Ross Junior Academy coaching team has scooped an incredible award. Contending against all the rowing clubs in the country, Ross was voted by the UK governing body as the coaching team of the year for 2007. The award was announced at the National Rowing Coaches Conference held recently in Coventry. This top accolade recognises the amazing work that has taken place at the local club, and it is made more amazing by the fact that the Junior Academy only began in 2005. The Juniors' achievements over the past year included 69 wins at regattas, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in national indoor events, and a bronze medal in the national rowing finals. The Club puts this all down to the extraordinary teamwork between coaches, club officials, parents, sponsors and the young athletes. The deputy chairman of the ARA Gary Harris, congratulated the club on such a fantastic achievement. He commented that this award was the most keenly contested award with many high quality nominations. He said that the submission from Ross was outstanding and it was backed up by own his personal experience of witnessing the Junior Academy at work at the Birmingham Regatta. He added that the Academy was creating an environment that was clearly engendering fun and enjoyment from everyone involved. Club Captain Ian Howell told The Ross Gazette: "This is Ross Rowing Club's highest ever commendation. It marks out the Club as amongst the very best clubs in the country. To be recognised as having the best coaching team is an amazing achievement considering we are competing against all the clubs in the UK, many with far better resources and funding. It is a great lesson in what can be achieved when people work together with a common goal. It is really great to think that presently Ross has the very best rowing coaching team in the country." He added: "I wish to thank everyone involved in this project especially sponsors such as Trigate Holdings without whom we could not have achieved such dizzy heights."
