HEAD COACH

Holly has been involved in coaching at ASRA since 2012, and has been the club’s full-time Head Coach since November 2021. Holly coaches with an athlete-centred approach and prioritises the development of the whole person, building the programme around the importance of team culture and ownership alongside well-rounded athletic development. Holly’s connection to ASRA started with discovering rowing at the age of 13 where, new to competitive sport, she quickly became hooked on the teamwork and rhythm of being in a boat. As a junior, she formed one fifth of the club’s first ever Henley Women’s Regatta winning coxed four, collecting National Schools and British Championships medals along the way. 

In 2017, Holly graduated from Robert Gordon University with a degree in Applied Sports and Exercise Science, where she was Women's Captain at the University’s Boat Club for three years. Holly is UKCC Level 2 Qualified in both Rowing Coaching and Strength and Conditioning Coaching and her professional background also includes working in schools as a Teaching Assistant in Support for Learning. Alongside her work at ASRA, Holly’s coaching experience includes coaching internationally with both the Scotland Team at the Home International Regatta and with the GB Rowing Team at the U19 World Rowing Championships. 

VOLUNTEER COACH

James joined ASRA in 1986, raced with the club throughout his secondary school years, then rowed for a time with Imperial College in London.  He returned to the sport in 2014 and has been part of the masters rowing community in Aberdeen ever since.                           

In more recent years, two of his three daughters learned to row at ASRA. The club has been a significant part of his life and he is proud to make a contribution as a volunteer coach.

VOLUNTEER COACH

Gregor started rowing, aged 13, at King Edward VII School in Johannesburg, South Africa, and continued while at Rhodes University in Grahamstown. He was fortunate to be part of successful crews at university, winning a few South African National Championships and South African University boatrace titles. Gregor also served as the chairman of the South African Students Rowing Union for a year.Gregor started coaching at St Andrews College, a boy’s school in Grahamstown, whilst at university. Firstly the J15 boys for a season, then the 2nd 8+ for a further two seasons, managing a second place at the national school’s regatta in both years, and assisted with the 1st squad who won the 8+ and the 4+.

 In the UK, Gregor rowed on the Tideway with London Rowing Club for a while and, after a long break, is now back rowing with the master’s squad at ABC.

VOLUNTEER COACH

Alan joined ASRA in 1981 and was part of a succession of very successful pairs along with his pairs partner Gordon Alexander. 

Post his Junior rowing career, Alan started to look at ways to increase the participation base and resilience of ASRA, he has managed all major ASRA projects, starting with our first boathouse opened in the year 2001 and then the completion of the annex in 2015, with multiple boat and vehicle purchase projects in between.                                       

Alan has more recently rediscovered his passion for his own rowing and has joined the ABC masters squad.  He has British Rowing Level 2 Coaching Certificates in Rowing and Strength & Conditioning.

VOLUNTEER COACH

Katherine started rowing officially at ASRA, aged 10, but has been in and around the rowing community since she could walk (thanks to having a dad who is very passionate about the sport!). While at ASRA she competed at National Schools and won a silver medal at the British Junior Championships. Her favourite part of rowing as a junior was representing Scotland at the Home International Regatta.

She has been part of the coaching team at ASRA since around 2022, has a Level 2 Coaching Certificate and is currently the club’s Safety Officer. When she is not coaching at ASRA, she spends the rest of her time literally across the park at ABC where she is currently competing in the Women’s Master Squad! 

VOLUNTEER COACH

At university in Stirling Tom was convinced to try rowing. Which he enjoyed (though never competed). Some 25 years later he found himself back on the water at ABC.  

Tom started coaching at ASRA and is interested in a variety of outdoor sports, sports nutrition and psychology.

VOLUNTEER COACH

Robert learnt to row at university in college eights.  His racing for the first few years were bumps races in eights on the river Isis (Thames).  Robert also started coaching at university, in this case as the saying goes in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is coach.  

After moving to Aberdeen, Robert rowed with ABC and also achieved his bronze (level 1) coaching award.  After a few years hiatus, Robert came back to rowing through ASRA by coaching when his son joined.  Robert now rows as a Master as well as coaching at ASRA.

VOLUNTEER COACH

Born in Cambridge, Pete rowed as a junior for the City club where an "ASRA style" training regime yielded a decent set of pennants and tankards from Junior and Senior events. The highlights: 4th in the British Rowing Club Championship Junior 8+ (when gold was controversially won by the Junior National Squad); and the annual riot of the Town Bumps. So much fun!  

Pete returned to rowing, at ABC, in 2007 and collected a few more medals, but reaching his fifties and finding his three teenage sons outcompeted him roughly when they reached fourteen, he realized it was time to hang up the lycra and invest his time where it had more impact.  Pete has been coaching at ASRA since 2010, has a  British Rowing Level 2 Coaching Certificate and is the club’s Rowing Co-ordinator.