03/03/09
Meet the Executive
Richard Goddard (President)
bio to come ....
Chas Newens (Vice-President) 
bio to come ....
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Bill Mitchell (Vice-President) has been a contributor to the sport of rowing in many ways. He is a member of the Thames Tradesmen Rowing Club, the Rowing Risk Assessment Implementation Group, and the on-water team at the 2006 Rowing World Championships. He is also Chairman of the Head of the River Fours, and a founder trustee of Royal Albert Dock Trust. As a coach, Bill has worked with rowers from novice and recreational through international levels. Bill has been a rowing umpire since 1974, multi-lane umpire since 1981, and has been a member of the Umpires' Commission since 1981, including a spell as its Chairman.
Margaret Adams (Vice-President) started rowing in 1972 at St Georges Ladies RC. She qualified as a Bronze level coach in 1976, became a National umpire 1979 and a FISA umpire in 1998.
Margaret has been Race committee Chairman for the Women's Head of River Race, Vesta Scullers Head of The River Race and Pairs Head of the River Race, as well as Safety Advisor & Race Committee Chairman Fours Head of The River Race.
She was one of the founders of Henley Women's Regatta as part of the "think tank" and Race Committee Chairman for its first two years and then Event Chairman from year two until year ten
Margaret has served on the National Championships Committee; the Thames Regional Umpires Commission; the Women's Commission; been ARA Div 18 Representative; Thames Regional Rowing Council Chairman; ARA National Council and ARA Executive Council.
Chris Sprague ( Vice-President) is a member of London Rowing Club and Leander. He started rowing at St. Edward's, then at Christ Church, Oxford where he was Boat Club Treasurer. Chris competed at senior level for London Rowing Club but work as a solicitor precluded serious rowing after 1971.
Chris is a holder of Bronze Coaching Award. He qualified as an umpire in 1978 and as a FISA umpire in 1993, and has umpired at World Junior and Senior Championships, World Cup Regattas and World Masters' Regattas. Chris has been a member of the Thames Regional Umpires' Commission (TRUC) since 1981, serving as Secretary from 1981-88 and as Charman from 2003-08. He has also served as Treasurer of the Thames Regional Rowing Council (TRRC) from 1983-88 and as President 2005-05.
Chris was Treasurer of St. Edward's Martyrs Boat Club from 1974-91 and Chairman from 1991-95. He is currently Chairman of Christ Church Boat Club Society.
Ruth Hatton (Chairman) started sculling at TSS nearly 20 years ago, on a "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" basis (her husband was a former captain of UL who represented GB in the 80s).
In 1989 she moved to Sydney and rowed at Mosman RC for two years, before returning to the UK. A break from rowing followed while her children were small, but Ruth returned to TSS in the late 90s where she set up the TSS weekday ladies group and, along with Chris Williams, established the basis of the current TSS Junior Squad.
She was chairman of the Junior Rowing Commission 2005 to 2008 and currently helps out at UL. She still sculls regularly on the Tideway.
Edward Lloyd Rees (Honorary Secretary)
Ed began coxing at university in 1997 and since then has coxed at a number of clubs in Bristol and on the Tideway. A multi-lane umpire, Ed has been Chairman of the Race Committee for Putney Town Regatta since 2007. He is Secretary of the National Championships and in charge of logistics for the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta. He will be Honorary Director of the 2009 Home International Regatta at Holme Pierrepont. Ed is Secretary to the ARA National Development Committee. He also undertakes race reporting duties at HRR and was part of the timing team for the 2005 World Cup and 2006 World Championships. Ed was previously Honorary Secretary of the TRRC between 2004 and 2005.
Paul Baldwin (Honorary Treasurer) took up rowing at Imperial College London, and moved to Vesta Rowing Club after graduation.
Paul has previously been the Captain of Vesta, and is now Chairman of the Executive Committee there. He holds an Instructor’s Award and is a multi-lane umpire.
Paul is currently on the organising committee of Putney Town Regatta, is the Safety Adviser to the APPRG Boat Race, and is Honorary Treasurer to the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta.
David Hancock (Upriver Representative) started rowing at Christ Church,
Oxford. He rowed for several years at Henley Rowing Club, where he was
also Hon Sec, and skiffed at Thames Valley Skiff Club.
Dave has been a member of the HRR commentary team for 25 years, and can be
heard at Henley Womens', Veterans' and the various Reading regattas.
A multi-lane umpire and a member of the Thames Regional Umpires'
Commission (TRUC), he is currently Chairman of the Race Committee for
Henley Town & Visitors' Regatta and the two Wallingford Heads. He also ran
the timing team at the 2006 World Championships.
