Member Profiles
Find out who we are
You can view our member profiles here.
David Sawtell
David joined Walbrook RC in 2008 when he moved to Kingston. He previously rowed for Broxbourne RC and Peterhouse BC. He has rowed in the senior squad at Walbrook, achieving wins in both sculling and sweep oar rowing, including the Master Fours Head, Oxford City, Staines, the Boston Marathon and both Gloucester and Ross!
He wants to help the men's squad become more competitive in regional and national competitions and improve its position at the Head of the River. David enjoys rowing at Walbrook because of its relaxed and friendly atmosphere, flexible attitude to training and its fantastic location on a superb stretch of water.
Heather Russell
Heather joined Walbrook in 2005 and was brand new to the sport. The first summer the challenge was to achieve some stability in sculling boats (with a brave volunteer in the boat performing the role of stabilisers!). During those first weeks she got the bug and the story continues during the 2010 season with a focus on sweep oar. Year round she trains (along with some # 25 other senior women) with 3-4 sessions per week . Training is land and water but mostly in a boat. After an active winter season and having qualified last year, this year her crew are returning to Henley Women's - an event which will hopefully provide a platform for some good performance and (if not) at least be an exciting and challenging weekend. Walbrook offers excellent and dedicated coaches, a great stretch of the river, competition and social training for a truly diverse community of rowers.
Robert Hopkins
I took up sculling and rowing when 13 years old at St.Georges school, Weybridge and competed at National schools, winning my first pot at a Walton regatta in a four. I left the river for years, returning by competing at Dittons Skiff and Punting Club, where I really began to appreciate the importance of boat moving and keeping fit. I was 35 years old when I won my Novice sculling in 1999, beating a dad and his eighteen year old son in the same event! I got in to coaching with Staines BC, but soon joined Walbrook RC in 2000, attracted by the excellent water and equipment, friendly atmosphere and the opportunity to progress. I have learned to coach juniors and adults and take the approach that they are learning a challenging sport for life, with competition as motivation. I take particular delight in hearing that many of my tutees are still enjoying the water and remain fit. I’ve got lots of certificates, pots, medals and goblets, but none mean more to me than my first and the next.
Diane Graham
started rowing at Nottingham university and then at Nottingham Boat Club where won bronze national championships women’s quad and 4th womns head of river race
moved to walbrook in 1981 and started sculling
many wins for the club including:-
• 2 womens pennants in the Scullers Head
• fastest womens crew Pairs Head
• 4th National Championships Womens lightweight single scull
• silver national championships womens lightweight double scull (composite with Civil Service - now Barnes Bridge Ladies)
Past Chairman of Womens Rowing Commission
Past Chief Marshall of the Women's Head
Past secretary of Henley Women's Regatta and now Chairman Henley Womens Regatta
Ex Captain of walbrook
Bronze level coaching qualification
