Hunt for the next Redgrave (From Gazette Series)

Hunt for the next Redgrave

BUDDING rowers from the region are set to receive a huge boost as a hands-on scheme aimed at developing talent and possibly discovering a new Steve Redgrave comes to Filton.

The fast-growing Bristol Academy of Sport is launching a new Rowing Academy for talented young rowers in the region, which will also cater for complete novices with a keen interest.

The Academy, which Filton College is creating in conjunction with the University of Bristol, will host young athletes who will take full-time academic courses while focusing on developing their rowing skills for 10 hours each week, coached by leading professionals. Courses available to Rowing Academy recruits will include a First Diploma, National Diploma or HND in sports programmes or a range of A-levels.

The new academy will be based jointly at Filton College and at the University Boat Club, based at Saltford on the River Avon. Specialist training facilities will also be available at the new sport and vocational centre being developed by Filton College at nearby Filton High School, which is due to open in September 2004.

The director of rowing at the Bristol Academy of Sport will be Gordon Trevett, who is also the coach at the University of Bristol. Trevett has recently returned to the UK from New Zealand where he has run his own fundraising consultancy business for the last nine years. He has won the Thames Cup at Henley and was runner-up in the Prince Philip, and is a former British 4+ trials winner having finished third in HoRR (the Head of the River Race).

At present, he is in training to beat his age group's indoor rowing world record over 2,000m (already laying claim to four Kiwi records and two unofficial world records).

Trevett's coaching experience has also seen him achieve success at all levels during his positions as head coach at Kings College (Auckland), Auckland University and Auckland Rowing Club. Many rowers that he has coached have represented their country, including Rob Waddell (world sculling champion) and the late Harry Mahon.

Trevett's own personal mission statement is to lead and educate others to a successful and rewarding academic and sporting career. By encouraging excellence in every aspect of life, he aims to help young people turn dreams into reality, and this has long been his philosophy.

Kevin Hamblin, Principal at Filton College, is delighted that the academy is on its way. He said: "I am extremely pleased to be working with the University of Bristol on the Rowing Academy. I feel it is important for students to engage in this sport at a young age, and I am confident that a number of our academy students will progress onto the university on completion of their courses at Filton. I also believe a focus on youth rowing will help to place Bristol on the map as a nationally recognised city in developing the potential of young rowers."

The Bristol Academy of Sport at Filton College, the first of its kind in the region, opened in April 2002 to focus on women's and men's football, netball, rugby, tennis and golf.

Needless to say, the academy is an extremely popular choice for higher education among Gloucestershire youngsters, and its courses tend to be swamped with applications. No doubt the rowing academy will be any different.