City of Cambridge Rowing Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Carter and Richard Hoare as the Club’s Men’s and Women’s Head Coach respectively from September 2023.

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Women’s head coach, Richard Hoare
Men’s head coach, Paul Carter

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Richard Hoare joins City from Norwich Rowing Club, where he has had considerable success over recent years. From New Zealand originally, he brings a wealth of experience to the Women’s Head Coach role. He is excited at the prospect of working with a large group and is keen to take the club forward with its women’s squad, as he brings his technical expertise, as well as his strong work ethic to the club. 

Paul Carter will take on the men’s squad. Having joined the club in the autumn of 2022 Paul has worked hard to achieve success with all the crews he has been involved with. Paul coached the club’s composite Prince of Wales entry, qualifying the boat in an intermediate event at Henley Royal Regatta. He also coached the Men’s 1st crew to success at the Town Bumps, winning the headship in emphatic style, the first time for 43 years. Paul will build on the success of this year, and we are excited at what can be achieved in the coming season.

This is an exciting development for the club after what has been a successful 2023 season, where, after entering 4 crews, the men qualified two crews for Henley Royal Regatta as well as winning the men’s town bumps headship for the first time since the 1980s. The 2nd and 3rd crews also won blades with the 2nd eight finishing in 4th place overall. The women’s squad entered four crews for Henley Women’s Regatta and maintained their 2nd position in the town bumps, with strong performances by the next four women’s crews, the 2nd crew bumping up twice and the 3rd boat achieving blades. 

Mike Partridge will take on the role as Director of Rowing and will work closely with the coaching teams in the club to assist them with their development, as well as work on the strategies needed to ensure the club builds on the success it has achieved in recent times.

City of Cambridge Men’s first crew (M1) won Head of the River at Cambridge Town Bumps for the first time in 43 years on Friday night (21st July 2023). 

The crew of eight rowers and a coxswain bumped Cambridge 99s M1 out of the first position in division 1 of the Bumps on Wednesday and have been hanging on to their lead for two nights of nail-biting races, with a very hot Nines crew chasing them down. “We’ve fought a hard campaign this year chasing incredible crews from Cantabrigian and Cambridge 99s who we would like to applaud for their determination and grit,” said M1 Captain Seth Follen. “City of Cambridge Rowing Club has made a leap in performance this year with the help of our new Head Coach Mike Partridge, Assistant Coach Paul Carter and the vision of our President Tony Nelder.”

The club, which built a brand new rowing facility three years ago and has acquired a top fleet of boats and a best-in-class gym facility raced its top men’s boats this year at Henley Royal Regatta, Marlow Regatta and Metropolitan Regatta.

“We’ve fought a hard campaign this year chasing incredible crews from Cantabrigian and Cambridge 99s who we would like to applaud for their determination and grit”

M1 Captain Seth Follen

CCRC women’s first crew (W1) came second in the women’s first division behind Cantabrigian after a strong year of rowing with wins at Quintin Head, Bedford Regatta and Peterborough Regatta. “We have a great programme for all women at City, with a supportive culture, amazing coaching and facilities and a vision for an even brighter future,” Women’s Captain Jenny Rankin said.Apart from the top crews, City of Cambridge was successful at all levels in Bumps this week over the five days with 4 crews winning their blades by bumping four times (hitting the crew in front or forcing them to concede). Overall, the club had 33 Bumps.The last time City won headship President Tony Nelder was stroking the boat. 

City of Cambridge is a rowing club for all levels of rowing and sculling at all ages and abilities and we welcome everyone. The club is a proud founding supporter of the East Anglia Youth Rowing (EAYR) programme for underprivileged state school students from 12-18 years old, some of whom participated this year in a fun row past at Henley Royal Regatta on Finals Day.   “This is a club that is on the move for top rowing, but also a broad church keen to make the fun, camaraderie and competition of our sport available to everyone,” said Club Captain Will Schofield.City of Cambridge Rowing club is the oldest town rowing club in Cambridge, founded in 1863.

City M1 Crew

Cox: Amy Henfrey
Coach: Mike Partridge and Paul Carter
Stroke Seb Matthews
7 Freddie Markanday
6 Jamie Gare
5 Dan Johnston
4 Seth Follen
3 Andrew Marsden
2 Callum Bland
1 Ed Gardiner

City W1 Crew

Cox: Bruce Bye
Coach: Vincent Dubois and Tony Nelder
Stroke Katie Price
7 Sarah Airey
6 Katherine Watson
5 Carmen Failla
4 Samantha Deacon
3 Jane Hardie
2 Becca Alexander
1 Steph Warmack

Four crews from East Anglia Youth Rowing (EAYR) took to the Henley Royal Regatta course in sculling quads on Finals Day, Sunday 2nd July, to showcase their skills and celebrate the growing success of an inspiring programme working with state schools across the region to improve access and inclusion in rowing. Students from Ely College and North Cambridge Academy proudly represented their partner clubs Isle of Ely Rowing Club and City of Cambridge Rowing Club, surrounded by National and International champions and in the spotlight of the whole Rowing World.

The EAYR programme aims to introduce the sport to those who would not otherwise have the opportunity, including young people less likely to engage in physical activity, and those with special educational needs or physical disability, at state schools across East Anglia.

Supported by Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust, British Rowing’s Love Rowing and The Rowing Foundation, EAYR has developed programmes and activities involving 14 state schools in 2022/23, and works with the support of 8 town and independent school rowing clubs to provide access to rowing.

The programme also aims to provide a transformational experience that will combine fun on the water with life skills, educational inspiration and leadership programmes for 11-18 year olds.

“The rowers did brilliantly, especially in the windy conditions and they should all be very proud of themselves.” said HRR organisers.

“It was incredible to visit a new river and be part of such a famous regatta with my friends, I never imagined I would do anything like this”

North Cambridge Academy student

“It’s not just about rowing. We would like all of our participants to develop personally, get experience that might not be open to them elsewhere, and support them in aspiring to reach their potential in life,” said Programme director Susannah Cass.

The four crews dashed down the famed Henley course in front of the thousands of supporters on the banks of the Thames. Henley is a dream for every top national and international rowing athlete and is the most prestigious amateur regatta in the world.

The EAYR rowers then dressed up to visit the Regatta Enclosure to mingle with the rowing community, watch the world’s best rowers in nail-biting finals, and enjoy the celebratory atmosphere.

Facts and figures: EAYR was started in 2021 by members City of Cambridge Rowing Club and has rapidly grown, offering indoor and on-water rowing opportunities to schools in Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, and working with town rowing clubs from Cambridge to Norwich.

“What a different experience it was from the everyday outings on the Great Ouse and Cam and at local regattas, it’s clear how much they enjoyed it and learned from it.”

Isle of Ely coach, Richard Maxey

CCRC sent 6 crews to contest this 4400m head race. Shout out to our W1 crew for winning their category!

Congratulations to Cambridge for winning the Men and Women’s Lightweight Boat Race today!

A special shout out to Joe, Rian and Sam, who rowed with City previously, for their great efforts this season.

CITY RC