City of Cambridge Rowing Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Partridge to the position of Head Coach. Mike has spent decades at the top of international club and school rowing, turning out world championship and Henley crews as well as coaching British and Australian athletes to perform their best at some of rowing’s most competitive events.

As 1^st VIII coach at Emanuel and Shrewsbury Schools, Mike helped develop over 30 youngsters to go on to represent Great Britain, with many going on to senior rowing achievements with universities and clubs. He has coached at four junior world championships. In Australia, Mike continued this success at The Southport School (QLD) as well returning to Henley with a Queensland crew to win the Fawley Cup. Latterly, he has continued coaching for Queensland as well as working for Rowing Australia to develop and assess the coach accreditation courses in Australia.

Mike started his journey at Monmouth Rowing Club as a youngster before moving to London to study where he joined Thames Tradesmen’s Rowing Club, and then helped form the club London Welsh. As a teacher of English, he has taught at a number of UK and Australian rowing schools where he has been able to develop his passion for coaching.

Mike says of the prospect of joining City, “I am really excited at this opportunity to join a club that has genuine aspirations and a real sense of what positive club culture means. I look forward to joining and supporting a group of dedicated coaches in setting ambitious but achievable goals for all club members. Successful clubs are built on this collaborative spirit and my aim is to assist City with its coach and athlete development, from juniors, to seniors, to masters, in both the men’s and women’s squads.”

Mike takes up his position just prior to the men’s Head of the River in March.

City President Tony Nelder said: “We are ecstatic that Mike has chosen to bring his deep knowledge, brilliant coaching skills and infectious passion for rowing to City. Mike is the latest addition to a City transformation. We have a smashing new training facility, a new boathouse, an upgraded fleet of boats and an ever growing number of athletes keen to compete at every level.