Great Britain’s Head Coaches Paul Stannard and Andrew Randell

Words: Rachel Quarrell

PHOTOGRAPHY BENEDICT TUFNELL

Just over two years ago, in late August 2021, Britain’s Olympic rowing team was in a very different place. Explosions of rage and frustration at the Tokyo Games, both real and extra-heightened by pent-up pandemic emotions, had spilled out into the public arena to be picked over by tabloid vultures.

An erratic semi-competitive year dogged by travel restrictions and continued lockdowns had been struggled through with a stopgap coaching arrangement which bred confusion over matters as minor as travel plans or sharing the gym at Caversham or away on training camp. And to cap it all GB brought only one silver and one bronze medal away from the Olympics. Though six crews were fourth (and the Paralympic team bagged two golds), it was little consolation for a team knowing its funding would be cut for missing the 4-6 Olympic medal target.

Paul Stannard at World Cup II in Varese.

Inevitably given the troubles and ineffectiveness of the then system and evident distrust between the national team and the Lower Mall management, resignations and changes followed. The CEO and Performance Director left, and rebuilding began. Louise Kingsley was made Performance Director, a canny move by British Rowing which has steadied the ship and restored common sense and efficient order to Caversham. Paul Stannard, the quiet but confident architect of the historic M4x silver medal in Japan, was created head coach of men’s sweep and sculling while Australian Andrew Randell was recruited in February 2022 to lead the women’s side.