Our Coaches and Volunteers
Our freelance coaches and volunteers are the heart of East Anglia Youth Rowing, bringing passion, expertise, and dedication to every session, and playing a vital role in inspiring and empowering the young people we work with.
We are always seeking to work with passionate coaches who share our mission to improve access to rowing and empower young people. Please contact us to find out more.
Our Board
Andrew Blit
Andrew learnt to row at school and has been a member of Sudbury RC since 1996. Having served his club in various capacities Andrew is currently Chair of Eastern Region Rowing Council, has been Regional Representative and sat on BR Audit & Risk Committee. In life outside rowing Andrew is a Director (Trustee) of a Multi Academy Trust providing primary education in 21 academies across Suffolk.
Carmen Failla
Carmen learned to row as a junior at Star Club in Bedford and went on to compete at Syracuse University. She has coached at schools in Bedford and is currently Head Rowing Coach at St Catherine’s College, Cambridge.
Chris Newland
Chris is currently vice chair of Isle of Ely Rowing Club. He learnt to row at St Ives RC whilst a pupil at the St Ivo School. He has previously been heavily involved at both St Ives and Huntingdon Rowing Club. He is a BR umpire and is Managing Director of Global partnership Ltd.
Our Directors
Chair
Tony Nelder
President of City of Cambridge Rowing Club, Tony learned to row while he was a pupil of Netherhall School in Cambridge and has been at the heart of the Cambridge rowing scene for many years.
Secretary, Safeguarding Lead
Seb Walker
Seb Walker is currently a Director of British Rowing, having previously been a Regional Representative for the Eastern Region. He is also a director at Tricumen Ltd.
Treasurer
Sam Luke
Sam Luke is the Fleet Manager at City of Cambridge RC and Vice President EMEA Services at Illumina Inc.
Our Staff
Programmes Manager
Susannah Cass
Susannah learnt to row on the River Cam as an undergraduate student before representing Cambridge in the Boat Race. She has coached at school, college and university level, and worked as a Community Coach for the Rowing Ireland GetRowing indoor programme. As a record breaking Ocean Rower and youth Expedition Leader, Susannah brings a passion for outdoor education and youth development to this role.
Project Lead - Norfolk and Suffolk
Jeni Barnacle
Jeni Barnacle leads the establishment of our Norfolk programme. She has a proven track record of fifteen years as a head teacher, leading and managing primary schools through significant change and challenge using the Nurture principles. Jeni set up her own business Nurture4all in 2013, working as an educational consultant and trainer in the East of England before working in a variety of roles regionally and nationally for the charity Nurtureuk until 2021. Jeni is a lifelong rower, and has previously been Eastern Region Representative for British Rowing, alongside development roles as a Coach Educator.