MARK Dewdney – Stratford-upon-Avon Boat Club’s Head Adaptive Coach – has been awarded with the West Midlands Lifetime Achievement Award by British Rowing.
Dewdney, who joined Stratford in 2017 from Evesham Rowing Club where he had been Head Coach, was recognised by the sport’s governing body for his services to rowing.
And Dewdney was awarded the James Roe Award in September 2019 for his tireless efforts to establish and expand adaptive rowing at Stratford and throughout the region.
The Head Adaptive Coach was also instrumental in Stratford being named the first recipients of the Parasport Club of the Year award in December 2020 having cultivated an exceptionally inclusive environment
Stratford upon Avon Boat Club President Paul Stanton said: “We are very proud of Mark and all that he has achieved not only for the ever increasing successful adaptive section but for Stratford Boat Club as a collegiate whole.
“Mark’s considerable success in raising funds for the adaptive squad has had a ‘trickle down’ effect for the whole club making more equipment available for juniors, seniors, masters, weekday rowers, Learn to Row and Junior Summer camp participants as well as the adaptive section.”
Senior Adaptive Coach Joe Moore added: “Mark’s recent success of having Stratford Boat Club awarded ‘ParaSport Club of the Year’ has now been followed by British Rowing’s accolade – the club’s hopes are high for Mark’s National Award!”
The adaptive squad had just two rowers when it was first launched in 2015 and now boasts 10 members with former Stratford rower Kingsley Ijomah going on to compete for his native Nigeria at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo earlier this summer.
Dewdney currently chairs a group of English adaptive clubs who are attempting to grow the sport and works directly with British Rowing to formulate plans for adaptive rowing going forward with his work at Stratford being fed directly into future strategy.
British Rowing received a huge number of nominations for the award from across the country and Dewdney will also be put forward for consideration for British Rowing’s national award which is due to be announced in a live webcast on Thursday, January 20.
All winners will be visited by a British Rowing official at their club to receive their award in person, following the webcast.
