Linda Skidmore
Yarra Yarra Rowing Club (VIC)
In retrospect, it wasn’t inevitable that Linda took up rowing.
She joined Yarra Yarra Rowing Club in October 1988, at the age of 14. At that time she was a keen swimmer, but found she could avoid Sunday morning church by going rowing with her Dad (Jim Skidmore, YYRC Club Patron).
She had a very successful 12-year career in junior, under 23, and open-age crews, representing Victoria in the VIS Youth 4- in the summer of 1992 / 1993. She rowed in VIS Youth squads for several years in the Trans-Tasman series, and rowed with Australian representatives in the VIS Youth 4-.
After several years of training for and narrowly missing selection for the Australian team, she was burnt out. At the age of 26, she took a ten-year break from rowing.
During this time she worked full-time in the fashion industry; played touch footy; ran the Great Wall of China half-marathon; competed in Olympic-distance triathlons; cycled; and took up surf-boat rowing.
“Why did I say yes to the George Bass Surfboat Marathon?” she asked. “Stingers, tides, weather; but at least our boat had sliding seats. 192km, five days from Batemans Bay to Eden. Hard core.”
The Head of the Yarra brought her back to rowing. One of the things she values most about rowing is the lifelong friendships she has made; and one of those friends visited from Canberra for HoY. After cycling the course alongside her friend’s boat, Linda promised to row HoY the following year.
It felt like coming home.
Since returning to YYRC, Linda has represented Victoria in the WM8+, with a national win in Adelaide in 2014, and has built a career in coaching. She is now the Junior Coordinator at Genazzano, coaching Learn to Row, Junior and Intermediate squads. After some study in human movement and sport psychology, she really enjoys helping crews to prepare for racing, and to manage their emotions on the start line.
“Coming back to rowing, I have enjoyed the friendly rivalry as well as the community spirit and achieving my own goals,” she said. “Some of the funniest things in rowing have happened on start lines; water pistols and water bombs, even the very very serious crews getting involved.”
“And even the worst things, like narrowly missing out on the green-and-gold zootie, have taught me resilience and that every person’s contribution matters. Now I have a leadership role, I have learnt that you can’t please everybody, but that everybody has something valuable to offer.”
Alison Hallahan
September 2020
The following detailed information has been supplied by her father Jim Skidmore in June 2024.
Daughter of fellow member Jim Skidmore, sister to members Margaret and Kevin, and niece to Frank.
Joined as a student U18 1988/89
Social secretary 1996/97, 1997/98
Vice-captain 2011/12 - 2014/15
Captain2015/16 - 2018/19
President 2019/20 - 2021/22
Wins recorded:-
1990 - Corowa Federation regattanovice four (2)
1990 - Footscray regattanovice scull
1990 - Mildura regattanovice four (stroke)
1990 - Metropolitan regattanovice four (stroke)
1990 - Bendigo regattanovice scull
vWarrnambool regattanovice four (stroke)
1990 - Yarrawonga regattanovice four (stroke)
1991 - Dimboola regattaNovice eight (6)
1992 - Geelong regattanovice eight (5)
1992 - Upper Yarra regattanovice eight (5) and Intermediate four (3)
1992 - Dimboola regattanovice eight (5) and Intermediate four (3)
1992 - Horsham regattaIntermediate four (3)
1992 - Wendouree Ballarat regattaIntermediate four (3)
1992 - Colac regattaIntermediate four (3)
1992 - Nagambie regattaintermediate pair (stroke)
1992 - Yarrawonga regattaopen four (3) and Intermediate pair (stroke)
1993 - Rutherglen regattaintermediate pair (stroke)
1993 - Mildura regattaopen four (3) and Open eight (7)
1993 - Wentworth regattaopen four (3) and Open eight (7)
1993 - Upper Yarra time trialDouble scull (stroke)
1993 - Colac regattaintermediate Double scull (stroke)
1993 - Nagambie regattanovice eight (6)
1993 - Yarrawonga regattanovice eight (6) and Intermediate four (3)
1993 - Interstate Championships, Bicentennial Cup (2) - Third.
