I am aware that there has been a fair bit of uncertainty about the coaching situation going forward with both Rob and Steve sadly leaving and the added challenges brought about by COVID.
We have been working hard to bring together a team capable of guiding our elite racing squad and the rest of the club through the 2020/21 season. The above challenges have forced us to think more creatively, which has led to the formation of the below team and structure that I believe to be ideally suited to deliver on the ever demanding aspirations of LRC.
We are now in a position to share with the membership the details of the backbone of the coaching team that will take us through to HRR 2021:
Stu Heap, Chief Coach, London Rowing Club.
Stuart Heap will be heading up the programme taking on the role of Chief Coach and will manage the coaching programme assisted by a core group of volunteer coaches.
Stuart “Stu” has been a member of London Rowing Club since 2009 and many of you will recognise Stu as an active member of the club, and the leader of the TopRow Learn to Row programme. As an athlete Stuart has won numerous national titles, rowed in two HRR finals and went on to win a bronze medal for GB in the lightweight four at the World University Championships.
As a coach Stu has coached crews to numerous domestic medals including a gold at the National Schools Regatta. He has also coached athletes to selection for USRowing at the World Rowing Junior Championships and GB at the Coupe de la Jeunesse. Stu was also selected to coach the GB Junior Team at the European Championships and Coupe de la Jeunesse.
Stuart will also have the support and guidance of long standing LRC member - Robin Williams who will be working with Stu on the overall coaching programme. Robin will need no introduction to many members having coached at LRC in the early ‘90s before moving to Cambridge and then to the GB team where he coached the remarkable women’s pair to successive Olympic gold medals. Robin also won the Wyfolds for the Club in 1990 and 1993.
James Mead, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, London Rowing Club.
James Mead will be staying on as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. James joined LRC as the head S&C coach in October 2016. He has consistently delivered outstanding results from his athletes and is extremely well respected for all that he does. He is looking forward to continuing to push the programme forward in this new structure.
To supplement this structure we are looking to bring together a core team of 6-10 volunteer coaches from within the club who will provide consistent coaching to the squad and other groups at the club. To help align the coaching style, programmes and technical focus, Robin will be running a series of coaching workshops for this group. I will be engaging with the membership shortly in order to build this core team of volunteers for the upcoming rowing year.
We are also adding to our list of specialist volunteer coaches: including a coxing coach, sports psychologist and a rowing specific sports nutritionist.
With this team coming together and forming the backbone of our overall team, I believe we will be able to deliver one of the most effective high performance environments in UK club rowing. I am truly excited about the upcoming season that seems to be bursting with potential!
BANG THE DRUM!
Mark Lucani, Vice-Captain
