ENTERPRISING adventurers got more than they bargained for when they set about the challenge of rowing three lakes in under 24 hours.

Harwood man Dave Burnham joined forces with pals — mainly middle-aged professionals — to pit strength and determination against the elements.

The challenge, a fresh take on the Three Peaks Challenge, saw the team tackle Loch Lomond, Lake Windermere and Bala Lake in Snowdonia in just a day.

Unfortunately, bad weather meant the team did not complete the challenge — but they still expect to have raised about £5,000 for research into Parkinsons and Motor Neurone diseases.

The friends, including 59-year-old Lancashire County Council executive Mr Burnham, spent months training for the challenge at Salford Quays with Agecroft Rowing Club, enlisting the help of Salford University students Ryan Hartlen and Scott Bembridge to coach them.

Using a 40ft coxed four boat borrowed from the rowing club, the men first tackled Loch Lomond, setting off from Adlui in calm conditions just after midnight. But an hour-and-a-half later, the venture nearly ended in disaster when the weather turned and the oarsmen faced 20mph winds whipping up waves.

“The boat was swamped twice, “ said Mr Burnham. “The swell was so great that it was pushing the boat onto the rocks.”

One rower, Ben Taylor, suffered a broken toe and so the pals abandoned the loch and headed down to Windermere.

The Lake District proved kinder and, at 5.30am, the rowers glided along Windermere’s length in two hours before heading off to Wales to complete the epic challenge.

Mr Burnham says, despite the disappointment of not being able to complete the challenge, they enjoyed it.

“It was a fantastic experience,” he said.

And they are already dreaming up their next challenge.

“We are thinking about rowing the Manchester Ship Canal both ways,” he said.