I've been reflecting on parent involvement in school rowing programs. While many Head Coaches say managing difficult parents is the hardest part of the role, my experience has often been different. Engaged parents are usually quick to support a program that genuinely benefits their child. Having stepped back from leading school rowing, I've considered why that is. In this piece, I explore how clarity of roles, structured selection processes, and thoughtful communication create a transparent culture that builds trust, reduces friction, and allows athletes to thrive.

Is your culture your competitive edge? In rowing, we spend countless hours obsessing over erg scores, rigging measurements, and selection data. But there is an "invisible" metric that dictates the ceiling of every program: Culture. A strong, constructive culture isn't just about "being nice", it's the engine that drives athlete retention, technical consistency, and composure under pressure. From framing testing as an opportunity to building a blueprint for coach development, my latest blog explores why the most successful programs don't just hunt for medals, they build the environment that makes winning inevitable.

Developing athletes starts with developing coaches. This article explores why investing time and resources into coaching your coaches is one of the most powerful decisions a Rowing Program leader can make, and how it impacts culture, consistency, retention, and performance across an entire program.

Rowing has a long and complex history, but the sport is beginning to change. This article explores how shifts at Henley Royal Regatta, the growth of coastal rowing, and a renewed focus on equity in coaching are creating new pathways for women to stay, lead, and belong in rowing.

What happens when two world champions learn the hard way that toughness isn't everything? Lucy Charles-Barclay, 2023 Ironman World Champion, and Taylor Knibb, two-time Olympic silver medallist, both led Kona 2025 and both had to withdraw in the final stages. Here's what we can learn from their experience about pacing, awareness, and the real meaning of resilience.

Recovery is where your training turns into speed — but most rowers still treat it as an afterthought. From sleep and nutrition to mobility and injury prevention, this article breaks down why recovery is the forgotten half of rowing training, and how getting it right can make you faster without adding a single extra stroke.

Resilience is more than just 'toughness' — it's the ability to adapt, recover, and keep performing under pressure. For rowers, it can make the difference between hitting plateaus and achieving your full potential. In this post, we break down what resilience really is, why it matters for athletes, and practical strategies to train your mind alongside your body.

Three years. Three silvers. One goal: Gold! When I joined Wilderness School, the challenge wasn't just to win — it was to rethink how winning happens. By stripping back volume and building precision, the crew found a new rhythm, a new belief, and the breakthrough performance they'd been chasing.

When a former Olympic coach dismissed Ellie as “useless,” I saw something else — potential. Three years later, she was leading Australia's U19 women's eight to a record-breaking performance on the world stage. Her story is proof that with the right guidance, mindset, and rhythm, potential can become performance.