Jim Harlow (Downriver Representative) took up rowing at Birmingham University, where he was Captain and began coaching.
After a year in Australia, where he rowed for Adelaide Rowing Club, he returned to London and joined Vesta Rowing Club.
Jim is the current Captain of Vesta, having previously been the club's Water Safety Adviser and Deputy Captain. He is a bronze award coach and umpire, Chairman of the Vesta Veterans Head and on the race committee for the Vesta Scullers Head.
Richard Packer (Equipment Officer) started rowing at Tonbridge School in the 1980s, continuing at St Peter's College Oxford and then via stints at Marlow, Bewl Bridge and Staines (and regular visits to Newark and Ancholme), he has settled at Weybridge RC (but is rarely seen in a human-powerered boat these days!).
He has served as Water Safety Adviser to Bewl Bridge RC and Staines BC and on the organising committee for London Docklands Regatta. In 2000 he qualified as an ARA Umpire, gaining his Multi-lane endorsement in 2003, and is the Chief Umpire for both Weybridge Silver Sculls, Weybridge WInter Head and Chairman of the Race Committee for Wallingford Regatta. He is an RYA2 qualified launch driver, and was part of the on-water and umpire launch driving team at Dorney for the 2005 World Cup and Coupe de la Jeunesse, and the 2006 World Championships.
Laura Lion (Junior Rowing Commissioner - Upriver) started rowing at Upper Thames RC at 13, then moved to Maidenhead RC at 16 and has been there ever since. She won at National and International level as a Junior, mainly singles, and then competed at the World Lightweights as a senior. She coached Beginners at Maidenhead for 6 years and has now changed to coach the Advanced Junior Girls. Laura was Maidenhead Rowing Club Secretary in the 80s for 2 years, and joined the TRRC Executive Committee as the upriver Junior Rowing Commissioner in January 2007.
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Andrew Crawford (Junior Rowing Commissioner - Downriver) ... bio to come .... .... ....
Murray Litvak (Chairman, Regional Veterans' Rowing Commission) is a member of Staines Boat Club and has been Secretary of the club and Staines regatta for a number of years.
Having rowed initally, Murray then took up coxing being more lightweight than heavyweight . Since then he has had success all levels of Veteran rowing, including Henley Veterans and World Masters. Although still coxing, he decided to give something back to the sport and became a qualified coach in 2003, and umpire in 2005.
Murray Litvak was elected as Chairman of the Regional Veterans' Rowing Commission in 2006, and as Secretary of the National Veterans' Commission in January 2007.
Richard Philips (Chairman, Regional Coaching Committee) joined London Rowing Club in 1973 whilst still at school, and became captain of his school boat club a year later. After leaving school Richard studied at the Polytechnic of Central London and was Captain of their boat club for the 1978-79 season. He has been a member of London ever since and is currently on their committee, having been Captain from 1987-1989. Richard has been coaching at LRC since 1990. He also coached the Great Britain U23 Lwt 2x in 1992 and assisted with the Great Britain Lightweight squad coaching in 1991, 1992 and 1993 Richard is a Project Engineer and was part of the team responsible for Eton College's Dorney Lake Boathouse.
Nick Watkins (Deputy Regional Water Safety Advisor - Downriver/Tideway)
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Lynch Mason (Deputy Regional Water Safety Advisor - Upriver) ....
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Patrick Lockley (Deputy Regional Water Safety Advisor - Upriver) ....
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Tony Reynolds (Regional Water Safety Advisor) first started rowing at Queens Park High School and then at Imperial College, where he won the Ladies Plate in 1978. Other accolades include: Boat Race for Cambridge 1984; GB Lightweight 8+ World Championships 1983-4; Coached lightweight women's coxless four in 1995 (silver) and 1996 (silver); Lightweight Women's Chief Coach 1994-6; Equipment Manager Sydney Olympics (2000); Qualified as an umpire in 2003, Multi-Lane 2007
Julie Watson (Regatta Code of Conduct Co-ordinator) 
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Chris George (Water Safety Development Adviser) started sculling at Karachi Boat Club, Pakistan in 1955. Ten years later he started sweep rowing at Trinity College Dublin then moved to UL in the early seventies. He rowed as a heavy and light weight international in the 1970s.
After the family effect and school-fees scuppered his rowing in 1979, Chris focused on coaching, taking on, amongst others: Isis; the Women's National Squad (Moscow); Westminster School; Gonvillle and Caius College and Canford School. He is a Gold level ARA coach and Tutor.
