Great Marlow School Boat Club:

Great Marlow School Boat Club has approximately 100 rowers from Years 8 to Year 13 and last years’ senior boys four raced for England, winning two Gold medals for their country at the Home Internationals in Cork!

 

Previous successes have seen  medals of all colours including Gold at British Championships, Inter Regional Regatta, Marlow International, The Schools Head of the River, and many more!!

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The club as well as being highly competitive, seeks to encourage students to maintain high levels of exercise and to gain enjoyment from participation in sport. The benefit of exercise and commitment to a team is considered a key benefit for the students’ education.

 

Club History

 

Rowing at Great Marlow School was rejuvenated after the Sydney Olympics in 2000 with the support of Sir Steve Redgrave, the Amateur Rowing Association and Marlow Rowing Club. With support from the National Lottery, the school became part of the National Project Oarsome initiative, which encourages indoor and outdoor rowing in schools. Lottery funding purchased a fleet of eight boats, coaching launch and trailer, as well as indoor rowing machines.

 

Two further lottery grants enabled the school to purchase more rowing machines. Sir Steve Redgrave also donated a coxed four to the school. It was in 2008, when rowing at the school became so popular that it formed Great Marlow School Boat Club, which boats out of Longridge Activity Centre. Also, the Blue Friars Trust has enabled us to expand our fleet of boats.

 

Since 2004 we have won 28 Gold, 38 Silver and 30 Bronze individual and team medals at national level events.

 

In 2012 there were 120 rowers at the school and two 6th form girls aimed for Great Britain selection. In 2013 success continued with 8 national medals. GMS Girls’ Four were selected for England and won the Home International Regatta.

 

Over the years GMS have won Medals at most National Events, including The Schools Head, The Scullery, British Junior Inter-Regionals, the National Schools Regatta and British Junior Championships.

 

The school as well as being highly competitive, seeks to encourage students to maintain high levels of exercise and to gain enjoyment from participation in sport. The benefit of exercise and commitment to a team is considered a key benefit for the students’ education.

 

 

Great Marlow School Boat Club Coaches:

 

Fergus Murison 

Mr Murison teaches Mathematics at Great Marlow School and has been coaching rowing at the school since he arrived in 2007. He is responsible for the running of Great Marlow School Boat Club and is a Trustee of Great Marlow Swans, the fundraising arm of the club which also provides a means for people outside the school to compete. Mr Murison started coaching Oxford College crews in the 1970s and 80s, then spent a number of years coaching Rugby at Henley Hawkes from the mid 1990s before joining Great Marlow School in 2007.

 

Piers Barnett 

Piers is the rowing coordinator and assists in the running of the boat club. He has been mainly coaching the boys squad. Piers started coaching at the school late 2014. He has worked previously at several schools and clubs in Oxford such as St Edwards, Headington, Falcon Rowing Club and has also been involved in coaching a few Oxford colleges.

 

David Haynes  

David is a parent of ex pupil Sam Haynes. David coaches the Year 9 boys on a Saturday morning, as well as running the parent rowing sessions in the summer term. David coached the current Year 13 squad when they were in their early years of rowing at GMSBC and was instrumental in their first wins as J14 crew.

 

David Read

David coaches the senior boys (Years 11, 12 and 13). He has had a long history in rowing and is a member of Leander and Henley Rowing Club.

 

Laurence Pyle 

Laurence is a parent of ex pupil Amy Pyle as well as a rower himself. He helps coach the Year 8's on a Sunday morning.