Start Programme

GB Rowing Team Start Programme sponsored by Siemens

This exciting talent identification programme was established in 2001 with funding from the Lottery Sports Fund with the aim is to build the future of the GB Rowing Team by identifying and developing potential Olympians.

Start Projects
There are eight projects up and running, based in the following locations:

• Bath
• Nottingham   
• Cambridge
• North East (Tees)
• Glasgow
• North West (Manchester)  
• Molesey
• Thames Upper (Reading)

GB Rowing Team employs a full time coach in each of these projects with the programme being managed by the Start Manager, Steve Gunn.

Each project is based at a club or university that has agreed to be the host location for that particular Start project.  This means that the rowers that are on the Start Programme are members of the host clubs and are fully involved with the club’s activities.  This may mean rowing in club crews in local regattas as well being involved in the social aspect of the club.  The relationship that Start has with the host clubs is vital to the success of the programme and is valuable support to the Start Coaches and rowers.


The Programme
New recruits to the programme will be placed into their local project where they will be developed by the coach.  As part of the training programme, rowers will be expected to attend the Start Testing Camps which take place throughout the year, bringing together coaches and rowers from all projects.

Since the programme’s inception, Start has fed an increasing number of rowers through to the senior squads.  At the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, three Start rowers were selected to represent Team GB:

World Class Start rowers are also regularly selected for other Great Britain squads, with athletes competing at the highest possible levels for their age category.  This year Vicky Thornley, recruited through Sporting Giants, became an U23 World Champion in less than 2 years.

The success of Start rowers is a result of GB Rowing Team’s investment into the programme through it’s coaches.  However, rowers who achieve the greatest results are those who invest in themselves and the programme, through commitment, determination and a desire to achieve at the highest level.