Two Portsmouth-based senior ratings posted highly commendable times when they took on the best of the world at the international indoor rowing championships.

More than 1,700 competitors descended upon Boston, USA, including WO(MEA) Paul Winton and CPO Kevin Anderson, alongside British team captain and legendary Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave.

Hi-tech indoor rowing machines were linked together, with images displayed on large screens so competitors could see their own – and their rivals’ – progress.

Competing in the 40-49 age group, HMS Ark Royal’s CPO Anderson (41) – the RN champion in the category – posted a time six seconds short of his personal best of 6m 25s to come in 16th place in the 2,000 metre race.

His colleague, serving at MCTA Portsmouth, and six years his senior, crossed the electronic finishing line in 6m 30s, just under two seconds outside his personal best, to finish 28th.

WO Winton, also the RN track and field team manager, only took up indoor rowing competitively less than a year ago.

CPO Anderson is intent on setting up a RN&RM indoor rowing association with a view to Service teams competing in major championships.