Para-rowing coach nominated for Variety Disability Sports Award

Mark Dewdney, who was born in Pershore, has been nominated for the 'Unsung Hero Award' for his work as an internationally-renowned adaptive rowing coach and mentor. 

His influence in the sport is wide-reaching. Dewdney coaches a number of adaptive rowers at Stratford-Upon-Avon Boat Club, he has helped to develop the national strategy for adaptive rowing, he has aided coaches across the country to coach adaptive rowing themselves, and he currently sits as the chair of The British Rowing Club Adaptive Group. 

Dewdney's influence in the sport is wide-reaching (Image: Stratford upon Avon Boat Club)

Dewdney initially rowed and coached in Evesham before making the move over to Stratford Boat Club. It was at Stratford that he coached paralympic athlete, Ijomah Kingsley. 

"I didn't want to be in Evesham anymore, and he said well why don't you go over to Stratford and just coach me?" said Dewdney. "He wanted to go to the Paralympics, so I said ok, I'll just coach you and then I will go home. But one thing leads to another and you end up where you are today. 

"He did go to the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2020. but not for the UK. He was born in Nigeria so he represented Nigeria and got to the semi finals."

Dewdney's program has since grown on a large scale, and now sees around 20 adaptive rowers regularly taking to the river. 

"Our greatest growth has actually been coming out of COVID," said Dewdney. "We had around 10 coming into COVID, and now we have around 20. 

"But the main thing is that it is very much volunteer lead. In rough terms I need one volunteer for every adaptive rower I've got. I've got about 20 rowers but I've got about 20 volunteers as well and that is what makes it work."

Due to the uniqueness of each individual, and their disabilities, part of Dewdney's role is about finding a different way for each person to be able to propel a boat. 

"I am a great crossword do-er, so I find it a great mental puzzle to actually get people with disabilities to propel a boat," said Dewdney, "I like the challenge of working things out.

"For the individuals concerned, many of which might have had a traumatic injury or a congenital issue, they perhaps haven't done a lot of sport in their life or since their injury, that is what we provide. It is great to do that."

Mark says the award is a club achievement, rather than his own (Image: Stratford upon Avon Boat Club)

The awards will be hosted on Monday, November 25, as sohoplace Theatre in London. 

"These things are always nice," said Dewdney. "I do personally find it a bit embarrassing.

"I regard it very much as a team award. If I didn't have my team of volunteers, we wouldn't have achieved anything like we did. So I see it as a team award, its not just for me. 

"It is flattering for us, and it is flattering for my team and if I get the award, I will be saying that this is a team award this isn't a Mark Dewdney award."

However, Mike's rowers are still at the forefront of his mind, with hopes that becoming a finalist will bring eyes onto the sport, and help him to aid his adaptive rowers even more. 

Dewdney said: "It is good because it increases out kudos, that can only help in getting the next bit of sponsorship, attracting people into the sport.  

"It would be nice to win, but for me it's worth is what it then opens up for us both locally and nationally."