July 23, 2010 1:15 PM

Grandma among 1st Women to Row around Britain

By
CBSNews
(AP)  A 50-year-old wheelchair-bound former U.S. marine and three teammates have become the first women to row nonstop around mainland Britain after completing the 2,000-mile journey.

Amateur rowers Belinda Kirk, Laura Thomasson, Beverley Ashton and Angela Madsen reached London's Tower Bridge on Friday to finish the trip in 51 days, 16 hours, 42 minutes.

Madsen is a wheelchair-bound former U.S. marine from Long Beach, Calif. She has rowed the Atlantic and Indian oceans but says Britain "presented the most challenging and unpredictable weather patterns."

The 50-year-old grandmother broke her finger setting off a flare but carried on with a strapped hand.

The quartet started the race against a men's team June 1, but the men gave up after less than two weeks.

AP
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by SportsNSpokes June 1, 2011 4:46 PM EDT
Way to go Angela! CBS editors..It's NOT wheelchair-bound..Use wheelchair user or disabled athlete. Also Marines is/are CAP. this is OUR title...not a description.

Thank you
SPORTS 'N SPOKES Magazine
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by WaggyWow July 23, 2010 5:01 PM EDT
No way thats one cool Grandma dude.

Lou
www.post-anonymously.at.tc
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by debmole July 23, 2010 4:15 PM EDT
She is an amazing woman. Check out her website at RowofLife.com Thanks CBS for running this story!
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