Senior Squad
Aimed at those looking to win Henley Royal Regatta and Henley Women’s Regatta
About
Upper Thames has a growing senior squad, with aspirations to win at the highest domestic club level at Henley Royal Regatta and Henley Women’s Regatta.
Although men’s and women’s crews are formed seperately, the senior squad is run under one programme under Head Coach, Mark Banks. The senior squad is supported by the wider club, with priority access to boats, investment in new land and water training equipment, free trailering, a subsidised week-long international training camp, and even complimentary tea and coffee, porridge and toast at weekends.
Outside of training, the squad is highly sociable, with multiple events held over the year including an ale trail and Christmas dinner.
Training programme and racing calendar
As full-time professionals, the training programme is designed to fit around working lives, with 10-12 sessions per week including ergs, water sessions and weights.
The squad aims to race at all the major Tideway heads, both sweep and sculling, as well as local races, with most athletes kicking off racing with our own Upper Thames Autumn Head.
Over the Easter period, the club has travelled to Spain for a week-long training camp in search of flat water and sunshine for the past 10 years. After camp, the build into the regatta season begins, racing at the major Dorney regattas, aiming to peak summer racing crews at Henley Women’s Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta.
Coxes
We are always on the lookout for experienced and budding coxes. Coxes are highly valued members of the senior squad, both on and off the water, and Upper Thames strongly supports cox development.
Coxes also enjoy subsidised rates, with free membership offered to coxes who have their own cox boxes.
Senior Squad Coaches
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Mark Banks
Head Coach
Better known as Banksie, Mark brings a wealth of coaching experience and leadership after spending 30 consecutive years working with GB junior, U23, Senior and Olympic athletes, holding chief coaching roles at Leander and the GB Junior squad. Banksie has coached 15 world medals, including Olympic silvers for the W4x and M8+.
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Dave Lister
Men’s Coach
After winning the Visitors Challenge Cup at HRR in 1984, Dave continued clocking up further HRR wins as a coach at Reading University. Dave has coached multiple GB athletes to World Champs and the Olympics, including U23s, and U23 Lightweights and Seniors. Dave ran the Henley Junior Women’s squad from 2013-2015, before coaching at Leander in 2021 .
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Matthew Griffiths
Women’s Coach
With 20 years of experience, including wins at Nat Schools and 10 years coaching at Cambridge University, Matthew has coached crews to wins in 2 lightweight boat races (with an average winning margin of 10.5 lengths), and sculling and sweep events at BUCS and HWR. Matthew brings a sharp eye and in-depth data analytics to the coaching team.
For more on our recent performances see the club's social media accounts
