Minerva Bath RC named ‘Club of the Year’
Picture – Klaus Riekemann (left) pictured with club president & olypian Arnold Cooke at Duisberg masters
2nd picture – Klaus Riekemann and Olympic 4+ from 1960 on his way to gold.
Adding to the trophy cabinet
Minerva Bath Rowing Club took home the winner’s award for ‘Club of the Year’ at the West of England Sports Trust celebration of Sport Evening last week in a year that has seen them pick up BANES chairman’s sports club of the year and their president Arnold Cooke, the mayor of Bath’s citizen award, as well as medals and wins at regattas and the World Masters in Varese. The junior squad has increased in size and taken on more coaches to deal with the constant waiting list of youngsters keen to try and become the next Helen Glover or Heather Stanning.
Men’s captain Mike Glanville said, “Winning West of England Sport Trust’s Club of the Year award has added to an already great year for Minerva; an award like this means a lot and really motivates the hard working volunteers we have who all make it possible for a club like ours to survive and to grow. With a packed winter racing calendar ahead which will see almost every member of the club compete at Head races across the country and a nomination for the Bath Chronicle’s club of the year I am confident of a bumper end to 2013.”
www.minervabathrc.org.uk
The club has elected a new chairman after Elaine Hoyes stepped down. There was unanimous support for the appointment of Klaus Riekemann, a Gold medallist from the Rome 1960 olympics. Klaus who restarted rowing after a 50 year break joined Minerva more than two years ago, citing that he chose Minerva because of the warm welcome he received from members who knew nothing of his past successes at the time.
Klaus takes the reins at a point of major change and upheaval with Minerva desperate to complete a build, helped by Sport England, that will transform the facilities available to existing rowers and will attract new rowers.
Klaus said, “I am very proud to take on the role of chairing Minerva Bath Rowing Club and would like to thank Elaine Hoyes for steering the ship so competently for the last three years, hers are big shoes to fill. I am hoping to continue making this sport accessible for all in our community and helping us build on our credentials as club where you are made to feel welcome at every age and a club where you can take up the challenges of racing and competing, be successful and win. We are in the process of a complicated project to pipe fresh water to our land so that we can build some very basic changing facilities and do away with our solitary portaloo. My first challenge is to complete this project and lead us into 2014 when we celebrate our centenary year.”
Picture – MUST credit Paul Groom for usage – L-R front Sarah Moon (women’s captain), Laura Cowan, Jeanette Muller; back Martin Bayfield, Klaus Riekemann (chair), Mike Glanville (men’s captain)
