Winners of 2024 British Rowing Awards announced
Congratulations to the 34 individuals, coaching teams, crews and clubs whom we’re delighted to recognise as the worthy winners of this year’s awards!
Affiliated Club of the Year: Infinity Boat Club
Infinity BC was set up in 2022, in conjunction with British Rowing’s Charitable Foundation, Love Rowing. The club had its first full season in 2023/24. Today around 160 children aged 13 to 15 (school years 8, 9 and 10) are training at the club regularly.
The Judging Panel said, “This is an impressive club that is changing the lives of young people for the better by helping develop respect, resilience and raising their self-esteem. We were impressed with all that they had done over such a short space of time. In addition to the club’s early success in national races they have already had around 5,000 children taking part in indoor rowing.
The quotes provided in the nomination speak to the power of the programme the club is running: The principal from a partner school said: “The feedback from parents has been amazing, with one parent saying rowing has completely changed the dynamics of their whole family.” A social worker caring for one of the young athletes stated that they have: “completely changed in her approach to life since taking up rowing.”
Club Crew of the Year: Coastal Rowing Academy – Women’s Quad
Jo Price, Rowena Atkins, Sophie Bostock and Liz Beswick
This MasD-age crew was formed in 2021, when three of them learned to row. After continuously developing their skills and knowledge, and upping their training, Jo, Rowena, Sophie and Liz started achieving regular wins in 2024. These included a gold medal at the Welsh Open in challenging waters in a remarkable time. A highlight of their season was qualifying for the final at the World Rowing Coastal Championships in Genoa, Italy, where they raced against performance crews from around the world.
The Judging Panel said, “This is a great story of passion and commitment and a fantastic advert for coastal rowing.”
University Crew of the Year: Newcastle University Boat Club – Women’s 1st Eight
This crew had a remarkable season, becoming the first women’s Henley Royal Regatta finalists from Newcastle University Boat Club and also the first Newcastle eight to race a Henley final. Their achievement in the Island Challenge Trophy was all the greater as they had not been seeded.
Without a doubt, their most impressive win was in the semi-final, where they exchanged the lead several times with University of London, eventually crossing the line half a length ahead after a tremendous race.
Junior/School Crew of the Year: Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club – J16 2x – Carter Horrix and Louis Sheasby
As well as having an unbeaten season both domestically (JIRR – where they completed a full set of wins from J14 to J16, Junior Sculling Regatta and National Schools) and internationally (GB France Match), these two young athletes have been great ambassadors for the sport, frequently appearing in the local press and on local radio, and supporting and mentoring younger crews.
The Judging Panel also recognised the logistical challenges they both worked to overcome related to training on the Isle of Wight while racing on the mainland.
Volunteer of the Year Awards
Eastern Region: Tracey McKenzie, Northampton Rowing Club
Tracey is a ‘driving force’ as Junior Co-Ordinator at the club, taking on everything from community engagement events to grow the squad to organising coaches, boats and launches. She also leads the club’s cooking/food provision at internal and external functions – at volume, and recently even managed to source a new, free kitchen for the club.
East Midlands Region: Liz Pulford, Leicester Rowing Club and Leicester Regatta
Liz Pulford has made an outstanding contribution through her leadership of Leicester Rowing Club’s partnership with Castle Mead Academy (CMA) and the club’s junior section, which helps to ensure that. Her input ensures that Leicester is an inclusive and thriving club. Liz also co-leads the Junior Section and is Club President, as well as taking on innumerable behind-the-scenes tasks at Leicester Regatta from buying cleaning supplies to equipment ordering and maintenance, ensuring that Leicester Regatta provides a positive experience for volunteers and competitors.
Northern Region: Andrea Swingler, Lambton Rowing Club
Andrea played a key role in establishing this new club on its current site, which took both determination and huge amounts of time. Today the club has a boathouse and 120 members, thanks to her phenomenal energy and ideas. She even managed to negotiate with the Earl of Durham that the club could train on rowing machines in the ballroom of his castle in the winter – the first members of the public to go there since troops camped out there in WW2!
North West Region: Graham Whistance, Trafford Rowing Club
Graham has been the chairman at the club since 2019 and has been pivotal in its growth from just over 100 members coming out of Covid to the present membership of over 200; since 2021 he has organised learn to row courses for almost 500 people.
Other initiatives that he has led as Chairman include offering all members first aid training annually, creating a 12-month paid Assistant Junior Coach role to introduce juniors/young people to coaching as a gap year option, and creating a junior committee to bring the views of junior members to the fore.
