Hallie Cheyne – Director of Rowing
Hallie Cheyne began rowing as a freshman at Middlebury College in 2008, after a long career as a field hockey player. She competed at the New England Rowing Championships, ECAC Invitational and the Dad Vail Regatta in the eight, four and pair during her four years with the Panthers, and is an active member of the Middlebury Rowing Alumni Association. Cheyne also rowed abroad in England, at the University of East Anglia and for a summer at Oxford University. Upon graduating, Cheyne decided that her time coaching was the best part of her substitute teaching gig, and devoted herself to a lifelong career as a coach. Prior to joining Great Bay Rowing, Cheyne worked with juniors, collegiate, and masters athletes at Greater Lawrence Rowing, Tufts University, Essex Rowing Club, Methuen Crew, Hingham Maritime Center and Style Driven Rowing Club. In 2025, Cheyne became part of the first class of Allies with Oars Amabassadors, part of an effort to promote discussion and inclusion around gender and sexual identity in rowing.
When she isn’t coaching, Cheyne can either be found reading, running in road races or finding the fluffiest dog at the regatta to pet. Hallie Cheyne earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Theatre from Middlebury College in 2012 and a Master of Arts in English from Middlebury’s Bread Loaf School of English in 2016. She and her husband live in Dover.
Alison Smith
Alison began rowing in 2012 at the University of New Hampshire, where she was a four-year member of the women’s team and served as captain for two years. During the summers, she rowed with GBR’s collegiate team and now competes as a member of the masters team. A former coach at UNH, Alison has been coaching the high school team with GBR since 2018.
After graduating from UNH, Alison earned a Master’s degree in College Student Development from Appalachian State University. She brings a strong background in facilitation and student development to her coaching, taking a thoughtful and athlete-centered approach to growth on and off the water.
Alison is passionate about developing the whole athlete—focusing not only on technical skill and performance, but also on kindness, confidence, resilience, and teamwork. She strives to create an environment where athletes feel supported, challenged, and connected, helping them build skills that extend far beyond rowing.
Alison loves the strong sense of community at GBR and believes every athlete has a place on the team. She’s often seen in the launch alongside her co-coach, Huckleberry.
Renate Raeder
Renate, a resident of Durham for almost 15 years, first learned to row as a child in Germany, and re-discovered the sport with GBR in 2006.
She’s an active member of the masters group, sweeping and sculling, and always ready to take a new masters rower out on the river or jump in a boat when an extra person is needed.
When she’s not rowing or volunteering, she can be found in a launch coaching novices or teaching new rowers at the GBR Learn-to-Row programs.
Felicia Sperry
Felicia was first introduced to the sport at Bucknell University while she was playing rugby at Bucknell and she joined the program in it’s early years. At Bucknell, she rowed and coached as a grad student and later rowed a season of Masters at GBR. In addition to her 5 or so years experience of rowing and coaching experience,as well as her ten plus years coaching youth soccer, Felicia brings vast experience with non-profits and fundraising to her service on the Board: she ran the PTO’s at Mast Way Elementary School and ORMS; she started and developed the OR Hockey Boosters; and she served as parent coordinator for OR Otters swim team where she also officiated. With over 30 years experience as a school psychologist, she brings a deep understanding and commitment to the social and emotional development of local youth, as well as a commitment to fostering growth mindset and a sense of community for GBR. She is a collaborative, problem-solver and supports a systems perspective in club operations and decision-making. Of her interest in the sport and her decision to serve on the Board, Felicia says, “I fell in love with the sport of rowing when I was in college..I love it…only thing I ever got up at 4am for!! I loved the team component, the challenge of getting everyone to work together and move together and when it happened…you worked to keep it going! I am so glad that I found out about GBR so I could share this sport with my kids and get a chance to row again as a masters.”