A lake in their name

(l to r) David Sherriff, Sir Stephen Redgrave & Chief Executive of Sport England Roger Draper

The legendary rowing partnership of Great Britain’s Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent has been immortalized in a new rowing venue – the Redgrave-Pinsent Rowing Lake.

The £13m development is in its final stages of development following a nearly three-decade dream of benefactor David Sherriff, owner of the lake. The lake, in the Thames Valley near Oxford University, will include a six-lane 2,200 metre rowing course. The development will also contain an erg and weights room, medical and scientific support services, accommodation for athletes, a roadway for coach and video crews as well as facilities to monitor boat and crew speed.

Sport England’s press release announced that the venue would provide the perfect training facilities for Britain’s future Olympic rowing squads, together with Oxford University Boat Race crews.

Sherriff says his commitment to the project began over 25 years ago and came from a huge amount of altruism. He told Sport England; ?I have wanted to create an Olympic size rowing course to help British men’s and women’s rowers since I first saw the lakes.  We will also be improving the environment for local wildlife.?

Great Britain’s chief coach Jurgen Grobler commented that the facility would be vital for the future success of British rowing while chief executive of Sport England, Roger Draper noted that it would be a positive boost for athletes in the London 2012 Olympic bid.

The lake was named by Sherriff after Sir Steve Redgrave, CBE and Sir Matthew Pinsent, CBE because of their phenomenal rowing achievements with Redgrave winning five Olympic gold medals and Pinsent collecting four. Both Redgrave and Pinsent have now retired from rowing, Redgrave after the 2000 Olympics and Pinsent after Athens 2004, but they still remain actively involved in the sport.

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