Olympic stars to help University rowers
Monday 4 January 2010
British Olympic rowing stars are set to help University of Surrey students to become champions of the future as they welcome them to their new club.
The University’s rowers are joining a prestigious club on the Thames near Hampton Court Palace.
Their new home will be the Molesey Boat Club which has top level members including Olympic gold medallists Andrew Triggs-Hodge and Tom James.
The club was founded in 1866, just up-stream of Hampton Court Palace where the current boathouse stands today.
This partnership between the University Rowing Club and Molesey Boat Club provides an alliance that will nurture young talent through a proven training process that has delivered both Olympic and GB rowers.
Andrew Triggs-Hodge, Captain of Molesey Boat Club, said: "The University of Surrey will be a key part of Molesey's ambition to strengthen British rowing for London 2012 and beyond.
“We want to do all we can to encourage new talent into the sport of rowing and getting students involved who may become Olympic rowers of the future is a key part of that.
“If we can help make someone reach the top, that will mean another rower the country can rightly be proud of. Our club is very committed to the new relationship and together we will do all we can to make it a success.”
Molesey Rowing club is also home to Vicki Hansford, Sports Performance Manager at the University of Surrey, who won a bronze medal at the Beijing Paralympics and Gold at the World Championships this year.
Vicki is also an ambassador for the new Surrey Sports Park, a multi-million pound development which is owned by the university and rowing has been recently selected as one of their six development sports.
As part of the joint commitment from both clubs the new Surrey Sports Park will be working with Molesey elite athletes by offering them free training facilities.
Nick Bright, the University Boat Club captain, said: “This is a really exciting time for our club. We are going to be training alongside international level athletes and have access to international standard coaches and facilities.
“The tie-up between Molesey Boat Club and the University will attract talented rowers who wish to take part in this exciting opportunity. We believe we can make our university rowing team one of the best in the country.
“Any student wanting to continue rowing at a high level at university and leave with an excellent degree should seriously consider coming to Surrey.”
Media Enquiries
Howard Wheeler, Press Office at the University of Surrey, Tel: +44 (0)1483 686141, or Email mediarelations@surrey.ac.uk
