2025 Race Entrants

To mark my 60th Birthday, in January 2019 I completed a solo bike ride from John O’Groats to Lands End, over a period of 14 days, finishing on my 60th. On completion of the ride family and friends asked what challenge I would take on for my 70th, and I decided to row 7,000,000m on an indoor rowing machine in my 70th year. Then in 2021, I saw a news report about Frank Rothwell completing the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge at the age of 70, my thoughts then were, if he can row an ocean why cant I. I will be 66 at the end of my row, so don’t worry Frank your record is safe.

My Grandmother was blind, and since 1999, in her memory, and by conducting various endurance events, I have raised thousands of pounds for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs). The first UK guide dogs were trained in 1931, and in 1934 the Guide Dogs was formed. The Guide Dogs does tremendous work, breeding and training dogs, helping enable the blind and those with sight loss to conduct a normal and fulfilling life. It should be noted, that for safety reasons, those who are registered blind can not take part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, however, they will be able to join me, in spirit, as part of the Old See Dogs team.

It may sound crazy, but I quite like the idea of being out on the vast ocean in a tiny boat with a great challenge to complete. This will give me the opportunity to achieve something amazing, and the chance to sing loudly and dance badly without my neighbours (or family) complaining.

This will be my second row – in 2021, I completed a mainland Europe to mainland South America row in just under 52 days. This time, I’m going solo.

Coming Soon

I have spent most of my working life sitting down in busy offices or travelling to new and interesting places to sit down in a different busy office.  At one point I was crossing the Atlantic in both directions, on crowded flights, seemingly on a weekly basis which, after a while, became a feat of endurance in itself.  Now, instead of seizing the opportunity for a seat with extra legroom I am seizing the opportunity to row in a tiny boat made of recycled plastic bottles, on my own, powered solely by me, across the ocean I have flown over so many times.  A childhood dream checked off the list and hopefully an opportunity to share whatever learnings are to be found in pulling 1.5 million rowing strokes alone at sea.

When it comes to fitness I am more of a Jack of a few trades, master of none, type, and none of those few trades is rowing, so learning to row efficiently and prepare myself for the physical aspects of this will be a new and interesting challenge.  However, it is building the required mental strength that I am really fascinated by.  3,000 miles is a long way and spending it on my own with all the associated challenges of a solo row is likely to be the biggest single hurdle to overcome.

I will be rowing to raise money for two amazing charities, both revolving around the sea.  The Wave Project harnesses the healing power of the sea to provide ‘surf therapy’ to young people struggling to find their own self belief and Ocean Conservation Trust which is protecting all the world’s oceans that we rely on in so many ways

The first time I came across the row I was about 15 years old, and since then I have been obsessed with the thought of doing it. After years of it coming and going I am finally in a position to go for it, so here I am. The idea of pitting myself against one of the greatest challenges in the world both mentally and physically very much appeals to me. I want to follow in the footsteps of some great Irish ocean rowers who have come before me such as Damien Browne, Karen Weekes, Eoin O’Farrell, Paul Gleeson and so many more.

Taryn was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. She loves the cornhusker state but after graduating from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a bachelors in Political Science, began working at Redfish Lake Lodge in Stanley, Idaho. Taryn teaches yoga in Stanley for the summer months and spends the winters traveling the world.

Taryn’s greatest joy in life is adventure which is why the World’s Toughest Row is a natural fit. The biggest adventures begin with absurd questions like “what if I rowed across an ocean?” With no previous rowing experience but a love of all things sailing (inherited from her grandfathers), Taryn can’t wait to push herself physically and mentally to complete in one of the world’s most grueling challenges.

Taryn will represent Girls on the Run, a non-profit that empowers girls through athletics and community. Supporting girls in athletics goes far beyond the sport itself. By meeting in teams, girls build confidence and other important life skills. A grand endeavor like rowing across an ocean is a perfect platform to elevate the important work of Girls on the Run.

Everyone can do anything! From the grandest trips to the smallest surprises, Taryn loves cultivating a spirit of childlike enthusiasm and adventure in life. She hopes that throughout this process, she gets to connect with folks who also find joy and wonder in the biggest and smallest moments.

My campaign Row2Inspire has been created with the aim to inspire anyone and everyone it is possible to overcome tough times and achieve your dreams. Crossing the Atlantic ocean has always been a pipe dream for me. I assumed it would be under sail but I think the physicality of rowing will be more in tune with my personality and lust for adventure.

I want to inspire my children William & Emily through this challenge that when life gets tough and your in the eye of the storm in 40ft waves or scorching equatorial heat in a boat alone if you persevere you can make it out the other side.

In late 2019 I lost my mother to Ovarian Cancer, her name was Jacqueline. The same name I have given to my ocean rowing boat to honour her. Target Ovarian Cancer is the charity I will be supporting during the row.

We are Team Force Horizon – Chris & Kip!

