Issue 99 - June 1997

Squad's £1.8m lottery jackpot

British international rowing will receive £1,861,243 (£674,306 will go to cover grants for 68 rowers) from the Sports Lottery Fund towards its 'performance and excellence' strategy to win Olympic and world medals over the next eight years.

The English Sports Council announced Lottery Sport World Class Performance Awards in April for the first seven sports to receive help for their revenue funding. David Tanner, the ARA's International Rowing Manager, said that the aim was to get Britain's first Olympic medal for a women in Sydney in 2000, plus two medals for men, and to increase the tally to two women's medals and three men's medals in 2004. 'Our top rowers and the best of those climbing the ladder can now train and race knowing that their financial security is assured as long as they bring back top results. For this summer our elite senior squad will not have to pay anything for their racing programme including the World Championships. What a change!'

The plan submitted by the British International Rowing Schemes includes subsistence awards in the first year (1998) for 51 men and 17 women who meet the criteria with a world ranking, and confirms the appointment of the international manager and four existing coaches - Jürgen Grobler, Mike Spracklen, Sean Bowden and Harry Mahon. It crucially calls for the appointment of two additional high performance coaches to find new talent and with a remit to create a 'pathway of success' from junior and under-23 levels to senior rowing. One would work with men and the other with women.

The plan also allows for the funding of athletes' expenses to regattas, championships and training camps, plus provision for a boatman and equipment manager with investment in sports medicine, physiological and psychological support.

© Copyright Christopher Dodd, 1997.