David is an investment consultant, based in London, where he works with his clients to identify new investment themes and opportunities.

After spending his 40s focused on flying and obtaining his private pilot’s licence, he is starting his 50s by reigniting his passion for rowing, this time swapping the river for the coastal and offshore waters around Great Britain.

David hopes to create an impact from taking part in GB Row Challenge both in terms of raising money for charity and hopefully motivating others to push ‘just a little further’.

David is relishing the challenge of being part of the first trio to ever complete the GB Row Challenge and is looking forward to the training and build-up to June 2025.

Growing up in the Black Mountains in Abergavenny, Darren spent the majority of his upbringing exploring the local mountains and wider landscapes. Aged just 10 he was already setting out with a small rucksack filled with sausages, bread, lard, and a frying pan to cook lunch outdoors. He carried this thirst for adventure and knowledge into later life when he joined the British Army, something he saw as a natural progression, travelling the world whilst on exercises and operational deployments.

Following a near fatal helicopter crash, Darren decided to leave the army and focus on adventurous activities of a safer nature and so began his love of sailing and endurance sports. Now, aged 54 and having sailed and ocean-rowed many thousands of miles, he is taking on the GB Row Challenge for the second time. The focus on this occasion will be to raise as much money as possible for the team’s chosen charity and increase awareness of general mental health issues of our time. He also hopes to be a part of the first trio crew to circumnavigate mainland Great Britain unsupported and set a new World Record.

Rod is a freelance project manager providing services to support business and systems change within the financial services sector. Rod resides on the Essex, Suffolk border close to the coastal waters of East Anglia. He has a long-standing relationship with the outdoors and a drive to challenge himself, developing his skills and gaining new experiences along the way. Rod has a particular interest in endurance activities, having completed many marathons and long distance ultra running events, full distance triathlon and multi day cycling and trekking activities. His waterways journey has covered some sailing but most predominantly sea kayaking and, more recently, lots of coastal, gig and skiff rowing.

Rod is motivated and excited by the prospect of pushing himself further towards the unique goal that rowing around Great Britain offers; to see our beautiful coastline and its wildlife at such close quarters and to experience, with his crew mates, the physical and mental challenge that Row GB Challenge demands, both in its preparation and execution. Making memories and a few pub stories along the way are, of course, on Rod’s agenda!