News

Durham University Boat Club appoints coach to train novice rowers

(31 October 2005)

Durham University Boat Club has strengthened its coaching team with the addition of Durham graduate Clare Leake as Freshers’ Manager.

Clare, who graduated with a degree in Combined Social Sciences in 2004, will be on the look out for talent amongst Durham’s first year students and aims to turn them into successful rowers. Clare joins the coaching team with a proven track record in rowing winning two Henley medals during her time as a student, and forming part of the crew that finished seventh in the Women’s Head of the River Race (HoRR) – at the time Durham’s highest ever finish for a women’s crew.

Clare will be part of the coaching staff that includes Senior Rowing Coach Wade Hall-Craggs, Assistant Rowing Coach Peter Lee, and Women’s Rowing Coach Emma Hall-Craggs.

Clare said: “I would like to extend my skills to those new to the sport, with the view to developing high performance athletes during their time at Durham, specifically allowing those with the capability to do so, to reach U23 medallist positions before they even leave university.”

The position is funded by the Amateur Rowing Association High Performance Programme, the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme and Durham University.

The High Performance Programme was started in 1989/90 and was the brainchild of the late Eric Halladay, former lecturer and College Principal at Durham who was the key influence on Durham University rowing for many years. He set up the programme in response to a decline in attracting junior rowers to the University. Talented athletes were recruited from other sports and turned into successful rowers, winning the Novice pennant at the HoRR three times. Olympic single sculler Ian Lawson who competed in Athens was a product of the squad.

Wade Hall-Craggs added, “Talent identification and development is the cornerstone of DUBC’s success. One example is graduate Naomi Hoogesteger who arrived at Durham without any rowing experience and she has gone onto winning bronze at the 2005 World Championships, whilst achieving a first class degree.”

Durham University Director of Sport, Dr Peter Warburton said, “I am delighted to welcome Clare back to Durham. I am certain she will enjoy the challenge and she will add greatly to our already powerful coaching team. Her appointment will allow us to secure a development base for future success.”

Clare learned to row at Bradford Grammar School. After graduation she joined the Bryanston School coaching staff, filling the role left by DUBC Assistant Coach Peter Lee. DUBC are the reigning BUSA (British University Sports Association) rowing champions, having also won the BUSA pennants at both the HoRR and WHoRR. Durham University is ranked 5th overall for sport in the UK and was recently named University of the Year by the Sunday Times.