D.A.R.C Commended at the Coach Of The Year Awards 2009

British Rowing the National Rowing Governing Body has announced the winner and commendations for the Coach of the Year Awards. The awards are made to recognise and celebrate the tremendous contribution of the coaches (paid or unpaid) to the success of the sport. The awards were presented at the GB Trials at Dorney Lake on Sunday 14 February by ARA Deputy Chairman Gary Harris.

The nominations in this category were of a particularly high standard, demonstrating that a well organised team of coaches makes a difference to the whole club, improving standards of participants in both racing and the development sections.

Durham Amateur Rowing Club received a commendation for their coaching team of: Alan Granlund, Bill Parker, Bill Pollard, Martin Tyler, Lynn Pain, Geoff Graham, Gordon Beatty, Mike Rowe, Clive Hole and Philll Tully as coaching co-ordinator.

Current achievements include the men's squad getting through to the qualifiers at Henley last year which hasn't been achieved in 15 years.

The J18 boys winning the Northern Rowing Council Sculling Series, Gareth Archer winning the Gold medal at the British Indoor Rowing Championships along with Roger Stainforth winning Gold in the 60 - 69 hwt catagory and Gill Prescott winning Gold recently at the Scottish Indoor Rowing Championships in in the 50 - 59 hwt catagory, the rowing club's veteran men won Gold at Henley Veteran Regatta and the World Masters Regatta in Vienna whilst one of the J18 Girls rowed for England at the Home Countries International Regatta in Nottingham with the senior 2 womens squad finishing 77th out of 300.

For more information on Durham Amateur Rowing Club, visit their website.