Meet the TopRow rowers. Cynthia Masters has much to celebrate this year 2021. After progressing with TopRow and joining our partners Richmond Rowing Club Cynthia is finally feeling comfortable with single sculling due to persistent, consistent and understanding coaches. Secondly, Cynthia and her whole family have the great pleasure of seeing Timothy Masters (Charles and Cynthia’s son) attend his first Olympics in Tokyo as part of the Australian Eight later this month. Cynthia’s journey with rowing began many years before she picked up an oar:
I have watched over at least a 15 years period my boys row for their school in Melbourne. Our second son Timothy Masters excelled in the sport and has performed at elite level for many years winning at Henley Royal Regatta three times, World Rowing Cups and now the Olympic dream just weeks away. This provides much pride and inspiration to the Masters Family. Tim’s story shows profound insight into what motivates him – and indeed – all sports people to keep on trying to reach a personal goal.
It was that inspiration and determination by Tim that prompted me to look into rowing as a sport to try for myself. Not sure which pathway to follow, a friend suggested joining a learn to row program in Melbourne. In January 2020 I signed up with TopRow Melbourne which led to me meeting Will Golding and being coached by him and his team at TopRow.
Starting as a complete novice in the boat, I needed to learn new vocabulary about parts of the boat, the types of boats, rowing vs sculling as well as transferring my ergometer technique to rowing on the water! Indeed like most things you realise how much you don’t know until you start to learn the subject, sport or skill! The attraction of being part of a team, developing a new technique centred sport, and being outdoors were major attractions to give rowing a try. I can honestly say it’s been a life changing experience. The simple pleasure of being on the water, feeling closer to my son’s experiences in a way and receiving a first hand glimpse into the sport he has dedicated most of his life to. There is no time like now to have a go…just don’t put it off.
Timothy is on 6 seat.
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...