1st Eight and Master in Charge of Rowing – Athol Hundermark
Athol started rowing at school in South Africa, winning 1st sculls at National Championships and going on to race for South Africa at the Junior World Championships in Strathclyde. He rowed at Rhodes University before taking up coaching at St Benedicts College, SA in 2001. He came to the UK in September 2001 and joined Shiplake College where he was Master in charge of Rowing in 2005 before moving to Abingdon School. In his first year at Abingdon he coached the J14 A & B Octuples to victory at the National Schools Regatta in 2006. He took over the helm from Mike Martin in 2009 and orchestrated the 1st Eight’s success in reaching the final of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup in 2009 and then going on to win the title in 2011. He has coached various GB junior crews during the time.
2nd Eight Coach – Rob Edmondson
Rob has an impressive rowing CV that includes representing Great Britain at the World University Regatta in 2002. He is a qualified physiotherapist who worked for the army from 2004 to 2011 including deployments in Norway, Malawi, Canada and Afganistan. His coaching experience includes coaching the winning Oxford University Women’s boat at the 2004 Boat Race and as assistant coach at Queens University Belfast over the last three years. It is great to be able to welcome Rob to the Abingdon School Boat Club.
J16 Coach and Assistant Master in Charge of Rowing – David Currie
David has quickly settled into life at Abingdon and in his first year produced some tremendous results including getting five boys selected to race and win for Great Britain at the J16 GB France match.
David was Director of Rowing at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School for 3 years before coming to Abingdon. He has a significant rowing pedigree having represented Great Britain rowing in 1X, 2X, 4X, 2- and 4-. During this time he gained 3 Henley Royal Regatta wins, an Under 23 bronze medal and Senior World Championship bronze medal. In 2009 David was awarded the British Rowing Junior Coach of the Year Award for his success at Sir William Borlase.
B Eight – Mike Litchfield
Mike is an Abingdon old boy and former 1st Eight oarsmen from 1994. Pictures of him can still be found in the boathouse if one looks carefully. His rowing career has remained dormant since his days at Abingdon but his experiences at Manchester University, in Texas and at BAE Systems will have done little to diminish his competitive drive. Mike has coached numerous crews in his time at the school and lead the 2nd Eight to a silver medal at the National Schools Regatta in 2011. His knowledge of the Boat Club and experience as an oarsmen help to maintain the tradition and ethos of the Boat Club.
J15 Coach – Henry Morgan
Henry started rowing at Winchester College before taking up coxing at Oxford. He coxed for his College 1st crews (inc. blades 2005). He then won a half blue coxing for OUWLRC, beating Cambridge in 2005. Henry coached the J15 2nd eight in 2009. Four of the boys won the J15A event at the Reading Amateur Regatta. In 2010 Henry coached the J14 B crew to an excellent victory at the National Schools Regatta. In 2011 he ran the J15 age group and lead the J15A crew to the A final at National Schools and to winning the Reading Town Regatta
J15 Coach – Mike Streule
Mike rowed in his Oxford College first eight for three years and then went on to row for OULRC in his penultimate year at University. He stroked the Lighweight reserve boat (Nephthys) in 2008 representing the club in regattas home and abroad. He has raced the fours and eights head on the tideway a number of times. He also coached some novice college crews whilst at university.
J15 Coach – Sarah Gibbard
Sarah started her sculling and rowing career at Headington School at the tender age of 12 and acquired her Instructor’s Award whilst still at school, although too busy rowing to ever find time to coach at this point! Although successful at school and in the First Eight at university, Sarah realised that to be competitive in smaller boats she’d have to compete against girls her own size! Her lightweight career started here and continued at the University of London where she studied her PGCE. Last year her enthusiasm was a tremendous asset to the J14 set up.
J14 Coach – Hugh Price
Hugh will be tackling the challenging role of managing the J14 rowers again this year. This will be Hugh’s fifth year in charge of the J14’s. Hugh’s rowing background includes learning to scull at Dulwich College. Hugh rowed in the Worcester College 1st Eight at University as well as coaching the College’s Women’s Eight. He joined the School from KCS Wimbledon where he was coaching the J14’s. In 2008 and 2009 the J14’s under his charge performed extremely well with numerous wins under there belt with the highlight been the win of the J14 octuple event at the Marlow Regatta in 2008 where they beat the crew that won the National Championships. In 2010 J14 B crew won the National Schools Regatta and in 2011 the A crew came in with a tremendous second at the Regatta.
J14 Coach – Mike Webb
Mike was in charge of the rowing at Latymer Upper School before joining us in 2001. He had recently retired from 'active service with the Great Britain National team. He has been a leading light in the sculling squad for a number of years and competed at the World Championships in St Catherines, Canada in 1999. He has vast experience and knowledge and is able to get his message across to the boys easily and effectively. He took the J14 squad during 2002/3 and they had an excellent year. A number of inter-school races were masterminded and run by Mike. In 2006 he coached the J16 Eight to a bronze medal at the National School Regatta.
Over the last few years Mike has achieved brilliant results with various crews including wins for the J15’s at Bedford Regatta, The 2nd Eight at the Marlow regatta and an excellent bronze medal for the 2nd eight at the National Schools Regatta. Mike’s technical expertise and rowing experience make him an invaluable member of the Club.
J14 Coach – Ben Whitworth
Ben started his rowing career whilst a boy at Shrewsbury School, racing against Abingdon on numerous occasions (he optimistically thinks it was about even-stevens over the years!). From there he rowed for Magdalene College, Cambridge and was awarded four sets of blades for both May and Lent Bumps. He then decided it was much easier to coach from a bike rather than from in the boat, and has not looked back since. After a brief stint looking after a squad at Vesta RC in Putney, he helped grow a fledgling boat club for Whitgift School, Croydon where he brought the inexperienced crews up to a level where they could start to compete at national regattas.
J14 Coach – Tamara Katic
Tamara was introduced to rowing at St Paul's Girls school where she competed through her school years. At Oxford University she rowed for Oriel College. She is looking forward to getting out on the river and put her skills to good use coaching the J14's.
Rowing GAP Year Coach – Stephen Randall
Stephen joins us from St Stithians College, Johannesburg where he has been a member of the schools 1st Eight and has achieved provincial and National success. Stephen will be assisting in the coaching of all age groups although his primary responsibility will be assisting Hugh Price with the J14’s. Stephen will be studying engineering when he returns to South Africa in 2013.
Volunteer Coach – Arran O’Dell
Arran is a sucker for punishment and in-between his flights all over the world as a pilot for Virgin Atlantic he gives up his time to share his passion for rowing with the boys. Arran has coached numerous GB crews in recent years and his technical eye and respected viewpoint make him a fresh and valuable addition to the coaching team.
Boathouse Manager – Austen Dorey
Austen started at Abingdon in November 2009 and his efforts around the boathouse have quickly transformed the fleet and the boathouse into an excellent condition. Austen’s skills in repairing and maintaining boats are second to none and he regularly turns repairs around within 24hours to keep the fleet afloat. His engineering and architecture skills are regularly put to work from installing an office in the new boathouse to fitting out and repairing coaching launches. Often the unsung hero behind the Boat Club’s success his enthusiasm and craftsmanship has been a Godsend.