British Rowing Award Winner

Talent Development Coach of the Year

Rhona MacCallum, our Junior Women’s Lead Coach was the winner of the Talent Development Coach of the Year at the 2023 British Rowing Awards - an incredibly well deserved honour.

Rhona MacCallum is an inspiring, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and collaborative coach who works incredibly hard with the young women in her squad. She has a great track record for enabling her athletes to achieve at the highest level, whilst also supporting those who choose rowing for fun and fitness. Her very high recruitment and retention numbers help show that athletes value her approach.

Rhona has coached the TSS JW since 2012, following her time as a senior rower, volunteer coach and Club Captain. Two years ago, she was selected as BR Discipline Lead for U19 Women’s Sculling, furthering her development, and enabling a wider contribution to junior scullers. She finds the time to support her athletes - discussing their rowing or pastoral care and recognising the important role sport plays in teenage physical and mental health.

Rhona’s athletes value her fair approach, dedicated coaching and ability to go the extra mile to inspire, support and help athletes cope when races and time trials do, and don’t go well.

At TSS we believe coaching our juniors to move boats well is only part of supporting the development of responsible happy young athletes. Rhona is at the forefront of this approach, aiming to develop skills in time management, respect for others and positive behaviours to take forward through life. Many of our graduates go on to become officials of their university and future rowing clubs.

Rhona encourages a strong collaborative approach and supports her athletes, club, and colleagues with energy, honesty, professionalism, and infectious enthusiasm. She has developed the JW squad into a robust competitive group succeeding at the highest level. Recent acheivements include her athletes gaining eight US university rowing scholarships, winning the Diamond Jubilee event at Henley Royal Regatta, two JW in the GB winning VIII at World Champs and other JW medalling for England at HIRR.

This year, as GB U19 Women’s Sculling Lead, Rhona coached the JW squad to win Gold and Bronze at the World Champs 2023 and was the Lead Coach for the winning Coupe de la Jeunesse team. We are incredibly proud of all Rhona’s acheivements and grateful for her dedication to junior women’s rowing both at TSS and beyond.