I was first introduced to rowing by my father when he was rowing as a veteran for Molesey Boat Club. The crew as looking for a lightweight cox so I was offered the opportunity, at 12 years of age, to cox through two seasons, competing in various veteran events.

At the age of 15 I decided to put my mind to the physical side of the sport and joined Walton Rowing Club, as it was within cycling distance from home, and learned to scull. After a few unplanned swimming sessions I soon began to make progress. The club and the coach at Walton were very supportive and I soon began taking part in competitions.

Racing for Walton Rowing Club as a J16

I moved up the National Junior rankings and within a year I was wining medals at National competitions. A year later I made the final at Henley Royal Regatta, Quadruple Scull , and a year after that we won the same event. Individual success also came when competing solo in my single scull.

After my A-Levels and a successful spell as a Junior International I took a year off my studies when I was invited to train full time at the Leander Club in Henley on Thames. This proved to be a great opportunity to train alongside members of the Senior Heavyweight International GB Squad.

In command in the Olympic Final

The following year I gained a place at Nottingham Trent University and took the opportunity to join Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association, home at the time, of lightweight international rowing. The training soon paid dividend as I won many more medals, and started to emerge as a Senior Heavyweight International.

In 1996 we came 4th in the Coxed Four event at the World Championships, and the next year we won a Bronze medal in the same event.

The following year, after graduating from university, I started training full time and was invited to join the GB National Heavyweight Squad on training camps. I later moved back to London to train with the rest of the squad, in Henley on Thames, and gained a seat in the GB Heavyweight Eight. After a successful 1998 season on the international circuit we finished 7th at the World Championships.

The finish line at last! Gold Medal.

1999 continued on the success of the previous year, culminating in a silver medal at the Worlds Championships, again in the eight.

In 2000 I again focused on the eight. Through the summer regattas we secured the title of  World Cup Champions for 2000, a first for a British eight. We then went on to the Sydney Olympics and the highest achievement of my sporting career to date, a gold medal.

2001 saw a few retirements from the previous years eight, and we were joined by 4 new members of the Senior Team. The final World Cup regatta in Munich saw us confirmed, for a second year, as World Cup Champions. We continued with the eight to the World Championships and finished 5th.

I started 2002 focusing on the eight. After an unsuccessful season I moved to the Coxed four for the World Championships where we convincingly won Gold.

Racing in Europe. The cox has an easy job!

Throughout my rowing career I have competed both as a single sculler and as a member of a crew in pairs, fours and eights, often rowing at the stroke position.

Following a back injury in 2003 I retired form competitive rowing. I now coach in my spare time and am President ofWalton Rowing Club.

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