In 1995 the call of the oar became too great and he started rowing again, first for London RC then in 1997 for Thames RC, where he sat on committee as Captain or Deputy Captain for seven years before moving to the Thames Regional Rowing Council, taking on the thankless role of Regional Water Safety Adviser (RWSA) until November 2005. Chris continues to serve on the ARA Council and the ARA Executive.
Phil Simmons (ARA Coaching and Devlopment Officer) started rowing at Hampton School and now rows for Molesey Boat Club. His rowing career has had many highs and lows at all levels.
He has also been involved in coaching juniors of all standards.
Phil now works for the ARA as a Coaching Development Officer for the Lower Thames Region and is keen to see increasing numbers of people participating and competing in rowing.
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Sarah Birch (ARA Coaching and Devlopment Officer) was introduced to the river at an early age at the Thames Valley Skiff Club in Walton. Following great success racing in dinghies, Sarah started rowing in 1984 at Weybridge Ladies ARC. She went on to represent Great Britain at the Junior World Championships as a cox and later as an athlete. Sarah continued her international career with Kingston RC, representing GB at World Championships from 1997-2004 in various lightweight crews.
Having "retired" from international competition Sarah now works full time for the ARA as Coaching and Development Officer for the Upper Thames region. She is heavily involved with the Junior Officials scheme and other initiatives to attract young people to rowing.
Liz Wray (Marketing and PR Officer) took up rowing in 1990 while at Cambridge and started coaching soon after. She was women's captain at Peterhouse BC in 1992/93 and joined Twickenham RC in 1994 where she has served on committee as both club secretary and club captain.
Liz is currently rowing at Molesey BC, is a multi-lane umpire; secretary of the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta; sits on the Head of the River Fours committee and was Committee Chairman for Twickenham Regatta from 2002 to 2006.
A member of the Sports Journalists Association and the British Association of Rowing Journalists; she worked in the press office for the 2006 and 2007 Rowing World Championships; was assistant Press Officer at HRR from 2003 to 2008 and is currently writing a history of the Remenham Club.
Emma James (Thames RC Rep) took up rowing whilst at Oxford University in the late 1980s. She rowed for the University Blue Boat helping Oxford to break its 10 year run of defeats beating Cambridge in 1991.
After leaving University and a break from rowing of 6 years, Emma was tempted back into the sport, joining Thames RC in 1998. Since then she has stroked the England 8+ in the Commonwealth Rowing Championships to a Silver medal in 2002, reached the final GB selection trials in 2003, represented England in the Home countries match on three occasions.
Her proudest achievement was being part of the TRC women's eight which won the Remenham Challenege Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 2005, which made her the first Oxford women's Blue to win an event at HRR.
After deciding to semi-retire from competition and concentrate on sculling and veteran events, Emma became Captain at Thames RC in September 2005.
Michael Jones (Leander RC Rep) is Archivist of Leander and a past Committee member. He is a licenced umpire with a multi-lane endorsement, a past member of the Thames Region Umpires Commission (1990-2006) and a past Secretary of the ARA National Umpires Commission (1995-2007).
Michael was born in Henley and is a member of Henley RC (since the mid 1950s) and a past Committee member, Treasurer and Captain. He was the Secretary of Henley Town & Visitors' Regatta for 12 years and a member of the Environment Agency Navigation Working Group and now represents Henley rowing on the local Environment Agency River Users Group. He was Treasurer in the early formation years of the River and Rowing Museum and is involved with the administration of Henley Royal Regatta (since the early 1950s) and is the author of two books on Rowing and Henley.
Mike Williams (London RC Rep) is President of London RC, the London RC representative on the ARA Council, and is a member of the ARA Executive Committee and chairman of the Finance committee. Treasurer of FISA and a member of its Executive Committee and Council, he was ARA Treasurer for 10 years and has been awarded an ARA medal of honour.
Mike coxed the winning Cambridge crew in 1973, and Goldie in 1972. He is also a Steward of Henley Royal Regatta and a member of its Committee of Management. His association with London goes back many years, and after a stint as captain in 1976-8, he has since been Treasurer and Vice President. He was elected President in 2004.
Mark Blandford-Baker (Div 10 Rep) represents the Council for Oxford University Rowing (COUR) which is the overarching body that brings together university and collegiate rowing for Oxford. He is also Senior Treasurer of Magdalen College Boat Club.
