Phil Beard

“I started rowing aged 14 at The King's School, Worcester, representing the school at both National Schools Regatta (bronze MJ16 4+, 1993) and Henley in my time there. I also competed for Worcester Rowing Club at National Championships (silver MJ16 4x, 1993) and Henley (semi-final Fawley Challenge Cup 1995). We won gold in the U23 1x at the National Championships in 1996.

In my first year at Oxford University we reached the semi-final of The Temple Challenge Cup (1997). In my final year, we won the Isis-Goldie Race in 2000 as well as winning gold in the Student Eights event at The Lucerne Regatta the same year.

After Oxford I represented Stourport Boat Club for two years, coming 5th in the Men's 1x at the National Championships in 2001. I moved to London Rowing Club in September 2002. At Henley in 2004 we won The Thames Challenge Cup. We competed in The Men's Quad event in 2005 and we are now aiming for The Visitors Challenge Cup in 2006.”

Matt McQuillan

“I raced internationally for Great Britain between 1994 and 1998. In that time we won 4 gold medals at World Cup Regattas, 6 Gold medals at National Championships and our best placing at The World Championships was 4th.
At Henley Royal Regatta:

• Winner and record holder of Thames Cup for 8's
• Winner and record holder of Ladies Plate for 8's
• Winner of Prince Philip Cup for 4's”

John Warnock

”I started rowing at school in Cambridge in 1988, competing in traditional bumping races where eights start 1&1/2 lengths apart and the objective is to catch and hit (not too hard) the boat ahead. I rowed in the GB Junior Team in 1990, placing 7th in the pair, and was 5th in the Lightweight Doubles in 1991 at the U23 World Championships. I joined London Rowing Club in 1993 and rowed in an all LRC Lightweight Eight at the Commonwealth Games in 1994, winning gold.

I also reached the final of the Wyfold Challenge Cup in 1997 for LRC. My first year as a Senior International was 1998 where I placed 4th in the Lightweight 4s at the World Championships. I won in the GB LM4- at the World Student Games in 2000 and my last year as a senior international was 2004. I'm still rowing at LRC but have become increasingly distracted by cycling, both on the road and the track, however, I still regard crew rowing as the ultimate team sport! Phelan Hill

• GB Junior International
• 2002 Commonwealth Gold Medal Winner
• Won gold at National Championships several times in various combinations (8+ and
• 4+, J8+, J4+) and in Women's 4+ also
• Competed in the Home Countries for England
• Participated in several Henley semi-finals
• Over 100+ wins at various heads and regattas in the UK + Europe

Rees Ward

• 1988 : Began coxing when I was 11 and started rowing for my school when I was 13
• years old.
• 1997 - 2000 : President and Life Member of Victoria University Rowing Club,
• Wellington, New Zealand.
• 1998 : NZ University Rowing Eight - Tours of Australia racing Australian Uni Eight
• Sydney
• 1998, Melbourne 2000
• 2000 : NZ University Single Sculls Champion 2000 & 2001, won the NZ Super 5 Quad
• for Central Region.
• 2001 : NZ Rowing Academy and NZ Olympic Development Team Member 2000
• and 2001
• 2002 : Back injury 2002 so had to stop rowing. Resumed rowing Nov 2004 for London
• Rowing Club.
• 2005 : Received Barry Trophy for winning Tideway Scullers Head overall April 2005
• London Rowing Club A Thames Cup Eight - 7 seat - semi final of Henley Royal Regatta

Nick Bell

Nick has raced for York City Rowing Club, Reading University Boat Club, Cambridge University Boat and Black Sheep Rowing Club. He has recorded several wins at elite level events including the Head of the River Fours and reached the weekend at Henley in the Visitors' Challenge Cup.

Before joining London Rowing Club in September 2005, he had not rowed competitively since 1998.

James Waite

Born Feb 28th 1978, James started rowing at Bedford School in 1995, and then Quintin Rowing Club (1998) and LRC (99-present). Notable wins/achievements include:

Head of the River Races:

• Scullers Head of the River Penant - 2002
• Fours Head of the River Penant - 2003
• Pairs Head of the River Penant - 2003

Henley Royal Regatta:

• Semi Final Wyfold Challenge Cup 2001
• Quarter Final Wyfold Challenge Cup 2004

National Championships Regatta:

• Lwt 4-: Bronze in '01, Silver in '03&'04, Gold in '05

Commonwealth Regatta:

• Lwt 8+: Gold in '02

Ghent (Belgian International Championships) Regatta:

• Lwt 4-: Gold in '05, Silver in '04
• Lwt8+: Gold in '05

Matthew Bell

Matthew is based in London where he trains and races for the London Rowing Club (LRC). He started rowing at age 11 and competed in the National Schools Championships from 1993 - 1997, winning multiple gold medals during this time. He was awarded his Rowing Colours in 1996 and 1997, and was also the National University champion in all the boat classes. In 2004, his university competed against the Alumni crew from the mighty Oxford and Cambridge Universities in the Inaugural Zambezi Regatta, and ended up winning both the 500m and 2000m race, establishing their dominance in this sport.

“With Sci-MX I realised my dream by representing my country at the World University Games in Brive, France. Sci-MX has helped me to achieve my physical and mental goals by providing my body with the best nutrition available. Sci-MX’s products support both my full recovery and maximise my strength and endurance training. I believe these products work, especially because in rowing, the sport relies heavily on both strength and endurance.”

Alastair Main

"I started rowing at prep (junior) school aged 7, and continued throughout senior school, The Oratory, winning medals at the National Schools Regatta and attending Junior National team trials. I rowed at Henley Royal Regatta for the first time in 1997, aged 17 and made it through to the second round for the first time in 1998 in two different events. I continued rowing at the University of Nottingham, making the quarter finals at Henley in 2000.

Having moved to club rowing after university, I began training with elements of the British Lightweight team. We won the Jackson Trophy for fastest non-Tideway based crew at the Head of the River Race in both 2002 and 2003, finishing 8th with Nottingham and Union in 2003. In the same year I won gold at the National Championships in Coxed Fours and went on to successfully represent England at the Home Countries Regatta in both the four and eight. I joined London Rowing Club in 2004 and was part of the 2nd VIII that finished 14th at the Head of the River in 2005 and the Thames Cup 'A' crew which made the semi finals at Henley that year, losing to the eventual winners."

Iain Edmondson

• Learned to row at Salford University (Manchester, UK) in 1988
• First win at Runcorn Regatta (Northern England) in 1989
• Rowed in 3 "Northern University Boat Races"
• Captain of University Club in 1991
• Rowed at Agecroft RC, Durham RC & York City RC - Club Captain of York City in
• 1996/7 & rowed at Henley twice for York City
• Founded Black Sheep Rowing Club in 1995 & agreed sponsorship by Black Sheep
• Brewery. Competed at Australian Henley, Head of the Charles (US) and Trinity
• Regatta (Ireland) with Black Sheep RC.
• Studied at Cambridge University in 1999/2000 and trialled for the "real" Boat Race!
• Won the Britannia Challenge Cup at Henley in 2000.
• Competed in Visitors Challenge Cup (semi-final) and Men's Quad Sculls (1st round) at
• Henley in 2001 & 2002.
• Coached Loughborough Students Rowing Club from 2001 to 2004.
• Member of the Committee for the 2006 World Rowing Championships and Chairman
• of the Legacy Working Group from 2004 - 2006.
• London Rowing Club from 2005.