I joined Nottingham Boat Club as a 17-year-old. I spent 3 very happy years learning how to enjoy rowing.
I moved to Leander in 1971 and rowed there for 2 seasons. I then joined the University of London (LSE) in 1974 and moved to Thames Tradesmen in 1976.
I then moved to Australia and joined the Sydney Rowing Club, followed by a move to New Zealand, where I joined the Whakatane Rowing Club.
On returning to the UK, I concentrated on getting into the national team and being a full-time rower until 1979.
In 1980, I rowed for Nottingham Boat Club with my brother in the national team.
The early beginnings of NCRA were starting to form, with several local rowers getting together. In 1981, I retired from rowing and, with the President to be, Freddie Brookes, formed NCRA.
I was soon back in a boat and rowed for the next 7 years.
As chairman and with the help of what turned out to be super athletes and coaches, NCRA became the driving force in British Rowing.
Winning 25 Henley Royal Regatta events and appearing in 35 finals. Over 200 athletes represented their country, winning world championships and Olympic medals.
I rowed at 10 World Championships, winning a Gold medal in 1979, a Silver medal in 1983, a bronze medal in 1984, and representing Scotland at the 1986 Commonwealth Games. I rowed in 12 Henley Royal Regatta finals, winning 7. One of the losses was to Jeff; it still hurts!
During my rowing journey, I had the good fortune to row with some exceptional athletes and be coached and influenced by what can only be described as the world’s best coaches and motivators.
In no particular order, Mike Spracklen, Rusty Robinson ( AUS ), Harry Mahon ( NZ ), Thor Nielsen ( NOR ), Bishop Mark Jable (OSB), Tom Reid ( NZ ), Remus Rudzionis ( RUS ) Sir George Cox, Dermod Sweeney, Ron Needs, Terry O’neil, John Wilson, Keith Symons, Keith Atkinson and Sean Bowden.
Klaus Filter, the grandfather of East German rowing, was a source of information and technical input. Through Klaus, I met Jürgen Grobler, one of East Germany’s most successful coaches. When the Communist Wall came down, I managed to persuade Jürgen to move to the UK to become Steve Redgrave’s coach.
We closed NCRA in 2006 after a battle with the BR start system, which was continually stealing our athletes.
I was asked to mentor a young coach at Nottingham Rowing Club in 2016, Declan Gamble. In a short time, we were finishing second in the Girls’ Championship VIII. After a difference of opinion with NRC, Declan and I moved to the Becket school club, with the plan to row as NCRA in 2018.
Declan proved to be an excellent coach for someone so young, Rachael Heap being his first athlete to represent Great Britain at the World Juniors in 2017.
Liv Bates followed competing and winning medals at the U23 lightweight World Championships and the senior World Championships. Liv was the emergency reserve for the Olympic Gold medal Lightweight 2X at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
A fantastic achievement for someone so young.