Jenn Durward – Acting Head Coach and Varsity Women’s Coach
Jenn started rowing in 1995 while attending Port Perry High School with the Durham Rowing Club. Between 1999-2002 Jenn was apart of the Women’s Varsity team, for Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario where her and her crewmates won a total of 6 OUA medals (3 of which were gold), and a bronze at the Canadian University Championships. In 2002 she was forced to retire from competition due to injury, and thought, “well if I can't row, I will coach.”
In 2001 and 2003 Jenn was the boathouse manager/head coach for the Orillia Rowing Club, where she first met Cait, who was taking the Learn to Row with her sister. The fall of 2003 and 2004 Jenn coached the Brock Novice women’s team. Between 2004 and 2007 Jenn coached the Senior Women at Govenor Simcoe Secondary School in the spring, and the Under 19 women's team with St. Catharines Rowing Club during the summer months where she had the opportunity to learn from some very talented coaches.
Jenn returned to competition in the summer of 2007 with the St. Catharines rowing club. After Jenn graduated from Brock (M.Sc, Earth Sciences), her job brought her back to her home town and the fall of 2006, UOIT's inaugural year she was apart of the Women's varsity coaching staff.
2007-2009 Jenn was one of the two coaches from Ontario to be chosen for the Women in Coaching Canada Summer Games apprenticeship program, where she had the opportunity to mentor with the Provincial Coach, and help coach with the Ontario Team, who came home with 13 medals, 8 of which were gold.
Jenn is the current President of the Durham Rowing Club, continues to compete with her doubles partner Jeanette Lunenborg, and coach the competitive program at Durham (High School and Summer Competitive, Rec, LTR). Jenn is excited to be apart of the Ridgeback team again.
program at Durham (High School and Summer Competitive, Rec, LTR). Jenn is excited to be apart of the Ridgeback team again.
Jeanette Lunenborg – Novice Women’s and Men’s Head Coach
This is Jeanette’s second year coaching with UOIT. She took over the novice program in September 2010 and has revolutionized the program. In October, Jeanette was named the OUA Women’s Novice Coach of the Year.
Jeanette helped the novice women’s team to multiple wins throughout the season, including gold at the Brock and Guelph Invitational and a bronze medal earned at the OUA Championships in St. Catharines.
Jeanette also coaches with the Durham Rowing Club and rows with fellow DRC and UOIT coach, Jenn Durward.
Keely Smith – Heavyweight and Lightweight Varsity Men’s Coach
Keely started her rowing career at the Durham Rowing Club in 1996 with the Port Perry High School crew and continued competing during the summer months. Although initally joining to be a rower, Keely was able to have the best of both worlds by becoming the coxswain of her high school's senior crew and competing in the lightweight single. She then went on to be a varsity coxswain at the University of Western Ontario where she lead her crews to numerous medals and Championship Banners. Being a coxswain has enabled Kelly to compete at a wide range of competitions, including the World Masters Championships in 2001. After graduating high school, Keely remained actively involved with the Durham Rowing Club, being the Boathouse Manager numerous times and coaching high school, learn to row and recreational rowers. In the summer of 2002, Keely took on the role of Manager and Coach for the North Central Ontario Summer Games team where she lead the team to their most successful year, with nearly every rower receiving a medal. After taking the past few years off due to job scheduling (and moving to a different province), Keely has returned to her home club and is excited to be joining the coaching staff of the UOIT Ridgebacks.
Martin Winkel
Martin started rowing in 1982. He started with the highschool program in Victoria B.C. in 1983. He rowed for his high school team for 3 years. He was the Canadian Champion in the under 19's in 1984 and 1985. He rowed one sweep race in an 8 at age 16 for the University of Victoria. Other than that Martin is a sculler. He just got back into rowing this year as support for his son Mitchell who rows in the highschool program at the DRC. Martin also helps coach this program. He is currently coaching the Uxbridge High school team with the DRC. Personal moto: ROW WITH DEDICATION
Associate Coaching Staff
Charles Elliott – Varsity Women’s Coach
Bowmanville ON - Charles started rowing as one of the founding members of UOIT Ridgebacks rowing in 2006. He rowed for UOIT as a varsity rower until 2009 when he became team manager and Lwt Women Coach. His love of the water started with competitive swimming in his childhood and continued by sailing halfway around the world from 2000-2004. He is a UOIT Electrical Engineering and Management graduate.
Mark Lula
Mark rowed for UOIT for the past two seasons. He joined the team in his final year of his undergraduate degree as he knew a couple of the rowers and was looking for a challenge. As a novice he rowed mostly in the 8s but had the chance to skull in a double on occasion. He was accepted into the Masters program at UOIT in 2009 and was able to row for a second season where he rowed mostly in the Men's Heavy 4 and in a double. The double never got to compete due to scheduling issues however.
This is Mark’s second year coaching with UOIT Rowing. He already has a bronze medal under his belt with the Novice Men’s Eight in 2010-2011.
Jon Rankin
Jon rowed for UOIT in his last year of school. As a novice rower he rowed in the 8s. This is Jon’s second year coaching with UOIT Rowing. He was successful last season in helping the novice women win multiple gold medals and their third place finish at OUA’s in St. Catharines.
Shannon Galea
As a previous member of the novice women’s crew, Galea decided to join the Ridgeback coaching staff this upcoming season. The novice women’s had a great 2010 season having several wins at the Brock and Guelph Invitationals and bronze at the OUA Championships in St. Catharines. Her involvements in athletics at UOIT lead her to be named Athlete of the Year as well as OUA recognition as Woman of Influence. She couldn’t give up being on the water in the early mornings and was excited to be given the opportunity to help with UOIT’s developmental program. As a graduate from the Bachelor of Education, the Oshawa native looks forward to implementing and promoting the sport of rowing to young high school athletes in Durham Region.
Rowing Kinesiology Student: Christie Attwood
