Broken Oars, Episode 40: Mark Davies, Chair of British Rowing on Leaving The Sport in a Better Place

Ladies and Gentlemen, to celebrate our fiftieth release we have brought you ... 

 

(Drum roll ....)

 

The Head of British Rowing!

 

(And in case you were wondering, Hodge, the rest of Mark's body is still attached).

 

Now, the clever among you (hullo all natural bowsiders) will be quick to point out that this is actually Episode 39. But because of our numbering system and our extra Broken Thoughts and Broken Doors Indoors episodes, we have reached a podcast landmark. That's right - 50 dollops of high quality content. (You can argue about the high quality appellation among yourselves), spread over two glorious years (when most of you though we wouldn't last the week. Okay. Just us. We thought we wouldn't last the week).

 

We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate this landmark than by welcoming Mark Davies on for a chat. Like our episode with Drew Ginn, this episode has been a long time in the making. We first had a chat with Mark about coming on back in lockdown 1.0. However, all good things come to those who wait (a metaphor for a rowing finish if ever we heard one), and this is a good thing.

 

A rower and successful Boat Race cox in his own right, and a founder member and driving force behind Crabtee, Mark's work in the private sector led to roles with British Archery and then the hottest of hot seats when he became Chair of British Rowing.

 

This chat touches on his trajectory through the sport through to this role, offering a fascinating and even-handed insight into the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities the NGB has in its oversight of the sport.

 

Driven by the belief that an essential part of his role is to leave the sport in a better place than he found it (which, in truth, is a stewardship responsibility we all share), he talks open and candidly about British Rowing's progress in this regard. From the essential need to balance the books to stopping the relentless churn of rowers (10,000 leave the sport every year ...) and where we might be if we could slow and then stop that to the reset opportunities that Covid provided, why rowing has been undersold in this country and the social and cultural impact the sport can have if we change that, to the Zoom Ergos revolution, the importance of community and the next four years ...

 

This is essential listening.

 

And yes, we always say that.

 

And yes, we always mean it.

 

But this is the Chair of British Rowing, who admits he and his team have faced their fair share of criticism and opprobrium talking openly, clearly and passionately about how we can all be the guardians of our sport and see it thrive.

 

Get some!

 

Full Crew - it's Episode 51 really, but don't tell them. They try sooooo hard!