Based in Chiswick, overlooking The Boat Race finish, Tideway Scullers School (TSS) caters for all types of rowers across their Junior Beginners, Junior, Senior, Masters, and Recreational squads.
TSS has a very active Junior programme with about 100 members. We run a range of programmes and develop beginners into several squads, from those aiming for GB selection to those who simply want to scull at the weekends. Although we mainly train in sculling boats, we’re well known for racing various boat classes, including quads, doubles and singles, along with pairs, fours and eights.
In 2019, the juniors had a hugely successful year, with highlights including winning the Junior quads at Henley Women’s and the J16 boy’s quads at NSR. Competition on the water in the last 12 months has been minimal, but we did manage to record several wins at Weybridge Silver Sculls and Pairs Head – the only events at which we were present. To pass the time in lockdown and to keep squads engaged, we have taken to competing in indoor running and cycling competitions, with individual and team wins in the Global ergo Challenge. The biggest feather in our indoor rowing hat has been Gabriel Obholzer, who has broken world and GB ergo records, the most recent being 5:53.7 for 2k when he was very narrowly beaten into second at the world ergo champs.
The top Junior groups have a strong emphasis on getting selected for GB worlds and Coupe teams and have been very successful in such endeavours. In the last ten years, we have had six individuals selected for the World Championships, eight chosen for the European Coupe regatta and five crews at GB-France for J16s. The members of our last two GB-France crews are in their J18 year now, so we hope for further success when we get back to trialling this year; TSS has some 15 athletes still involved in trials for 2021.
At TSS, we operate both Full-time and Club squads. Both follow the same performance programme tailored for a range of athletes, from those working full-time jobs to athletes on the Olympic pathway. British Rowing recognises the senior squads as a leading programme to support six funded athletes focused on performing at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. Many more athletes in the squad look towards the Senior and U23 World Championships this Summer. The TSS staff work closely with the GB Rowing Team coaches to develop talent. All athletes in the squad benefit from the support team that works with them, giving them access to S&C, physiology, nutrition, and medical staff to help individualise their programme.
Recent successes include:
- Seven HWR wins in the last four years, including three wins in 2019
- HRR Visitors winner 2019 (GB U23 composite), Wyfold final 2017, Britannia Challenge Cup 2010 winners, Diamond Sculls winner 2011
- Overall Fours Head winners in M4x and W4x 2019
- Regular top 5 finishes at GB senior trials
- Wingfield Sculls Win
- HORR Pennants
We also offer a student holiday membership and a gap year programme for those looking to take a year out either after school or after university to row full time.
Our senior coaches are Kieran Clark and Rowan Law. Rowan transitioned to professional coaching following a career as an athlete. He won Silver in the M4x at the Junior World Championships in 2014, Gold in the M4x at the U23 World Championships in 2018, alongside victories in the Queen Mother and Prince of Wales at HRR. Rowan is currently leading our high-performance sculling group.
Kieran has been at the club since 2015, joining TSS from the University of London BC. Since then, he has taken multiple crews to wins at HRR, HWR, WEHORR, HORR and top performances at GBRT trials, with athletes representing Great Britain at senior and U23 level. Kieran has also coached GB U23 sculling team since 2017, helping to deliver three consecutive gold medals in the M2x and M4x – including the boat in which Rowan won gold.
Since 2019, both men and women have trained together as one squad under one programme, and both coaches have been working hard to develop the team’s size and quality. Both coaches coach everybody; we do not separate between men and women.
Our top men’s and women’s 8s use carbon wing Hudon USPs and Fillipis, whilst the rest of the squads use a range of Filippi, Hudson, Empacher and Wintech Cobra shells from fours and quads down to singles. Support from British Rowing also gives our top athletes access to carbon wing Empacher boats for trials and significant events like Fours Head, WEHORR/HORR and Henley.
We have a good-sized but tightly packed boathouse which caters for over 300 members. Upstairs we have an erg room, club room and bar with a large balcony. TSS currently own 20 C2 Ergs, 4 RP3s and 4 C2 Bike Ergs, which we can use in any of the upstairs rooms or out on the balcony. Downstairs we have a large open-plan gym with 15 barbells, plenty of plates, squat racks and pull up bars. We also have a bar and function room on the social side and organise regular parties and nights out off-site.
With thanks to Kieran Clark
Want to find out more about Tideway Scullers School? Check out their website.
Interested in joining? Contact them here.
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Cover Image: Ben Rodford Photography
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