Commandos rise to challenge

Monday 27th June 2011, 2:29PM BST.

Col Rory Copinger-Symes, nearest camera, gets stuck into rowing around the island.

ROUGH seas saw Commandos start their challenge to row, cycle, and run round the island at Beau Sejour.

Commanding officer of 1 Assault Group, Royal Marines, Col Rory Copinger-Symes said the weather on Saturday morning for the Commando Challenge had been a mixed blessing.

‘We had the weather report the night before and we went down to the harbour early this morning but it was just too rough for it to be safe – there were between 2ft and 3ft swells,’ he said. ‘But we had the Beau Sejour rowing machines as a contingency plan.

The challenge raised money for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Foundation, which is out to raise £6m. by the 300th anniversary of the Royal Marines in 2014.