MP's REACTION TO GREAT RIVER RACE

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th Sep 2002

After successfully completing the 22-mile boat race from Ham to Greenwich, MP Vincent Cable said that he and his five-person crew (which included TV celebrity Bamber Gascoigne) was "exhausted but enormously pleased".

Their boat 'Lillian' won the Veteran Boat category and raised substantial sums in sponsorship for Richmond's Environment Trust (contact: Mr & Mrs Pereira 020 8892 5086).

Vincent Cable said: "almost four hours of rowing was quite a challenge but great fun. It got rather scary when the boat in front sunk due to rough water at Waterloo Bridge. But, I am glad I did it and helped with a good cause".