One dedicated team didn't let lockdown stop them from competing in an international championship – and took a handful of top spots for their efforts.

With the Scilly Isles’ World Pilot Gig Championships cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, organisers gave rowers, including Lakeland Rowing Club, another option, holding a virtual competition instead.

The four-day event, which took place from April 23-26, was open to any sea, river or lake rowers with indoor rowing machines, and saw competitors from across the world, including Australia, Hong Kong and French Polynesia.

And the Derwentwater-based Lakeland Rowing Club were over the moon to have the chance to compete, entering 10 rowers, aged from 16-68-years-old, and bringing home two gold and three silver medals.

57-year-old club secretary, David Pratt, won the gold medal in men's Group I, rowing his personal best of 1,998m in the final seven-minute race.

He said: "Taking part in the Gig Rower event has given my lockdown fitness programme a real focus.

"The event was hard, but completing each daily challenge on a video link with fellow Lakeland members meant that I rowed harder and further than if I been doing it on my own."

The Borrowdale man added: "It felt like a real team effort."

Also taking the gold in men's Group K was team captain, Simon Bamforth, 30, who covered 1,926 in seven minutes.

The greatest distance recorded by any Lakeland competitor was a massive 2020 metres in the men’s Group E final, rowed by Nick Cowan, from Eaglesfield.

The 60-year-old was also the fastest competitor in every race, taking silver in the championship's 50 and Over category.

Taking the silver spot in women's Group B was 25-year-old Zoe Brain, who, competing in Durham University colours, covered 1,869m.

Youngster Adam Wilson made everyone proud, being the youngest rower and managing an impressive 1,957m in seven minutes.

The 16-year-old Keswick School student narrowly missed out on gold, losing out to an adult rower by just five metres.

From the group's youngest to the oldest, Cockermouth man, Andy Richardson, found that the championship wasn't the biggest challenge faced.

"On the second day of the event, I was on my rowing machine in the garage, settling into the mentally demanding mid-section of the race, when, much to the amusement of my fellow Lakeland RC competitors, my concentration was shattered by the charming intrusion of my three-year-old granddaughter, Lila," the 68-year-old said.

"I quickly discovered that it’s surprisingly hard to row when fending off a clambering child.

"Lila had a go on the machine – there’s definite potential there I think – and I had to finish the session on my own later in the day."

For details on how to get involved with Lakeland Rowing Club, visit the team's Facebook page, or website at www.lakelandrowingclub.com.