Thames Region: Mark Somers, Medway Towns Rowing Club
Medway Towns Rowing Club (MTRC) suffered significant damage to our membership base and future viability due to the Covid19 pandemic. Mark moved to the local area during this difficult period, and soon became increasingly involved in volunteering there. He delivers learn to row courses, and in early 2024 took on the ambitious task of establishing the junior section. This has included creating a robust framework for safe training sessions, implementing a rigorous safety protocol, and ensuring the availability of equipment suited for junior rowers.
The impact on the juniors’ lives has been significant; they’re learning skills that extend beyond the sport itself. And the entire club is reinvigorated!
Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucestershire and Somerset (WAGS) Region: Katherine Greenhead, Avon County Rowing Club
Katherine has been the club’s Adult Learn to Row Co-ordinator for the last two years, having previously the former co-ordinator. Having redesigned and restructured the taster sessions and courses, the club’s intake of new non-rowers onto beginner courses has grown from 14 in 2021 to 72 in the year ending September 2024. Perhaps even more importantly she has dramatically increased our long term retention of these new rowers into eh club’s Development Squad. For a club of just over 200 members this is a very significant achievement and puts the club in a very good place.
West Midlands Region: Sally Pettipher, Ross Rowing Club
Sally’s leadership has been central to the resounding success of the Mixed Ability Rowing Session (MARS) programme at Ross Rowing Club. A year on since it was launched, this adaptive/mixed-ability squad has 44 people on the register, through exemplary outreach to disabled rowers as well as engaging club members to assist. This is particularly impressive as rowing is not traditionally a popular pursuit in the surrounding area.
Yorkshire Region: Jess Harris, York St John University Boat Club
Jess is the backbone of YSJUBC, volunteering her time for everything from coaching early morning S&C sessions to fixing boats. The club say, “We probably wouldn’t exist without her!”
Young Volunteer of the Year
Eastern Region: Declan Coxall, Anglia Ruskin University Boat Club
Declan resurrected the club almost single handedly! From performing poorly at every event and having no men’s crews, the club grew to having 15+ people competing at a BUCS event – a great achievement of which he should be proud.
East Midlands Region: Charlie Moorby, Burton Leander Rowing Club
Charlie began rowing at 11, quickly realising that her enthusiasm for the sport extended beyond just personal achievement to encouraging others to participate at all levels. At just 15, she became Burton Leander’s Junior representative, ensuring that the voices and aspirations of junior rowers were heard. Eager to expand her knowledge, Charlie volunteered at events such as BUCS, British Masters, and Junior Inter Regionals. Starting with stake boats, she progressed to roles such as runner, registration, and timing. Now aged 17, Charlie is the youngest trainee umpire in the East Midlands.
Northern: Sonny Hughes, Cambois Rowing Club
Sonny never misses an opportunity to help and is reliable, dedicated and hardworking.
A junior member of the club, he has supported with every senior learn to row course, either rowing or coxing, as well as training himself. He offers to help at all of the events.
Thames Region: Olt Zeka, Fulham Reach Boat Club
When Olt started rowing at FRBC with West London Free School in Year 9, he immediately stood out, whether it was getting oars down, helping other students, moving boats, equipment or giving moral support. Olt volunteered on almost every Free Water Sports Week 2024 in the Easter and Summer holidays, inspiring 72 attendees to enjoy over 3,045 hours of accumulative activity, where there was 62% deprivation amongst the group, 12% SEN and 74% diversity. Olt has the ability to expertly volunteer across all programmes at FRBC.
West Midlands Region: Helen Gilbody, Birmingham Rowing Club/University of Birmingham Boat Club
Helen primarily sculls with UBBC but has been on the BRC committee for the last few years as Regatta Secretary. During this time she has worked hard to re-establish Birmingham Regatta, which was last held in 2018. She was determined that the regatta would go ahead this year – and it did, despite various challenges. Innovations such as a three-lane round robin for all events went down very well with competitors. Helen also worked hard with her colleagues from the university to ensure that cost-effective safety and first aid teams were in place.
Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucestershire and Somerset (WAGS) Region: Sid Chandler, Gloucester Rowing Club
Sid has been an immense help with the club junior section in many multiple ways. He assists with junior learn to row courses, and is incredibly kind and understanding with nervous beginners, helping them overcome their fear of falling in, and passing on useful knowledge about the stroke as well.
He ran the weekly junior erg sessions while the coach was away on holiday, and helps out at every event, willingly working any job that is offered to him.
Coach of the Year
Community Coach of the Year: Arran Lewcock, Chester-le-Street Rowing Club
As Head Coach at Chester-le-Street, Arran creates a truly inclusive environment for members as well as the wider community. His work has transformed both individual lives as well as the rowing community in our region. His coaching philosophy centres around inclusivity, engagement, as well as athletic excellence, making rowing accessible to people of all backgrounds and abilities including juniors from underrepresented backgrounds and older adults. During the past year, the club has seen an expansion to both access and participation to the club, and it is convinced that Arran’s contribution and commitment has been the underlying influencing factor in this.
