Ben Lewis

Thames Rowing Club men’s head coach Ben Lewis has announced his departure, effective at the end of the 2018/19 season.

Ben joined Thames as head coach in September 2013 and since then has led the men’s squad to five Henley Royal Regatta (HRR) wins, four Vernon Trophy wins at the Head of the River Race (HORR), and third place at HORR 2016, amid a host of other wins at major head races and regattas in the UK and abroad.

The HRR wins include the Thames Challenge Cup in 2015, 2017 and 2018, the Visitor’s Challenge Cup in 2016, and the Britannia Challenge Cup in 2018. The Thames Cup B crew reached the final in 2017 and Thames was also the losing finalist in the Britannia Cup in 2015.

In the years Ben has been at the club Thames has also featured several times in the semi-finals of both the Wyfold and Britannia Challenge Cups.

Ben also supported the women’s squad in 2017, when the club won both the senior lightweight 1x and elite lightweight 2- at Henley Women’s Regatta in course record times.

Ben is leaving the club to spend more time with his young family. He departs with the club’s support and gratitude.

Thames captain Ellie Fielding said: “I would like to thank Ben for his work with the club and its athletes over the past six years. His leadership has been integral to Thames’s recent success and his passion and drive will be missed.

“We wish him all the very best for the future.”

Ben said: “After six great years at Thames, it is time for a new challenge for me and for a fresh take on things in my ‘seat’.

“I wish everyone the best for the coming seasons and will certainly be keeping an eye out as well as wearing my now rather battle-damaged TRC blazer with pride. Above all many thanks to the volunteer coaches and Sander [Smulders] who helped make the results happen and for putting up with me endlessly changing my mind.”

A recruitment process for a replacement coach will be announced in due course.