NEWPORT Boat Clubs men's rowing crew took the Biarritz France international surf rowing competition by storm.

The team of old sea dogs came third in the men's open category and then went on to take first place in the masters + 200 category.

The team made up of Trevor Holland, David Belsham, Andrew Nelmes, Ian Kavanagh and Sweep Steve "Yap Yap" Swan were the oldest crew in the competition.

This is the second time that the team have taken part in this bi-annual event and the group said that they never expected to win.

Rowing all year round in Celtic long boats and the surf boat in the summer competing in the UK surf rowing league (UKSRL) competitions got the team in shape for the competition.

Team member Trevor Holland said: “Preparing to go out in the big surf we were kind of nervous, but the adrenaline was rushing. We've been in similar conditions earlier in the year at Perranporth Cornwall, but the energy and power of the Biarritz waves are far more powerful.

“However we also had one of the best experienced sweeps in the world even though he was 71-years-old. The event also provided extremely fit and healthy French lifeguards supporting us with their ribs and jet skis.”

The team first started surf rowing when they were hired to row in Robin Hood movie with Russell Crowe where they also met surf rowers from Cornwall.

"We didn't expect to win, fortunately for us, many of the younger crews didn't make it through the surf, we were lucky we timed it well. The whole team is still buzzing days after the competition."