Stratford’s Dewdney Awarded British Rowing’s Medal of Merit!

In his award citation, Alastair Marks, Chief Executive of British Rowing stated, “Mark also received multiple nominations from across his region for the work that he has done to raise the profile of adaptive rowing.

He coaches a substantial number of adaptive rowers at his own club at Stratford upon Avon and oversees a large group of volunteers, but his contribution to adaptive rowing has been much wider than that, with a major impact on a national level.

Mark has helped to develop the recent national strategy for adaptive rowing and has enabled coaches of adaptive rowers across the country to share ideas and good practice on adaptive rowing.

As Chair of the British Rowing Club Adaptive Group, which Mark helped to establish, he is in constant conversation with rowing and disability focussed organisations and gives up significant amounts of his time to assist other rowing clubs and competitions across the country in planning adaptive categories, providing guidance to safety considerations and logistical planning.

At international level, Mark has organised for Clubs in the UK to attend Para competitions in Italy and has met with international Para coaches to share ideas.”

Commenting further, Paul Stanton, Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s President said, “The whole Club is very proud of Mark and his achievements and especially the recognition from British Rowing, the sport’s governing body: Mark’s dedication to the sport and the hours of dedication mirror the efforts of all Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s coaches, launch drivers, committee members, supporters and volunteers. We are so grateful to all of them!”

For media coverage, see British Rowing news https://www.britishrowing.org/2024/01/2023-british-rowing-awards-winners-announced; Stratford Herald page forty five and online https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/rowing-coach-presented-with-top-award-9351047 and Stratford Observer online https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/rowing-stratford-boat-clubs-dewdney-awarded-british-rowings-medal-of-merit and back sports page https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/editions/view/?/Stratford/2024/02/02&pages=24

Attending a special awards presentation in London was Mark Dewdney, Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s Head Adaptive Coach. Earlier in the month, Mark was awarded British Rowing’s Medal of Merit for his services to rowing

At the ceremony hosted by Fortnum & Mason, Love Rowing and British Rowing, Mark was presented with his award by Moe Sbihi MBE and with some of rowing’s ‘royalty’ of Dr Cath Bishop, Ellen Buttrick, Alastair Marks, Richard Phelps, Tanni Gray-Thompson and Ben Pritchard applauding at the award ceremony!

Safety First: No Compromise!

After many months of delay due to Covid and other distractions, Stratford upon Avon Boat Club has finally commissioned a cohort of ten ‘new’ launch drivers to their safety rota

All launch drivers at Stratford Boat Club are RYA qualified and as well as having extensive familiarisation on the Boat Club’s four safety launches, all new drivers have been on and passed the Royal Yachting Association’s Inland Waterways Helmsman course which includes safety, helmsmanship, collision avoidance, engine checks, mooring, man overboard, rescue and enables the driver to helm a vessel safely

Said Ian Wilcock, Stratford Boat Club’s Water Advisor, “Stratford Boat Club takes water safety and the safety of its members and all river users very seriously. The Club’s launches are used daily for assisting with training upstream and safety on the Avon and having a pool of trained and qualified drivers is essential to maintain these rigorous standards. As well as weekend safety cover, the launches are out during the week with school outreach and essential cover for the Club’s ever expanding adaptive and weekday rowers’ squads as well as the Club’s two regattas and other events on the Avon”

Commenting further, Paul Stanton, Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s President, said, “Putting our launch drivers through the RYA’s Inland Waterways Helmsman course is a considerable undertaking not only for the Club but also for the volunteers who give freely of their time gaining experience, going on the course and covering the launch safety rota slots. As the winter weather begins to set it, their input is especially needed and essential: we cannot thank them enough for their volunteering and time given”

For media coverage, see British Rowing online https://www.britishrowing.org/2022/10/safety-first-at-stratford-upon-avon-bc and also Stratford Observer online https://www.stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/rowing-safety-first-at-stratford-upon-avon-boat-club

(Note: there will be another launch volunteers’ course in March)