Yorkshire Rows

Yorkshire Rows are four remarkable mums from Yorkshire who proved that ordinary people can achieve the extraordinary. They are the first women ever to row across the North Sea and hold a world record for rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, despite only taking up the sport a few years before their epic challenge.

What began at a local York rowing club turned into a bold decision to enter the world’s toughest rowing race: 3,000 nautical miles from the Canaries to Antigua. After nearly three years of training and preparation, they set off into storms, 40-foot waves, equipment failures and relentless sleep deprivation. Sixty-seven days later, they reached Antigua, claiming their world record as the oldest women’s crew to row any ocean.

Their adventure didn’t end on the water. Alongside their achievements, they have raised thousands of pounds for Maggie’s Cancer Centres and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, driven by a commitment to give back to the communities that supported them.

What makes Yorkshire Rows so compelling as speakers is not just the scale of their challenge, it’s their openness, humour and authenticity. They speak candidly about friendship, teamwork, resilience and Yorkshire grit, sharing an unforgettable story of perseverance that resonates with audiences of all ages and industries. Their bestselling book Four Mums in a Boat and their award-winning documentary have inspired thousands to believe that they, too, can take on the impossible.

Janette Benaddi
Janette Benaddi is a Yorkshire entrepreneur with an extraordinary story. Leaving school at 16, she retrained as a nurse before moving into the life sciences sector and later founding a successful clinical research company. Today she leads multiple businesses and serves as a Non-Executive Director, championing SME growth and smart, sustainable strategy. Never an adventurer by nature, Janette went on to skipper a small boat across the Atlantic, powered by determination, resilience and trademark Yorkshire grit.

Frances Davies
Frances Davies is a private client lawyer turned seasoned adventurer whose love of the outdoors began in rural Yorkshire. She has run the London Marathon twice, completed the Scottish Coast to Coast race, climbed Mount Meru and trekked to the Annapurna Sanctuary. After 22 years in law, she founded her own specialist firm and now inspires audiences to embrace challenge for joy, confidence and personal growth.

Niki Doeg
Niki Doeg grew up around the world, gaining a lifelong passion for people, culture and opportunity. Her career has spanned training, project management and senior consultancy roles supporting FTSE100 organisations, before moving into entrepreneurship with her own wealth management firm. A qualified rugby coach and the founder of York RUFC’s girls’ section, Niki is a champion for women and girls in sport.

Helen Butters
Helen Butters is a communications expert with 25 years’ experience leading high-profile NHS engagement and strategy. A natural optimist with a “can-do” mindset, she discovered rowing just five years before breaking a world record crossing the Atlantic. Now turning her focus to mountaineering, she is training to summit some of the world’s most challenging peaks.

To book motivational speakers The Yorkshire Rows, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com