WHILE most of her school friends were busy revising for this week's exams, 12-year-old Brianna Stubbs was concentrating on a rather more challenging task.

Instead of spending the weekend with her head in the books, the youngster was busy setting a world record by becoming the youngest person to row across the English Channel.

Brianna, from Burley Road in Parkstone, Poole, successfully completed the 60-mile challenge on Saturday morning, accompanied by her ex-Royal Marine father, Mark, 40, Times columnist Jonathan Gornall, 48, and navigation expert John Wills, 33.

The 23hr 48mins journey was used as a training row for the men, who are preparing to smash a second record in June by setting the fastest time for an Atlantic crossing.

But plucky Brianna, a pupil at Parkstone Grammar School, persuaded her skipper dad to let her join in the event after ex-SAS diver Pete Bray was unable to take part.

After setting off from Poole Harbour at 11am on Friday morning aboard Pink Lady, the team worked in pairs for 90-minute shifts, arriving in Cherbourg just before 11am on Saturday and took a short break for a croissant before getting a lift back to Dorset on a support yacht.

Brianna, who suffered severe sea-sickness during the trip, said she was thrilled she had managed to complete the challenge.

She said: "It was quite nerve-wracking before the start. I got very sea-sick because the wind and the sea breeze was really strong, but it cleared up a bit and it was very flat and calm when we arrived in Cherbourg.

"It's something really amazing because some people don't get the chance to do something like this and I feel really privileged that I've had the chance to do it.

"I was really tired, but it's all really exciting."

Dad Mark added: "I'm very proud of my daughter, it was incredible."

The high-tech boat is now to be transported to Newfoundland in Canada in preparation for the Atlantic crossing.

First published: April 26