We met on day 1 of secondary school and instantly hit it off…we had a great time at school competing against each other in the house sports events, competing together in the school teams and also on the amateur rugby scene. Fitness has been a shared passion of ours and we are both keen adventurers. We have been talking for years about doing a serious challenge together, and here we are!

We have decided to compete in TWAC 2025 to support the Jon Egging Trust, who believe that every young person, no matter their starting point, should leave school armed with the confidence, resilience and self-belief to succeed.

Many of JET’s students face significant life challenges or lack positive role models. We know that with the right support, and by building teamwork, leadership and
communication skills and raising aspirations, the sky is their limit.

We aim to be a positive role model for JET, demonstrating to their students that with each Individual effort as part of a likeminded team, we can achieve incredible things. Team Force Horizon celebrates every member of the team, there is a place for everyone and everyone’s roles are important. We win as a team! When the Force Horizon boat makes it to Antigua it’s not just the 2 people in the boat that got it there…it’s the whole Force Horizon family!

We are not afraid of being out of our comfort zone, we thrive in the dark shadows of physical and mental exhaustion. We are a Force and we are heading for that horizon until we hit Antigua!

It seems fitting that Ian is joining Jooles on her dream of rowing an ocean as they met at the ‘Pacific Terrific’ Documentary Screening in 2019. Ian fell in love at that moment and announced to friends that she was the next Mrs Dean. It wasn’t until 2021 the stars aligned and he eventually managed to tell her. Next thing he knows he’s agreed to row the Atlantic Ocean with Jooles and now they’re married !

Jooles is a Mum to two girls aged 12 and 8,  has lived her life either on or next to the water. The ocean rowing began seriously eight years ago with an interest in rowing around Britain and following a fellow indoor rower in the 2015 race. Her previous rowing accolades include a Concept2 World Record,  Marathon Records, Coastal, British Masters 4+ Win and international rowing adventures including rowing in the Vogalonga, Holland, Austria, Marseille & Naples. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant however was the best and most prestigious experience until now.  Over the last 14 years of rowing adventures, coastal and ocean rowing experience,  her passion for life and inherent determination has made her the driving force and natural choice to lead the pair on this most epic of adventures.

Ian is a Dad of one teenage daughter and like most kids he spent summers in the local rivers, lakes and old quarries. Ian’s water based activities have generally been inland, including kayaking, open water swimming, narrowboating and river cruise adventures. Ian keeps busy singing and dancing,  walking, anything from 5 to 70km, Obstacle Course Running and climbing. Ian started rowing after meeting Jooles. Ian likes to say he’s not competitive but the fourth time rowing ever he competed in the annual learn to row mini-races against more experienced rowers and won one of the heats. A lot of Ian’s time is now taken up preparing for TWAC 2025 with weight training, yoga and a variety of mobility work to improve his strength, mobility and endurance fitness…  and rowing of course. Perks of having a PT and rowing coach as your life partner and team skipper.

We have decided to raise money for two charities that we both feel strongly about:  LOROS, a local Leicestershire charity providing hospice care to patients and families relieving the distress of patients with advanced incurable diseases, mainly cancer. LOROS palliative care helped Ian’s family when their mum passed away in 2004. Every year LOROS care for over 2,500 people across the county delivering free, high-quality, compassionate care and support that is special and unique for each individual.

Our second charity is me & dee charity providing support for families and children facing life-changing and limiting circumstances, by providing a space to celebrate the precious time they have together. Helping families going through life-changing circumstances to laugh and smile when they need it most, making sure it’s the special times that will always be remembered. Their mission statement is “To make memories when they matter most.

Coming Soon!

Both Paul and Kees (1963) have a very long rowing career, and participated in lots of lifeboat & whaler races in The Netherlands as well as other countries. Both Paul and Kees do have one big dream on their bucket list; rowing across an ocean! In the year they will be 60 years old their dream will come true! Team Atlantic Sixties is on route for their biggest challenge in life; TWAC2025 During our Challenge we raise as much money as possible for three charities close to our hearts. Both in our work and private life, we are involved in the environment, sustainability and the necessary step towards a circular economy. And on a completely different note, although at least as important, every child must be physically able to be a child, meaning able to play and exercise. That is why we are very happy to support Plastic Soup Foundation, The Ocean Cleanup and Spieren voor Spieren

WALTER:
My enthusiasm for rowing began at the age of 12, when I was active in junior rowing.

Until today this enthusiasm continues. Likewise for endurance sports, e.g. long-distance events in rowing and cycling.

INGRID:
My heart beats for running and also for cycling.

Throughout the years we have supported each other and now we want to take on this challenge together.

To inspire people to leave their comfort zone and not only dream dreams but also make them come true, even if you are a bit older you can still make a difference!