Commended: Laura Caverney – Mersey Rowing Club
Talent Development Coach of the Year: Lesley Walters, Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club
Over the past decade Lesley has transformed the club and has encouraged our junior rowing squad to set their sights on claiming notable successes on the national stage and beyond. She has coached Louis Sheasby and Carter Horrix in the double sculls for the last three years with the crew going unbeaten throughout 2024. Under Lesley’s leadership, the club has been transformed into an inspiring place to become a competitive rower, where everybody across all age categories are supported and encouraged to become the best version of themselves.
Commended: Chris Bartley, Reading University Boat Club
Young Coach of the Year: Jamie Gamble, University of Surrey Boat Club
In the 2023/24 season, the club faced uncertainty due to the departure of its Head Coach, so as former University of Surrey rower, Jamie stepped in as a volunteer Head Coach until a new coach could be appointed, alongside his full time job as a police officer. He sacrificed days off and annual leave, and attended sessions between night shifts to lead 70 athletes across all levels, from beginners to championship squads. Jamie played a pivotal role in shaping the club’s beginner program, teaching them the fundamentals of rowing while mentoring them on balancing academics with training demands. He prioritised the individual needs and welfare of each athlete, and coached USBC’s Beginner crews to gold medals at BUCS Head and BUCS Regatta.
Commended: Natasha Wearmouth, Lambton Rowing Club
Inclusive Coach of the Year: Peter Forrest, Peterborough City Rowing Club
Pete is Lead Coach and organiser of ‘Row the Rhythm’, an exciting new initiative that enables people who are blind or visually impaired to access the sport of rowing both on and off the water. After a few pilot sessions in 2023 the programme has grown so that throughout 2024 Pete brings together and leads a team of British Rowing qualified coaches and assistants who enable 10 or more athletes to enjoy one-to-one coaching. These sessions have allowed the rowers to feel a sense of freedom and independence, which through sight loss, they do not freely experience in their daily life. Pete has pioneered a unique way of guiding, communicating and coaching a blind single sculler, using mobile technology and Bluetooth headsets, and has also been instrumental in promoting inclusive rowing in the media.
Coaching Team of the Year: Queen’s Park Chester Rowing Club J13 and J14 Coaches
Martin Bamber, Daniel Bryce-Smith, Stuart Davies, Justin Dunkerley, Zee Hardisty, Chanene Hayes, Anton Hunt, Simon Johnson, Lisa Jones,
Eden Mulholland, James Parlevliet, Nöel Privat, Sienna Taylor, Lily Wehbeh
This team of volunteer coaches coordinate over 50 juniors (J13 and J14) on and off the water several times a week within a 3-hour window. They weave fun, safety, progression and teamwork into every outing. They also involve J15 and J16 rowers who mentor and support each outing so that club athletes have a clear pathway to leadership within the club. The J13 and J14 crews delight in the club’s inclusivity, with SEND children mixing and supported by others, integrated following a newly tailored introductory course.
Environmental Sustainability Award: Stratford upon Avon Boat Club
Stratford-upon-Avon BC’s members are worried about climate change and its impact on grassroots sport. Although the Committee is focused on immediate club priorities, it gladly agreed to establish a Sustainability Working Group at the suggestion of a member. With no budget, this initiative had to grow organically. Informal conversations around environmental action led to a quick win being identified relating to washing up liquid, which is harmful to aquatic life. All sections were consulted and the decision taken to use only water to clean boats and an eco-friendly product in the kitchen. The group took a bottom-up approach to engage more members and give a voice to the junior section. A holiday workshop was organised where participants learned more about the importance of small changes and brainstormed improving the sustainability of the club’s regatta, creating a ‘bee café’, and second-hand kit sales. Taking the lead in sustainability reinforces the reputation of the club as an inclusive and progressive organisation in the community.
Commended: Fulham Reach Boat Club, Reading University Boat Club and Walton Rowing Club
Medal of Honour
Kate O’Sullivan BEM
Kate recently stepped down from the British Rowing Board after completing the maximum eight year term permitted. She had served as Deputy Chair since 2017. Previously she had been Chair of the National Coaching Committee for over 11 years from 2006. A loyal member of Tees Rowing Club, she was Club President for three years, and also Regatta Secretary or Chair for over 26 years from 1987. She continues to be Head Coach for the Juniors at the club as well as Head Coach for Teesside University.
John Hedger
John has been the Olympic Men’s Team selector since 2021. He has served on various World Rowing commission since 2004 including the Events Commission and currently the Rules Commission. He has also played an active role in the running of Rowing World Cups, the World Rowing Championships as well as the Olympic Games. John is a World Rowing umpire and a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta.
