Rowing coach presented with top award

STRATFORD Boat Club’s adaptive coach Mark Dewdney has been awarded British Rowing’s Medal of Merit.

On making the presentation, Alastair Marks, British Rowing’s chief executive, said: “Mark 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 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.”

Paul Stanton, Stratford Boat Club president, added his praise. He 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 mirrors the efforts of all Stratford Boat Club’s coaches, committee members, helpers, launch drivers and support volunteers. We are so grateful to all of them.”