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 Advisory 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 began rowing in 1990 while at Clare College, Cambridge and went on to row in the winning 1993 Cambridge lightweight crew. After graduating, Seb was a member of a few clubs in London before joining City of Cambridge RC. After captaining his club for a few years, he joined the Eastern Region Rowing Council before becoming a Non-Executive Director of British Rowing alongside working as a managing director at Tricumen Ltd.
Treasurer
Sam Luke
Sam Luke is the chair of City of Cambridge Rowing Club (CCRC), he started rowing in Cambridge as a student, he spent 40 years in the corporate world, finishing his career as the vice president of Illumina in 2024. Having continued to row since he was a student, Sam became the fleet manager of CCRC from 2019-2025.
Our Staff
Program Director - Cambridge, Norfolk, Suffolk, Northampton, Bedford and Essex
Sam Richardson
Sam Richardson directs our program across Camrbidge, Norfolk, Suffolk, Northampton, Bedford and Essex. Sam grew up in Canada, he learnt to row while doing an undergrad at Oxford Brookes and continued through his masters, at Brookes as well as Essex. After graduating he joined the charity sector, later joining EAYR in February 2025.
Chief Happiness Officer
Jessie
As our Chief Happiness Officer, Jessie is well known along the River Cam supporting rowers in keeping energy up and is always excited to be involved!