FOCUS - JULY 2019 25 A friend of mine encouraged me to try rowing, and after my first time on water, I was hooked. It was exciting, and I told myself: ‘I can excel at this.’ It was different, and by that I mean that it was a sport that not everyone pursued. But I liked that feeling of be- longing, of working as part of a crew toward a goal.” A back injury, suffered while row- ing at Brock University, ended her serious competitive career. But Jenn would be back: “I wasn’t done in the sport!” she told herself. And that comeback would include populariz- ing and teaching rowing to the latest generation of rowers. “I coached at Brock and in Niagara. And when my job brought me back to this area, I got involved with the Club and I’ve been with them ever since. My role expanded to its President and as the Head Coach of the Ontario Tech team.” The Durham Rowing Club cur- rently boasts about 100 members. Beyond simply fitness and competi- tion, one of the reasons for its popu- larity is its affordability. “Our 9-session Learn to Row program is only $280. Once you com- plete that, if you decide to join our recreational program, that amount is credited against the first year of your $625 annual dues.” Beyond membership, there are no costs. “We provide all the equipment you’ll need, so there’s no further expense to join. If you want to learn more about us, we have a website as well as a presence on Facebook and Instagram.” Thirty years and a hundred mem- bers strong, the Durham Rowing Club is a healthy organization. And so are its members, who enjoy a sport – some just for fun, others for com- petition, and all for fitness – which can trace its history to the times of the world’s earliest adventurers. By Scott Mercer, Focus on Scugog Durham Rowing Club (continued from page 23)