A FITNESS instructor from Poole is one of three men to smash the ultra endurance world record by rowing continuously for a gruelling 41 hours.

Liam Dissey, aged 24, used a rowing machine at Parkstone’s Conditioning Centre Gym.

At the 26-hour mark, Liam told the Daily Echo: “Psychologically it’s done – I’ve not been rowing this long just to quit now.

“When you’ve got a numb bum after two hours and you know you’ve got around 40 to go, you just need to be determined enough to grit your teeth and get on with it.”

Liam, from Parkstone, was joined by local rowers Alex Stewart and Phil Russell, both 30.

This pair needed to complete 30 and 24 hours, respectively, to claim their individual world records. The existing world record in Liam’s category had stood at 36 hours and three minutes.

Liam broke this by completing 41 hours, which works out around the equivalent distance as a return trip from Poole to Cherbourg. Meanwhile, Alex managed 37 hours and 11 minutes, while Phil notched up 30 hours.

Liam said: “It was a great achievement. We all claimed our world records.”

Earlier, as they made their attempt, Liam explained: “We need to row for at least 50 minutes in every hour for it to be classed as continuous.

“We’ve been drinking a lot of water and we’ve got an abundance of bananas and hot cross buns, although I’m more of a chicken and rice man myself.

“I decided to do this a personal achievement as I’ve completed a few endurance events for charity over the past two years and I’ve drained everyone of sponsorship money.”

Gym owner Russell Jolley said: “Liam has been training with me for a few months now in preparation for this rowing challenge.”