Medals of Merit
Di Binley
Di Binley has made a lifetime’s commitment to club rowing, from learning to row at Lancaster University in 1984 to her current portfolio of roles for Ardingly Rowing Club, where she is the driving force behind the club’s success. She has contributed many years’ service to the sport, influencing and supporting change in the way it is run, and being an influential voice in regional and national initiatives. She was founding Secretary of the North West Women’s Rowing Association, enabling talented club athletes to train and compete together against the top British clubs in the days when coming from a small NW club was a major disadvantage.
At Ardingly she has held practically every committee position, including single handedly raising funds for essential initiatives such as the complete replacement of the motor launches. Di spots gaps, translates problems, and facilitates the actions of others.
Ann Colborne
For around 40 years, Ann has been indispensable to at least five major rowing competitions: Thames Ditton Regatta, Pangbourne Junior Sculls, Kingston Head of the River Race, the National Schools Regatta, and the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race. She not only knew HOW regattas ran, she could MAKE them run. Her skill as start manager at Thames Ditton was legendary, and her ability to get the last race of the day off on time – no matter what had gone wrong earlier in the day – was a marvel.
As well as being an expert timekeeper, Ann is also an excellent commentator – knowledgeable, informative and entertaining but also kind. Her main ‘gig’ on the mike was at National Schools. With her late husband Brian, she owned and drove an umpire launch for regattas for a great many years, and in 2001 they produced the Colborne Competition Review for the Amateur Rowing Association.
Ian Wilson
Having been instrumental in forming Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association in the 1980s and reviving it in 2016, Ian is Chairman of the club and remains passionate about rowing locally, nationally and internationally. He dedicates much of his time to help athletes get the most from themselves and he is selfless in his determination and commitment to the sport.
A former successful GB lightweight athlete, Ian is respected around the world for his achievements in rowing, coaching and business (he is the founder of WattBike), and is particularly passionate about retaining lightweight rowing at all levels of competition.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Mike Hendry
As a member of Walton RC for 51 years, Mike has made a huge voluntary contribution to the sport, positively benefiting young people in particular. he has also been proactive in seeking to improve Walton’s organisation and facilities; in 2009/10 he was a core member of the team that redesigned, sought funding for and rebuilt the boathouse, successfully transforming the club into a modern sports facility. As Junior Co-Ordinator and Coach he has given thousands of young people the opportunity to develop self-discipline, commitment, courage, respect for others and team skills. Many have gone on to represent GB.
In the 1970s, with support from the ARA Coach Penny Chuter, he introduced the Proficiency Award scheme, which radically changed the way young scullers were coached. The scheme is still active in some clubs. As well as service as Club Captain and President, he has been England Team Manager, a Trustee of the Scullery, organiser of timekeeping teams at local heads and the Oarsport Junior Sculling Head, and much more.
Jo Rafferty
In 1975, Jo was one of several women who lobbied for women to be ad mitted as full rowing members to Northwich RC, ending a 100-year old all-male tradition. The 50th anniversary of this milestone will be celebrated next year.
Jo went on to become a committee member and more recently a Director of the club, as well as a dedicated volunteer. She has given the club a lasting legacy of dedication and inspiration.
Brian Thompson
Brian has been a unwavering driving force behind Northampton RC’s development since he co-founded it in 1976. As well as an athlete, he been a coach, a mentor, and club chairman for around 50 years. His dedication and hard work were essential to the facilities, fleet and buildings that the club enjoys today. As a coach, he has been involved with GB Start programmes, and was pivotal to Olympic champions Georgie Brayshaw and James Rudkin‘s formative years with rowing. And he’s now coaching the next generation of high performance juniors, who are trialling for GB.
National Safety Award: Alice Jenkinson
Alice became British Rowing’s Regional Rowing Safety Adviser for the Thames Region in February 2023 and approached this role with energy and enthusiasm. The Thames Region is by far the largest region in British Rowing. Alice became a member of the National Rowing Safety Committee and brought a fresh and refreshing approach to our discussions. She has a good understanding of the needs of her clubs and sets high standards for them and for herself. She works very hard to provide well-judged advice.
Beryl Crockford Award for Outstanding Contribution to Junior Rowing: Mike Martin
Mike has long been at the heart of Junior rowing in Great Britain. He served as Chair of the Junior Rowing Committee for over 12 years and is the current chair of the National Schools Regatta, and previous chair of the British Rowing Junior Championships. Mike coached at Abingdon School for many years producing numerous successful crews and GB junior athletes.
He went on to be a member of the Scottish Rowing High Performance Rowing Group, which has been developing pathways to international rowing success from Scotland, and has been the GB Rowing Team’s independent selector for the U19 teams ensuring that the trialling process is fair and transparent.
