A PAIR of rowers from the New Forest have their eyes set on breaking a Guinness World Record which has stood for more than 10 years.

Dave Mans and Rob Maltby from Lymington are attempting to row the entire 185-mile length of the River Thames in less than 36 hours.

During their journey, the duo will burn around 30,000 calories, travel across nine counties, go through 45 lochs and under 214 bridges.

Dave and Rob have 30 years combined rowing experience and a number of challenges on their CV, including successfully completing the 500-mile ‘Old Pulteney’ row to the magnetic North Pole.

The rowers are due to set off in their specially designed boat from Gloucestershire at 5am on Saturday October 7 and need to complete the distance by 2pm on Sunday October 8 to break the Guinness World Record.

"We came up with the idea to try and break the record together really at the same time," Dave said.

"Normally crews who try this to do this row on the Thames are traditional river rowers from City clubs.

"We're hoping our experience and specific skills developed in coastal rowing will help to give us some form of advantage over the course of the challenge.

"Sections of the River Thames are known to be quite rough, but we should be comfortable in that environment.

To prepare for the physical challenge ahead of them the pair, who both row at Lymington Rowing Club, have combined long sessions on the rowing machines with distance runs to build up their stamina.

Along with trying to break the record, the duo are raising funds for the veterans' mental health charity Combat Stress and Lymington Rowing Club' new club house.

Both rowers serve in the army and Dave said the support Combat Stress give to ex-armed forces personnel is so important.

"People are really aware of the more visible injuries people suffer from serving.

"The coverage and public knowledge of it is getting better, but a lot of the problem is the lack of visible symptoms with mental health.

"The charity do an incredible job helping veterans all over the country.

"We've had some fantastic support from local businesses so far and hopefully that will continue right up to and after the challenge so we can raise money for a key cause as well as the rowing club's project."

"A particular thanks has to go to the department store Bradbeers who have given a donation of £1000. Their support is fantastic."

To find out more about the challenge and to donate visit www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/hampshire-iowcommunity/totalthames17.