1994 - YWCA regattaintermediate Double scull (stroke)
1994 - Barwon regattaintermediate Double scull (stroke)
1994 - Geelong regattanovice quad scull (bow)
1994 - Yarra Yarra regattaintermediate scull
1994 - Colac regattaintermediate scull
1994 - Carrum regattaintermediate scull and Senior scull
1994 - V.R.A. Melbourne regattaintermediate scull
1995 - Victorian Universities regattaintermediate Double scull (bow)
1995 - Banks regattaintermediate Double scull (stroke) and Intermediate eight (6)
1996 - Yarra Yarra regattanovice quad scull (3)
2011 - Rutherglen regattamasters double scull (stroke) and Master’s quad scull plus (stroke)
2011 - State championship regatta“D” four plus (stroke)
2011 - Banks masters regattaMaster’s quad scull plus (stroke) and Master’s four plus (stroke)
2011 - Albert Park masters regattaMaster’s four plus (stroke)
2011 - Oceana regattaMaster’s quad scull plus (stroke) and Master’s four plus (stroke)
2011 - Geelong masters regattaMaster’s eight (stroke)
2012 - Melbourne head“C” four (stroke)
2012 - Carrum regatta“D” double scull (stroke)
2013 - Rutherglen regattaMaster’s “D” quad scull plus (stroke)
2013 - Rutherglen sprint regattaMaster’s “D+F” four plus (stroke) and Master’s “D” quad scull plus (stroke)
2013 - Wendouree Ballarat regatta“C” four plus (stroke) and C” eight (stroke)
2013 - Henley regattaC” eight (stroke)
2013 - Footscray regatta“C” four plus (stroke)
2013 - Albert Park masters four plus (stroke)and Four plus (3)
2013 - Geelong masters regattaMaster’s four plus (stroke)
2013 - State masters championshipMaster’s “C D” four plus (stroke) and Master’s “A” four plus (stroke)
2013 - Lake Colac regattamasters pair “A-D” (stroke) and Open pair (stroke)
2013 - Interstate master’s championshipeight (6)
2014 - Rowing Victoria headmasters eight “C” (bow)
2014 - Henley regatta“C” eight (5)
2014 - State championship regatta“C” eight (3)
2014 - Masters State championship regatta“C” four plus (bow)
2016 - Head of the Goulburn open four (2)
2016 - Dimboola regattamasters double scull (stroke) and Open four (stroke)
2016 - State championships“B” four plus (2)
2016 - R V masters championships“D” eight (4) and Mixed “C” eight (4)
2021 - Rutherglen regattamasters double scull division 3 (stroke)
2021 - Rutherglen sprint regattamasters double scull division 3 (stroke)
2021 - Carrum regattamasters eight composite (?)
2021 - Geelong regattamasters eight composite (?)
2021 - Masters championship regattamixed masters coxed four (2)
From the 1992/93 YYRC annual report part of the captain’s report:-
Linda had a great season and achieved Victorian selection in the Women’s youth 4. The crew finished 3rd after leading at the 1000m mark.”
Our 1st club member to wear the big white “V” since 1966 where John Castle & Rob Jones competed in the Kings cup.
From the 1993/94 YYRC annual report in the “Yarra Yarra’s place in Victorian Rowing” section
Linda Skidmore and Annabelle Eaton, coached by Nick Forbes rowed a double scull at the Victorian and Australian Championships. This was their first year in a double and proved to be very good experience.
After the 1999/2000 year Linda took a break to re-join in 2011/12 season with hopes of a row in the Head of the Yarra. A win in this race has so far avoided her but she has won numerous events in masters, both at regattas and time trials, including again wearing the big white “V” at national master’s regattas.”
Linda as president has seen the club through the Covid-19 restrictions and kept the club members well informed on the latest developments as they happen.
From YYRC newsletter 'Yarra Yabbie' 2015-9-3
After the presentation we christened four new boats, Lisa Brown, Linda Skidmore, Jeremy Hofsteede, and Glen Millican.
And in Yarra Yabbie no 46, 20 May 2020
Meet the Committee
President Linda Skidmore, aka “Lady Ranga”
In retrospect, it wasn’t inevitable that Linda took to rowing.
She joined YYRC in October 1988, at the age of 14. At that time she was a keen swimmer, but found she could avoid Sunday morning church by going rowing with her Dad (Jim Skidmore) Club Patron).
She had a very successful 12 year career in junior, under 23, and open-age crews, representing Victoria in the VIS youth 4- in the summer of 1992/93. She rowed in VIS youth squads for several tears in the Trans-Tasman series, and rowed with Australian representatives in the VIS youth 4-.
After several years of training for and narrowly missing selection for the Australian team, she was burnt out. At the age of 26, she took a ten-tear break from rowing.
During this time she worked full – time in the fashion industry; played touch footy; ran the Great Wall of China half marathon; competed in Olympic-distance triathlons; cycled, and took up surf-boat rowing.
“Why did I say yes to the George Bass Surfboat Marathon? She asked. “Stingers, tides, weather, but at least our boat had sliding seats. 192Km, five days from Batemans Bay to Eden. Hard Core.”
The head of the Yarra brought her back to rowing. One of the things she values most about rowing is the lifelong friendships she has made, and one of those friends visited from Canberra for HOY. After cycling the course alongside her friend’s boat, Linda promised to row HOY the following year.
It felt like coming home.
Since returning to YYRC, Linda has represented Victoria in the WM8+, with a national in Adelaide in 2014, and has built a career in coaching, she is now the junior coordinator at Genazzano, coaching learn to row, junior and intermediate squads. After some study in human movement and sport psychology, she really enjoys helping crews to prepare for racing, and to manage their emotions on the start line.
“Coming back to rowing, I have enjoyed the friendly rivalry as well as the community spirit and achieving my own goals,” she said. “Some of the funniest things in rowing have happened on start lines; water pistols and water bombs, even the very serious crews get involved.”
“And even the worst things, like narrowly missing out on the green-and-gold zootie, have taught me resilience and that every person’s contribution matters. Now in a leadership role, I have learnt that you can’t please everybody, but that everybody has something valuable to offer.”
Linda wants her time as president to be remembered for encouragement of YYRC’s community and family atmosphere, as well as our contribution to the rowing community as a whole.
Linda christened a double scull “Linda Lady Ranga Skidmore” in 2015 in recognition of her devotion to the club.
2021 Linda with father christening “”YYRC celebrating 150 years”
2021 Rutherglen regatta Linda in stroke seat
Jim Skidmore
June 2024