Villager makes sporting history

A THRILLSEEKING villager made sporting history by becoming one of the first women to row across the Indian Ocean.

Jo Jackson, who grew up in Hartfield, is one of four women who crossed the sea during the recent Woodvale Challenge Indian Rowing Race.

Named The Ocean Angels, the ladies covered 3,500 miles from Australia to Mauritius over the course of 78 days.

Jo, 28, said: "I don't think it tested me enough. I wanted to challenge myself physically and mentally and I just really wanted to find my limits. It was tough, but it didn't test me as much as I wanted it to."

The surveyor, who attended St Mary's Primary School and still has her family home in the village, has helped to raise around £20,000 towards the £50,000 target for Breast Cancer Care.

"It's such an amazing feeling to be the first ever to do something," she added. "There were times when I kind of thought "I wish this was over", but I never wanted to give up. We didn't see anyone else for more than 70 days and there was nothing around us, so we couldn't give up."

The ladies set off in their 29 ft rowing boat on April 19 and were beaten only by a team of men. They arrived home on July 5.

Sport-mad Jo said the team had to endure being battered by winds from every direction, because there were no prevailing winds.

"It was quite dangerous at times and the waves were hitting the boat side on. Getting thrown off our feet was quite normal and it was just luck where we landed."

Despite suffering sores and having to tend to numerous counts of damage to the boat, Jo insists she's still in search of an adrenaline rush.

I have always been sporty and competitive, but I have never done anything this big," she said. "I don't think my parents are keen on the idea, but I certainly want to challenge myself more.

"I think anyone can do it if they put their mind to it."

Further donations can be made online at www.oceanangels.co.uk