MONMOUTH Rowing Club has announced the appointment of Athens Olympian Tim Male as its club coach, to bolster the club’s programme and provide a structure for all to train, compete and enjoy the sport, reports COLIN LEWIS.

Tim, who has recently moved to Abergavenny from the London area, brings a wealth of experience both in coaching and in his own rowing career.

As a rower he raced in the men’s lightweight coxless four in Athens in 2004, having previously been selected in the double scull for Sydney 2000 only to be ruled out the week before the Games after suffering a freak injury on training camp in Australia.

Tim also competed for GB in six senior world championships, two U23 world championships and World Cup regattas.

And on dry land, he has won numerous indoor rowing titles, and still holds the British men’s lightweight 2km Concept 2 ergo record set 25 years ago of six minutes 7.2 seconds.

In his coaching, Tim has been involved with a variety of squads and clubs, including King’s College London and Putney Town Rowing Club, and has coaching experience spanning beginners to internationals and from juniors to masters, including coaching at the Beijing Olympics, and also offers personal fitness coaching.

In his role at MRC, Tim coaches all senior squads (men’s and women’s performance squads and club squad) on and off the water, enabling all senior members to benefit from his knowledge and experience.

His focus and expertise has already made an impact, instilling a renewed enthusiasm within the club and inspiring more members to get out on the water under his watchful eye.

All squads are now following a detailed training plan on the water, ergs and in the gym to improve rowing techniques and fitness.

Tim’s aim for the current head time-trial season is for the club to enter several competitive boats across the national Vets and Eights Heads in London later this month.

The focus will then turn to regattas in the summer, with members aiming to compete at both local and national events, culminating in competition at the World Masters Regatta in France in September.

More information about Monmouth Rowing Club can be found at www.monmouthrc.org.uk