hours and 29 minutes in August last year, but this time round their speed will be just as important as their stamina and brute strength. The two Viking longboats will launch from Peel at 8am on Saturday 9th July and the two teams will race south towards Glen Maye. The Row the Rock team will stand down after the longboat race, but there are more physical endurance tasks in store for the oil workers who are undertaking a charity ‘Viking challenge’ on the Isle of Man. Once they've finished the row they'll be getting on their bikes and cycling a complete lap of the TT course and finishing off with a climb of Snaefell(2038ft), the highest point on the Island. The reason for this challenge is to raise much needed funds for the following worthy charities. These will be..... Help for Heroes, National Autistic Society, Cystic Fibrosis Trust Thorne-Mason Trust, MacMillan Cancer Relief Dave Moore from the Murco Milford Haven Oil Refinery team says, “In 2009 we raised over ?13,000(Celtic longboat row in Irish Sea) and last year ?8,800(National Three Peaks Challenge). This year we are hoping for around ?7000.If you see us, please stop us and drop a coin in the bucket!” He adds, “We'll also be collecting around the towns of the Island on Friday night and like true Welshmen, singing for your donations!” “We'd like to give a big thank you to Jimmy Lee and the committee of Peel Viking Longboat Ltd for the use of their boats, and also Andy Mulhern of the "Row the Rock" crew for raising a team to row with us. Thank you all for your enthusiasm and encouragement.” ENDS