Join us as we dive into the captivating world of rowing and business where we discuss and showcase links between the two. We chat with athletes, coaches and former rowers who share their personal experiences, expert advice, and hard-earned wisdom. Whether you're a seasoned rower or just curious about the sport, we'll keep you captivated as we explore the challenges, triumphs, and stories that make rowing such an incredible sport and discuss how they translate into life after the sport. Give us a listen, and immerse yourself in a world where every stroke truly counts.
Catch our chat with Britain's most successful rower of all time - Sir Steve Redgrave - celebrating 100th episode of Last Stroke Counts rowing podcast, with a live audience, hosted by Maidenhead Rowing Club, for their 150 year anniversary.
An uncut version of the talk at the River & Rowing Museum in Henley-on-Thames, organised by Alex Partridge and hosted by Martin Cross on 20/03/2025.'Stories from the Boat' - a first insight from some of the greatest races and fastest boats across the years. An Unmissable Evening of Rowing Rivalry, Evolution, and Inspiration. - What has changed in rowing across the decades? - How do past and present champions compare? - And who would come out on top if they raced each other today? Join us for an exclusive fireside chat featuring some of the greatest names in rowing, as they reflect on the sport's evolution, the demands of elite competition, and the rivalries that shaped their careers. Hosted by Martin Cross, this unique event brings together: - James Cracknell OBE (Olympic & World Champion, Atlantic Rower) - Alex Partridge (Olympic Medallist, World Champion) - Phelan Hill (Olympic Champion, Coxswain Extraordinaire) - Richard Schmidt (Thomas Keller Medal Winner, German Olympic Champion) - Tobias Kühne (German Olympian) - Duncan Free (Australian Olympic Champion, World Champion) - Drew Ginn (Australian Rowing Legend, Multiple Olympic & World Champion) Topics include: - Rowing through the decades - how training, technology, and tactics have changed. - Head-to-head: past vs. present - who would win if today's rowers raced against champions of the past? - Mental and physical toughness - the sacrifices and mindset needed to succeed at the highest level. - Stories from the boat - inside the biggest races, legendary rivalries, and the moments that defined careers. - Lessons beyond the water - what rowing teaches about resilience, teamwork, and leadership.
We sat down with the Performance Director of Headington School in Oxford, and GB U19 Discipline Lead, Ryan Demaine, to talk about building one of the most successful school programmes over the last two decades, facilitating an environment where the athletes can be their best, inspiring excellence and why developing athletes goes so much further beyond the current season, year on year.
We sat down with the Director of Rowing at Radley College and double Olympian who has been leading the programme of a hugely successful schoolboy rowing team for a decade - Sam Townsend. Radley has most recently won the National Schools Regatta after 25 years of gold drought. We discussed the nature of multifaceted challenges that come with running a squad of 150+ athletes and how to prepare them for a life outside of rowing, too.
We sat down with a double Olympian and silver medallist from the Tokyo Games in GB's first ever quad sculling medal at the Olympics to discuss the journey through the sport, why having fun daily actually makes you go way faster than taking everything too seriously, the power of consistency and staying on the program, winning a bronze medal at senior world championships in the single sculls and starting a business to try and help rowers prevent and manage injuries so that they can enjoy the sport to the fullest.
We caught up with Ben Hunt-Davis ahead of the newest release of his new book "Will It Make The Boat Go Faster?" and to explore his rowing story of competing across three Olympic Games to ultimately winning a gold medal in Sydney 2000 Olympics with the GB Men's Eight. We also touched upon Ben's work in the world of business consulting and his role as a Steward for Henley Royal Regatta.You can order the book using one of the links belowWaterstones --- https://www.waterstones.com/book/will-it-make-the-boat-go-faster/ben-hunt-davis/harriet-beveridge/9781529147605Amazon --- https://amzn.eu/d/08CgNCsaAuthor website --- https://willitmaketheboatgofaster.com/book/
We sat down with the owner of TG Gym & Wellness, Olympian & multiple World Champion Toby Garbett to find out his rowing story, what it was like competing at the Athens 2004 Olympics, how Toby became a community gym owner and accidentally ended up representing New Zealand in world coastal rowing championships.
Catch our chat with Ben who is a former GB & Leander lightweight, international coach and now delivers consulting, performance & psychology workshops in the medical industry. We've explored what psychological ingredients induce consistent performance.
