Shiplake College has appointed Dave Currie as its first Director of Rowing. Dave, previously the 1st VIII coach at Abingdon School, lives in Henley with his wife Charlotte and two young boys Luca and Finley.
Dave will be looking to build on the College's excellent reputation for rowing, which has continued to increase in popularity, by implementing a programme to achieve a long-term vision of growth and development for the Boat Club.
Gregg Davies, Headmaster, comments: "With support from the governors, Shiplake has appointed a Director of Rowing to take the College to the next level and gain a world class rowing reputation. Free from timetabled commitments, Dave will have responsibility for all aspects of the rowing programme in order to establish a structure that enables top-level success as well as wide participation at all levels for its boys and girls.
In order to make the most of the College's proximity to the River Thames, the role will also encompass grassroots participation to develop a community of rowing beyond the College itself. Dave will look to build on the well-established and popular summer rowing camps, and work closely with the Shiplake Vikings Rowing Club based at the College, both of which involve a large number of boys and girls from a wide range of schools."
Dave Currie says that "Joining Shiplake College to become their first Director of Rowing is an exciting opportunity. Having lived in Henley for 13 years I have always seen Shiplake College as a fantastic rowing school. My ambition is to put Shiplake College at the forefront of school rowing. It is very clear how supportive the whole College is towards the Boat Club, which was a major factor for me accepting the position."
Dave will be working alongside the College's group of dedicated and expert coaches, including former GB Lightweight and Leander Club rower Hugh Mackworth-Praed; former GB Junior and Leander Club rower Jon Brownley; and Tom Crisford, who has rowed at HRR and National Schools and captained the Southampton University 1st VIII. The College has more recently welcomed Ian Munro and Rob Jones, former Directors of Rowing from George Heriot's School and Clifton College, and Peter Muhley, a member of the winning crew in the Wyfold Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 2012. Other coaches include Sally Satch, mother of Olympic and GB medallist Will Satch; Rebecca McKeller who has rowed and coached at school, university and club level; Tom Armstrong, who rowed for the 1st VIII at Exeter University and has school and university coaching experience; Keith Settle, who has coached crews at previous schools and Molesey Boat Club to reach the HRR and Coupe De La Jeunesse; and Jenny Unwin, who herself rowed at Shiplake College when she was a pupil here. The team will be bolstered further by the arrival of Psychology teacher Adam Moffatt in September 2014, previously the Head of Rowing at The Oratory School.
Dave's biography is an impressive read: "I started rowing at the age of 12 at Llandaff Rowing Club, with my father as my coach. As a school boy I gained a rowing scholarship to scull at Wycliffe College. I moved to Henley when I was 19 to pursue my ambition of becoming an international lightweight rower, where I joined Leander Club. Over my competitive rowing career I made five finals at Henley Royal Regatta, winning the Fawley Challenge Cup, Wyfold Challenge Cup and Men's Quad event. I also gained Bronze medals at the Under 23 and Senior World Championships representing Great Britain.
After retiring from competition I turned my attention to coaching, In 2007 I became Director of Rowing for Sir William Borlase's Grammar School in Marlow, where I grew the club's participation and National ranking over 3 years, most notably winning Boy's Championship Quads at National Schools in 2008. In 2009 I was awarded the British Rowing Junior Coach of the Year Award.
In 2010 I was appointed Assistant to the Master in Charge of Rowing at Abingdon School. In my time at Abingdon the results gained have been tremendous, including winning the Championship VIIIs at Schools' Head in 2011 and 2012, National Schools in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at HRR in 2011, 2012 and 2013."