ETON COLLEGE BOAT CLUB
Holders of the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup
The Boat Club Team
Mark Fangen-Hall
Coach of the VIII
Mark has coached in the UK, Ireland and most recently in Australia. After leading the coaching team at Kingston Grammar School Mark was appointed the Assistant Coach at Cambridge University where in 2005 his Goldie crew won the Ladies Plate. In Ireland Mark was Head Coach at Queens University Belfast and there won a number of University and National titles as well as winning Championship Eights at BUCS beating Oxford Brookes. Mark went to Australia as Head Coach of Mercantile Rowing Club but after two seasons was asked to move into the National Team as Senior Coach for the Lightweights and then Women Sweep for the Rio Games.
Guy Pooley
Head of Rowing
Guy Pooley first experienced rowing at Berkhamsted school but it was not until he arrived at Imperial College that he took rowing up seriously. Whilst a member of ICBC, he won the Visitors’ Challenge Cup twice at Henley Royal Regatta and became a member of the GB under 23 team. His studies then took him to Cambridge University where he studied for a PhD in Organic Chemistry and rowed in the University Boat Race four times. Whist at Cambridge he began to specialise in sculling and became GB Amateur Champion and Champion of the Thames by winning the Wingfield Sculls in 1991, which he successfully defended the following year.
On leaving Cambridge Guy joined Leander Club, winning the Queen Mother Challenge Cup at Henley in 1993 and representing GB at two further World Championships as well as the Olympic Games in Barcelona and Atlanta. He has competed in the Scullers’ Head of the River every year since 1991, winning it in 1992 and 2001. He still competes in masters events around the world.
Guy arrived at Eton in 1992 and teaches chemistry. He has coached many successful ECBC crews over the years, including wins in the Schools’ Head of the River as well as gold medals at the National Schools Regatta. Prior to his thirteen years as a housemaster, he was a regular coach of GB crews at the Coupe de la Jeunesse winning four gold medals over a three year period. Guy took up the position of master in charge of rowing in 2017.
Andrew Cross
Head Boatman
Andrew has lived in Windsor all his life. After a spell working in London for DeBeers he embarked on a career as a boat builder, joining Eton College in 1986 as the last apprentice boat builder, and working on all types of classic wooden rowing and pleasure craft. This included building two wooden processional boats, the last of which was built in 2005.
In the early 90s Eton Racing Boats (ERB) evolved the construction and design of carbon composite racing boats. As foreman of the workshops Andrew was responsible for their design, build and repair. Overall he constructed over 80% of all College boats.
In 1996 Andrew was appointed Head Boatman and alongside his role within ERB began looking after F Block boys on the water, internal rowing and the maintenance of boats. His role also included working on the traditional side of Eton Rowing; namely Bumps, Procession of Boats and inter house rowing events.
In early 2007 ERB closed, and Andrew became full time Head Boatman and is now responsible for the maintenance and development of the entire fleet of around 300 boats, 3 boathouses, organising the transport of equipment to training camps and regattas across the country – and world!
Like all ECBC staff Andrew is first and foremost here to help the boys; supporting them through the highs and lows of training and ensuring that they get the best out of their time in the Boat Club.
Henry Clarke
Henry took up rowing when he arrived to study Natural Sciences at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He rowed for his college and then for Cambridge University, winning his Blue in the victorious crew of 1996. He also won the Ladies Plate at Henley Royal Regatta in 1996 and took Gold for Great Britain at the under 23 World Championships in 1995.
On leaving Cambridge Henry rowed for and then coached Crabtree Boat Club, coaching them to back-to-back finals of the Thames Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 1999 and 2000. He switched from a career in finance to teach physics and coach rowing to schoolboys in 2003, first at Hampton School and then at Radley, before arriving at Eton in September 2009. Henry has coached at all age levels. His 2013 Colts crew still hold the U16 Championship VIII’s record at the National Schools’ Regatta.
David Anderson
Coach of the 3rd VIII
David learnt to row on the Tideway at KCS Wimbledon, winning the Childe Beal Cup at the National Schools Regatta in his final year. In the same year he was also selected to represent Great Britain at Munich International Regatta and the Coupe de la Jeunesse in Ravenna, Italy. David read Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh where he was Mens’ Captain, President of the Boat Club and coached the beginners’ squad to two successive Scottish University Championships. Prior to Eton David taught at Hampton School where he also ran their Junior Colts programme. David teaches Mathematics, is Deputy House Master in JMG, and also Head of E Block. David now coaches Upper Boats.
Richard Hardy
Coach of Colts A
Richard began rowing at school, coxing his brother and continued rowing for the University of London after school, winning the British universities championship but unfortunately losing the final of Henley Royal Regatta. This was put right after university, winning the Britannia cup in 2004 rowing for Molesey BC. In 2005 he joined the national team, competing in the lightweight pair. Since then he has coached Australian champions, school first eights and has coached the second eight, at Eton. He now is the head coach for Colts.
Rob Edmondson
Rob started rowing at his local boat club whilst at school and went on to row at universities in Sheffield and Oxford Brookes, culminating in winning the National Championships in 2002, Henley finalist in 2001 and 2002, and representing Great Britain at the World University Championships. During his time in the British Army he represented them at Henley. It was during a posting to Belfast that he began coaching with Mark Fangen-Hall at Queens University, assisting the squads to National titles in Britain and Ireland. On Leaving the Army he worked at Abingdon School, coaching their 2nd VIII to a winning season in 2012. In late 2012 he became Head of Rowing at Reading Blue Coat School where he taught Geography. The school boat club grew significantly over the 6 years he was there, winning a number of National Schools medals and consistently qualifying for Henley Royal Regatta. Rob now splends most of his time coaching the 2nd VIII and Colts crews.
Charlie Patterson
Charlie started rowing at St. Anne's College, Oxford. He started coaching at Latymer Upper School with J14 crews and has worked with J15s (Junior Colts) and J16s (Colts) since arriving at Eton.
Liz Smith
I learnt to row at university, where I was part of the Brasenose women’s 1st VIII which finished 2nd on the river. I was also reserve for the OULRC women’s VIII. After university I moved to Cheltenham where I rowed with Gloucester Rowing Club, taking on the role of women’s captain; I also did some coaching of girls at Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Since moving to Eton I haven’t rowed myself but have maintained a keen interest, watching my sons row successfully for The Windsor Boys’ School and beyond. I now help coach the Junior Colts.
Harry Jones
My rowing career started back on the lake as an F Blocker and continued while at school to the end of Colts. After a couple of years away from the sport, I returned to a boat at Downing College, Cambridge, rowing in the 2nd and 1st VIIIs. My first coaching experience was with the TEJN Bumps Crew as a C Blocker, after which I moved on to coaching crews at Downing. Since returning to Eton in 2014, I have coached Junior Colts C,D, E and the Development Squad.
Dom Barker
Having taken up the sport in my first year of University I rowed for my college throughout my degree. Since then I have coached for a number of years at St. Edward’s School, mainly J14 octuples, where I always enjoyed watching the progression from crashing into the banks and each other at the start of the year to competing in the National School Regatta towards the end. Away from the river I teach Maths and am involved in Rugby and the Field Game. I currently help coach Junior Colts.