Catch our chat from last summer with Olympian Matt Brittin delving into his career in sports as well as business, exploring what made him incredibly successful in all domains and sharing the lessons of leading, nurturing and inducing high performance in teams (sports & business). Matt is now the new head of BBC and former chief of Google.
Catch our chat from last summer with Ben Gallagher, who's served in the UK Armed Forces for 16 years and is now a World Champion representing GB in Rowing.
Discussing the events of the 2026 Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race
Talking through dangers of ignoring your limits in endurance sports.
We caught up with the man behind Feather'n'Square Miles Beeson earlier this year to find out what it's like training for gold in the senior GB squad whilst building a successful brand in rowing. Tune in for great insights on entrepreneurship and being a world-class athlete.Get The Rowers Hand Care Kit and help support Miles on his journey to the LA2028 Olympics
In this episode we sit down with Gosia Bieniek from Light Blue Clinic & Susie Dear former GB rower in a panel to discuss how nutrition and training around the menstrual cycle can aid the performance.Light Blue Clinic has just released a course for individuals and organisations to make the most of the information provided here and below. View the courses here: https://www.lightblue.clinic/challengesAbout Gosia: Gosia Bieniek is a Sports Performance Director and co-owner of a first cryotherapy centre called Light Blue Clinic based in Cambridge, UK. Her work focuses on female athletes, training according to menstrual cycle and screening for LEA (Low Energy Availability) and RED-S. She is a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Cambridge University Boat Club (men's side) and coaches a variety of individual clients including female master rowers. Gosia holds an MSc in Strength and Conditioning and BSc in Sport and Exercises Science plus various soft tissue and sports massage qualifications. She gained her clinical experience working at Spire Lea Hospital in Cambridge with BUPA as a health advisor. About Susie:Susie's story began back in 2012 at Oxford Brookes University, where she first learnt to row. Over the next 10 years, she went on to row with Sydney Rowing Club, Leander Club, and ultimately trained and raced with the British Rowing Team. Along the way, she had some incredible experiences, including winning a bronze medal at World Cup III and becoming a two-time Henley Royal Regatta winner. During the 2021–2022 season, Susie struggled with RED-s while training full time with the British Team (which ultimately contributed to her retirement from the sport in 2024). This challenging period opened her eyes to the importance of athlete welfare and health. Since retiring from rowing and becoming a mum, she has been dedicated to supporting the welfare needs of athletes. Susie works at Oxford Brookes University, where she provides care for student-athletes in distress. About the course:Female athletes are more prone to develop a complicated relationship with food due to the unrealistic expectations of social media, society or peer pressure. Therefore, it is essential to equip athletes with various tools that would help with early detection of undereating. It's also advisable to pay an extra attention to young athletes who are going through growth development and light weight rowers who must train with a significantly lower energy intake than open weight. Low energy availability (LEA) and relative energy deficiency in sports can impact both genders, however the sole purpose of this course is to focus on female physiology.LEA and RED-s courses for female rowers are a comprehensive guide to an early management and detection of disordered eating which can be detrimental for health. Both courses have been designed for parents, coaches, athletes or organisations who are serious about finding out more about preventative measurements or solutions to aid with an early detection of LEA or RED-S.The material covers all of the essential subjects linked with eating habits and training's energy demands. Every module contains a video, slide and a description, additionally at the bottom of the course users can find documents and other resources to download. There are two different courses to chose from one is for individuals and the second one for organisations like sports clubs or universities.
A Chat with the new Chair of Henley Royal Regatta at the Regatta HQ just ahead of the 2025 Event, listen to the backstory of Richard, his experiences at Cambridge, umpiring, becoming a HRR Steward to now becoming Chair. Episode is packed full of interesting, technical anecdotes & insights plus updates on what's to come in the future. Enjoy!
Catch up with the Sinkovic Brothers in Zagreb talking about their career, success, winning three Olympic games, how to make every boat go fast, plans for the future and many more exclusive insights!
Fascinating chat with former GB Rower Sam outlining his rowing model, career, journey of trying to qualify for the Olympics in the lightweight double plus many more interesting insights and exclusive rowing tips.
