A Cantabs crew and a Cantabs coach were both recipients of British Rowing Awards at the ceremony on 20th January 2021. Senior Women’s coach Chris Radbone won the Rising Star Award for the Eastern Region, and the Cantabs Women’s Club 8+ from 2021 won British Rowing Club Crew of the Year.
Nutrition and S&C specialist Chris found out he was shortlisted back in November, having been nominated by several club members for the Rising Star Award. Chris received the regional award, missing out on the national award which went to Eleanor Stevens of the University of Surrey BC.
At only 24 years old, Chris is a well-respected coach at the club despite relatively little time involved in coaching compared to some of his peers. Chris’ successes as a coach at Cantabs include coaching Senior Women’s crews to wins at Scullers Head, Pairs Head, Fours Head and Vets Fours Head, as well as coaching Cantabs W2 to a historic bump on City W1 to take them to 2nd on the river in Town Bumps.
I am both honoured and humbled to receive the Rising Star Award for the Eastern Region. To be able to work with great like-minded coaches and such an amazing squad has been a real privilege and has helped me flourish as a young coach. I am very much looking forward to continuing in our work together and continue to build upon the successes of the squad and the wider club in general.
Chris Radbone, winner of Eastern Region Rising Star
After a fantastic season which saw numerous great achievements including a Henley Women’s final, historic pre-qualification for Henley Royal Regatta, a Club 8+ win at Met Regatta, making the A-final at Marlow Regatta, retaining the Town Bumps headship, and 7 on-Cam wins, the Cantabs club 8+ received the national British Rowing Club Crew of the Year Award.
From my first session with the Cantabs Senior Women’s Squad the coaches and captains made me feel not just welcome and valued as an individual, but also supported as an athlete. The nutritional advice, S&C guidance, as well as on-the-water coaching, all helped steer me towards my long-term development as a member of the squad. I’d rowed at school and in a successful Cambridge college squad (obtaining a Lent Bumps headship) so I thought I knew what it was to go fast in a boat, but the incredible crew I raced with at Cantabs took it to a new level. I not only ticked off so many things on my rowing bucket list, but we had fun every single time we got in the boat together. We were able to both prioritise our progress as a crew, and not take ourselves too seriously. In that balance we found our magic. There was nowhere else I would have rather been than out on the water with that crew, and it was a true honour to be part of such an immensely successful 2020/1 season.
4-seat of the Club 8+, Becca Hatton
The crew beat out opposition from crews from Leander, Tideway Scullers, Pengwern and NCRA to win the title. The 2021 crew was the fastest ever W8+ Cantabs has produced, meaning the crew were competing at events alongside crews who benefitted from central GB Rowing funding, and full-time athletes. They were part of a larger squad, who qualified 33 athletes for Henley Women’s Regatta.
The crew were Ellie Darlington, Rebecca Smith, Katie Brown, Elena Williams, Molly Shaw, Becca Hatton, Gloria Jansen, Chiara Avancini and Callum Mantell.
You can read more about the awards and watch the ceremony here.
