New Coaches for Curlew Rowing Club
Curlew Rowing Club in East London is delighted to announce the return of Ray Cassidy as head of its new coaching team. David Gillbe, former Oxford Lightweight, has also recently been appointed as the new coach of the women’s squad.
Ray is the South East regional coaching commissioner and also a coach educator. He has had considerable experience as a club coach having been the director of rowing at Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club last year, and for 10 years before that was the head coach at Curlew. Whilst at Curlew, nine qualification campaigns to Henley Royal Regatta in a row were achieved. Ray has also coached at London Rowing Club, Thames Rowing Club and Queen Mary University of London Boat Club.
Ray will head the new look coaching team at Curlew which will also boast the new women’s coach, David Gillbe. This is David’s first full scale coaching position and he brings a wealth of rowing experience and enthusiasm to a women’s squad which is looking to improve on last year’s Women’s Henley semi-final result. David learned to row at Oxford University and since then has rowed for various clubs, including Weybridge and OULRC, before settling down at Curlew Rowing Club in 2006. He has been a constant part of the 1st VIII there until he announced his own rowing retirement at Henley 2010 to concentrate on his coaching.
New Club Captain, Matthew Richardson, comments, “I am thrilled to announce the appointments of Ray and David, it is a great opportunity for Curlew Rowing Club which already boasts two highly experienced coaches in Rick Geer and Gustavo Salcedo.”
Matthew continues: “It is hoped that by their appointment Curlew will be better placed to continue to improve on last year’s results while expanding its ability to cater for rowers of all backgrounds – from novices all the way through to our elite squad. I hope over the course of the next year significant improvements will be made both on and off the water. Both Ray and David have been set the task of delivering success for Curlew at local and national level, a task which they cannot wait to get started on.”
Curlew is a rowing club in East London and is open to all ages and abilities. Curlew also runs a learn2row course – information on the course and on the club in general can be found on their website.