A FISA Umpire since 2001, Mark has served on the Eastern Region Umpires' Commission for many years. He is a Life Member of Cambridge '99 Rowing Club where he took up rowing in the early 1980s. During his Cambridge days he was involved in running the Jesus College Boat Club, was Senior Treasurer of CULRC (1987-2001), Senior Treasurer of CUCBC (1993-2005) and Chairman of the Henley Boat Races' Organising Committee (Oxford & Cambridge Women's and Lightweights' Boat Races) from 1988 to 1999. Mark chaired the Organising Committee for the Coupe de la Jeunesse 2005 which was held at Eton.
Andrew Weekes (Div 11 Rep) first became involved in rowing at age of eight, when he started coxing in Oxford.
A member of local Oxford and Berkshire clubs ever since, Andrew was a founder member of the City of Oxford Rowing Club and is now a trustee of the club. Over the years he has been Vice Captain, Secretary and Chairman.
Andrew became an umpire in 1973 and is multi-lane endorsed. Over the years he has coached both club and college crews. Still an active sculler, he also patrols the Isis in a safety boat when the young juniors are training. For many years he has been involved in the events organised by the club.
Peter Moore (Div 12 Rep; and Chairman, Regional Recreational Rowing Commission) started rowing at Forest School in the fifties(!) subsequently representing Reading and Thames. He joined Reading Town Regatta Committee in 1959 and has held the post of Hon. Sec. since 1977, together with Thames Valley Park Regatta since its inception in 1990.
Peter was elected as a member of ARA Council in 1991 and is the former Secretary of the National Competition Committee. He is a member of BARJ, HRR Commentary Team, and acts as an umpire and coach with keen interest in fixed seat rowing. Peter still occasionally competes with recent appearances in Great River Race and Voga Longa!
Tony Evans (Div 13 Rep; and Events ["Competitions Calendar"] Co-ordinator) started rowing in early 1960s at Sir Wm. Borlase's School; he has been a member of Marlow RC ever since. Tony still quad sculls at least once a week and is also a member of Wraysbury Skiff & Punting Club, but now only skiffs for pleasure in his own double.
Other positions are: Hon Sec Marlow Regatta since 1984, Co-ordinator for Thames Region Calendar of Events for many years, multi-lane Umpire, member of ARA Competition Committee.
John Biddle (Chairman, Regional Umpires' Commission & Div 14 Rep) started rowing at Burway RC in 1966, whilst at school, and has been a member ever since serving on all possible committee positions: captain for six years; secretary for fifteen; and is currently president of the club. On top of this he also has a silver level coaching qualification and coaches the Burway Juniors, having previously been involved with the Women's Junior National Squad in the early eighties as coordinator/coach.
A qualified multi-lane umpire, he runs two head races and a regatta at Burway each year and is involved in organising the World Cup 2005 and world Championships 2006 at Dorney. John also sits on the Thames regional umpires' commission as Chairman and has responsibility for the training of new umpire candidates.
Richard West (Div 15 Rep; and Environment Agency Representative) has been a member of Kingston Rowing Club since the dawn of time and was first elected divisional Rep for division 15 in 1993. Chairman of the TRRC Down-River committee in 2001 and 2002 and Chairman of the TRRC in 2003, Richard has also served on the ARA Constitution Review and was formerly responsible for Maintaining and hiring out the TRRC radios and other equipment.
A multi-lane umpire, Richard is president of Thames Ditton Regatta; Vice President Kingston Amateur Regatta; a member of the Henley Women's Regatta Committee and a Former Chairman of both Kingston Amateur Regatta and Kingston Head of the River. He's also a member of the HRR commentary team.
Martin Carr (Div 16 Rep)
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Siobhan Cassidy (Div 17 Rep) has been involved in the National Schools Regatta, ULBC, CUWBC, J15 coaching, and the Eton rowing course. She has also represented England in 1989 and 1990, winning a gold medal; in 1992 on the GB U23 team; and was awarded full blue in 1995 at Cambridge, and full purple at UL prior to that. Siobhan was elected as Division 17 Representative in January 2007.
Neil Jackson (Div 18 Rep)
Neil began rowing in Chester nearly 50 years ago and first rowed on the Tideway over 40 years ago.
A member of Cygnet RC and Auriol Kensington RC, he is still competing as a Vet F and was Cygnet Water Safety Adviser until recently.
He has been a Div Rep since December 2004, and was elected as Regional Water Safety Adviser in at the TRRC AGM in November 2006.
Paul Lorenzato (Div 19 Rep). Like many people, Paul started rowing when he went to university but, as the university he attended didn't offer rowing; Paul joined Vesta RC and has been involved in the sport for over 10 years.
He is currently the Vesta women's novice coach and also coaches juniors at Barn Elms boat club, which is run by Wandsworth council.