Having learnt to row with a laid back university club in York (UK), I didn’t know what I was getting into when I later joined my local club in London with a 6 day a week training program. 
I was soon hooked. With the club spirit and vision of winning shiny pots, rowing was so much more than a workout to me.
Highlights include a win at Pairs Head despite the classic terrible tideway weather and the ongoing endeavour for steering that perfect line down the Henley Regatta course in a coxless four.
Rowing on the Yarra is an absolute blessing and with the welcoming nature of Richmond Rowing Club, I was racing within weeks of settling in Melbourne.
As a physiotherapist and lover of the outdoors, I’m all for making rowing more accessible and would encourage anyone to give it a go. If you don’t try, you’ll never know!
Meet our Team: Kathryn Spinnler-Jenkins
In high school rowing seemed daunting and inaccessible. Only ever picked as a goalie in netball for my height, I had decided that team sports, and sport in general, wasn’t for me by age 13 or 14. When the opportunity came around to try for the rowing squad, I went...
Meet our Team: Xanthe Hadfield
Sport has always played an important part of my life, but It wasn’t love at first sight when I initially tried my hand at rowing at school. I was predominantly a competitive ballroom dancer, more concerned with getting blisters on my feet rather than my hands! After...
Meet our Team: Thais Umbelino
Thais joined TopRow in 2019 because she wanted a flexible job that would fit in around her studying. Now that Thais has graduated from university she has more time and wanted to take the opportunity to get more involved in TopRow Putney. Thais Learnt to row in Brazil...