Hear the incredible story of Emily Craig who has won a gold medal in the lightweight double sculls in Paris and became the forever Olympic Champion
We caught up with Cedol to discuss his rapid rise to the top of the sport and first experiences in the GB rowing team.
Discussing the events of The 2025 Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race
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In this episode of Last Stroke Counts, we take a moment to celebrate reaching over 1500 subscribers! Join us in our brand new podcast studio, as we break down our episodes so far, sorting them by themes and offering first-hand recommendations suited for all our listeners. This episode serves as an excellent starting point for new listeners and a nostalgic trip for our long-time followers. We reflect on the voyage of hosting this podcast, sharing insights into what it has brought us and where we hope to steer in the future, and also giving you a sneak peek into the exciting guests we have lined up very soon. So, whether you're on your erg, in your boat, or relaxing at home - tune in & join us as we celebrate this milestone on a journey, where every last stroke counts. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @laststrokecounts @rowgearuk @thomasclark.gb @piotrgggolawski
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In this episode of Last Stroke Counts, we delve into a groundbreaking topic with the co-owner of Light Blue Clinic, Strength & Conditioning coach for the Cambridge University Boat Club men's squad, and an expert in female physiology Gosia Bieniek. Gosia shares her insights into the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the female body's response to training, particularly concerning the menstrual cycle. With a blend of science and practical advice, she explains how to tailor training programs to harness the physiological changes that occur throughout the menstrual cycle, offering strategies for athletes and coaches to gain a competitive edge. Her work with CUBC women has put the spotlight on this critical area of sports science, making it clear that understanding and leveraging these natural cycles can lead to remarkable improvements in performance. With the topic of free speed always being at the forefront of looking for advantages, such information is certainly not something to overlook or skip over. This episode is not just for athletes and coaches but for anyone interested in maximizing female athletic performance and breaking the taboo around menstrual health in sports. So tune in & join us for a fascinating discussion that could change the way female athletes train and compete, emphasizing the power of physiology-informed smart training strategies to harness their full potential and gain an edge that will make every last stroke truly count. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @lightblue.clinic @mobility.pl @laststrokecounts @rowgearuk @thomasclark.gb @piotrgggolawski
In this episode of Last Stroke Counts, we're thrilled to sit down with Ross Hunter, the Chief Women's Coach at Leander Club, renowned for his remarkable philosophy and track record. He brings to the table a wealth of rowing wisdom, an unparalleled understanding of the rowing stroke, and a long list of athletes he's helped elevate into the GB Rowing Team. Ross, who modestly plays down his achievements as an athlete, shines as a beacon of knowledge in the coaching realm. His unique perspective on athlete development and rowing mechanics offers listeners an unmissable masterclass in coaching excellence. Ross delves into the nuances of technique, shares insights on athlete management, and reveals the principles behind building successful squads and how that differs for men and women. We also talked about and discussed why athletes quit too early, why they don't enjoy the sport and how we can make the sport more engaging to those looking to go the distance. We also touched upon what coaches should aim to do to get the best out of their athletes. So tune in & join us as we uncover the coaching mind of Ross Hunter, exploring his philosophy, keys to his athletes' success and tips on making every last stroke count. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @rossyhunter1 @laststrokecounts @rowgearuk @thomasclark.gb @piotrgggolawski
In this episode of Last Stroke Counts, we delve into the world of sports and business with Humphrey Cobbold, the CEO of PureGym, the largest and most successful gym chain in the UK. Humphrey shares insights into the transferable skills between sports and business, emphasising leadership, team dynamics, and the innovative mindset that has propelled PureGym to the forefront of the fitness scene. We discuss the importance of and give tips for maintaining a healthy mind, fostering & developing strong teams, as well as implementing effective systems and processes to grow and scale. Furthermore, Humphrey gives insights into sustaining growth, driving innovation, and staying ahead of the competition, drawing parallels to maintaining a competitive edge both on the water and in the marketplace. This episode is a masterclass in leadership, strategy, and perseverance. Whether you're a rower or someone passionate about business, Humphrey's insights offer valuable lessons on achieving success in any area. So, tune in & join us, as we present you with wisdom and stories that inspire excellence and innovation at every turn, both in business, in the gym, and in the boat, where every last stroke counts. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @laststrokecounts @rowgearuk @thomasclark.gb @piotrgggolawski
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