STRATFORD-upon-Avon Boat Club’s head adaptive coach, Mark Dewdney, received British Rowing’s prestigious Medal of Merit award.
In his award citation, Alastair Marks, chief executive of British Rowing, said: “Dewdney also received multiple nominations from across his region for the work he has done to raise the profile of adaptive rowing.
“Mark coaches a substantial number of adaptive rowers at his own club and oversees a large group of volunteers, but his contribution to adaptive rowing has been much wider than that, with a major impact on a national level.
“Mark has helped to develop the recent national strategy for adaptive rowing and has enabled coaches of adaptive rowers across the country to share ideas and good practice on adaptive rowing.
“As Chair of the British Rowing Club Adaptive Group, which he helped to establish, he is in constant conversation with rowing and disability focused organisations, and gives up significant amounts of his time to assist other rowing clubs and competitions across the country in planning adaptive categories, providing guidance to safety considerations and logistical planning.
“At international level, Mark has organised for clubs in the UK to attend Para competitions in Italy and has met with international Para coaches to share ideas.”
Stratford Boat Club president, Paul Stanton, added: “The whole club is very proud of Mark and his achievements and especially the recognition from British Rowing, the sport’s governing body.
“Mark’s dedication to the sport and the hours of dedication mirror the efforts of all Stratford Boat Club’s coaches, committee members, helpers, launch drivers and support volunteers.
“We are so grateful to all of them.”
