She won a bronze medal in Double sculls with her partner Elise Laverick at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and was twice world champion, in 2005 and 2006.

Winckless was born in Reading,[1] was educated at Tiffin Girls' School and at Millfield, and began rowing whilst at Cambridge University, where she studied Natural Sciences at Fitzwilliam College.

She was in GB quadruple scull crews that narrowly missed out on the medals at the 2002 and 2003 World Championships, finishing fourth both times.

She teamed up with Elise Laverick for the double scull from 2004 on, producing good results in the World Cup season before taking Olympic bronze in the 2004 Games held in Athens.

[1] She was the UK Chef de Mission for the Youth Olympic Games and served as the inaugural Chairman of the BOA's Athletes Commission.