Since becoming CEO of British Rowing in early March, Tom Solesbury has toured across every rowing region in England, as well as visiting our friends at Scottish Rowing and Welsh Rowing. Throughout the tour, the visits revealed themes and challenges that matter most to clubs and members across the country, and these conversations will help to shape the future strategy of British Rowing.
Watch Tom’s message to the rowing community:
Tom’s club visits have now come to an end. Finishing with a full circle moment at the University of Warwick Boat Club, the club where he picked up a blade for the very first time.
From coastal clubs in Studland to junior squads in Marlow, from masters rowers to adaptive athletes, the passion and commitment of people across our sport has been clear at every stop. The key themes that emerged consistently throughout the tour were:
- Safeguarding
- Coaching
- Competition structure
- The points system
- Digital infrastructure, including ClubHub and BROE
- Volunteer support
- Sharing of best practice between clubs
- The growth of Masters Rowing
These themes will be directly addressed in British Rowing’s new strategy, due to launch later this year.
Immediate changes to British Rowing
Listening to you doesn’t stop at the conversation. It means taking action. With this, we’re pleased to announce five changes we are making as a direct result of what we heard from you:
1. A review of the points system
The Rowing Committee will review our points system, and we are actively looking to re-establish a novice category
2. Umpire membership income returned to regions
All income from umpire membership to British Rowing will now be sent to Regional Councils to be reinvested into umpiring
3. British Rowing to handle all safeguarding cases
To help ease the strain on volunteers, our new regulatory framework launched this month will see British Rowing taking on responsibility for all safeguarding cases
4. A National Conference in 2027
We will hold a National Conference in February 2027 in Birmingham
5. Refunds for cancelled events
Day tickets issued for events that are cancelled will be refunded, starting from 1 September 2026
We will continue to listen and work with you to address the things that matter most. Work has already begun with Regional Chairs to plan another tour in 2027, with one evening in each region with Tom and Chair of British Rowing, Diana Hunter. Thank you to every club, volunteer, coach, athlete and member who gave up their time to meet Tom.
The post CEO visits: Tom heads to Warwick for his final club visit and defines the future for British Rowing appeared first on British Rowing.