Oceanida is an all female team that wishes to encourage and inspire women, specially Mexican women to follow their own callings and cross their own oceans, whatever those are. On the one hand, we are adventure seekers, we dream big, we challenge ourselves, we live for moments of thrill and joy and experiences that make us grow deeply. We wish to experience the beauty and vastness of the ocean and all the power, energy, lessons and life it has to offer. And on the other hand, we want to prove ourselves and other women what we are capable of and what we can achieve with pure determination, discover what our limits are and make an impact in ourselves and our lives. We also want to focus on supporting women to reach their goals, live without violence and move away from the gender norms and restrictions that still dictate mexican society today. And finally we want to prove that you can do all this, and follow your own callings while always considering the health of mother earth and promoting the protection of our oceans and our natural world.

The charities we have chosen focus on supporting women to reach their goals, live without violence and move away from the gender norms and restrictions that still dictate mexican society today. We want to row for those who are already suffering from gender violence as a march and protest for the women empowerment movement. And we also want to open new opportunities to women with less economic possibilities which we believe has a hand in hand with education. Additionally, our crossing, our sweat, our tears and our joy is an offering to all oceans, shedding light on the urgency of their protection and the need for all rowers to recognize themselves as ocean guardians and protectors.

Why? … To push ourselves beyond the ordinary and to inspire others, especially women, to dream bigger and believe in more.
Who are we? … We are wives, girlfriends, mothers, grandmothers, aunties and sisters who refuse to be limited by social norms. We are outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, educators and leaders who have found a mutual love for rowing (or at least we hope so!). We are Sisters of the Sea. We are Merched y Môr!

We are a team of 4 women spanning 4 decades in age who have come together to achieve our collective dream of rowing the Atlantic Ocean. Both Nicky and Fiona are already seasoned rower who bring experience to the team. Whereas Andrena and Heather had never rowed until recently but are eager to learn and improve during the buildup.
Each of us have our own individual reasons as to why we want to row an ocean but ultimately, we all want to push ourselves to achieve this challenge.

Each of the team have chosen a charity that is important to them and hope to raise as much as possible to split equally between these charities. SiMBA was chosen by Andrena after her and her wife lost a baby in pregnancy during lockdown. RNLI was chosen by Nicky as her dad volunteered for this charity during her childhood. SCAA was chosen by Heather as she works with Police Scotland and has first-hand experience on the importance of Air Ambulance to saving lives. Breast Cancer UK was chosen by Fiona as she has had several family members and friends suffer from this preventable disease.

Name: Jamie Kidd
Age: 23
Occupation: Trainee Chartered Accountant
Reason for rowing: Why not? As soon as this was suggested to me I immediately knew I wanted to do it, and that I’d regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t. This challenge of a lifetime will be a journey of self-discovery for all 4 of us and will help others through sponsorship and donations. To quote from my favourite film Kung Fu Panda: “If you only do what you can do, you will never be more than you are now”.

Name: Rhys
Age: 27
Occupation: Carpenter
Why I want to do the TWAC: When someone says they’re looking for a fourth team member to row 3000miles across the Atlantic, well you can’t really say no to that, can you? It’ll change my life forever and I’ll learn more about myself and my depth of resilience than I ever have. Plus, I had nothing else planned

Name: James Leetch
Age: 23
Occupation: Researcher
Reason: Errr… I’m not sure! You’d have thought this question would be easy to answer, but it wasn’t! My lack of obvious reponse tells me that this is going to be a HUGE adventure into the unknown!
Having little idea what collective fortitude it will take to carry our team safely across an ocean in a tiny rowing boat is a unique opportunity. Let’s go find out!
While having an adventure ourselves, I can’t wait to bring as many people as possible along with us and to use the enthusiasm of our supporters for good.
As Adam wisely said in anticipation of our Welsh 3000ers attempt: “my legs are starting to ache thinking about this”.

Name: Adam Rowlatt
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Why I want to do the TWAC: I remember the day when 12 year old me stumbled across the Atlantic rowing race. I remember thinking what a phenomenal challenge it was. However, in my 12 year old mind I never thought it would be possible to actually compete in the race. Fast forward ten years and I’ve met 3 other amazing nutters who I have the privilege to share a unbelievable journey and adventure with as we embark on our mission to compete in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge  2025.

We are Atlantic Affair, a team of friends joined together through the love for rowing and longing for adventure. We all met through Maidenhead Rowing Club and instantly became good friends. With a combined 18 years of competitive rowing experience, we were all looking for a new type of challenge, so when one of us threw the idea in the air – “let’s row the Atlantic” – there were no hesitations.

We are a team of ordinary people trying to complete the extraordinary. Central to our journey is our goal to raise awareness and funds for two amazing UK based charities – Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, a local charity providing vital support to children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions across Berkshire, and Project Seagrass, an environmental charity devoted to the conservation of global seagrass ecosystems which are essential to keeping our oceans and planet healthy.