AN EX-SOLDIER who rowed across the Atlantic in 2019 is to take on the epic challenge again – and his daughter will be too.

Ian Davies was one of three local sporting heroes to be inducted into the Oswestry Sports Forum's hall of fame at an event at the Aico Theatre on Friday, July 1.

Cyclist Matt Walker and former footballer Graham Williams, who won the FA Cup with West Brom in 1968 but was unable to attend the event, were also inducted into the hall of fame.

Mr Davies spoke about how a positive mindset enabled him and his colleagues to complete his trip across the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to Antigua with other ex-servicemen as part of the Atlantic Mavericks Team in 2019 – and added he will now embark on the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge again, with his daughter and son-in-law.

He explained: "It is a special thing to do but you do not have to be special to do it was the message I was trying to get across.

"They try and make it elite and a rich persons' game but it is break down the barriers.

"You do not have to be rich to do it, you have to be smart clever and tell lots of people about it.

"And that is what I am hoping for this time. I am going to be racing my daughter, she'll be in a boat with her husband and I'll be in a different boat with my mate.

"That might spark a bit of interest with the media and TV."

He said: "We raised £25,000 for Myeloma UK, £25,353 for a charity called 353 which is named after the 353rd guy who died in Afghanistan, we know his family quite well.

"We gave £10,000 to the Royal British Legion."

Mr Walker won Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup Championship in 2020 and told the event that he has been racing since he was 13.

"I found myself not getting into school rugby or football," he said.

"I spent two years in the academy and got promoted to the factory team. I became a full time professional in 2018."

Border Counties Advertizer: Matt Walker speaks at the event.Matt Walker speaks at the event.

He said being a professional sportsman means he has to be disciplined with his lifestyle.

He added: "It is pretty full on. It comes down to diet and how much sleep you have.

"It is with you all the time and it becomes a lifestyle.

"However I would not want it any other way."

You can find out more about Oswestry Sports Forum by visiting http://www.oswestrygames.co.uk/