Will took up rowing in 1989 and competed regularly until 2002. He had started coaching in 2001, initially coaching juniors who were coxing the crews he was rowing in. As the coaching developed he stopped rowing and concentrated on coaching; for 5 years from 2004 onwards he coached athletes on GB Rowing’s Start programme when the Club was a Satellite Centre for the scheme.
The most exciting part of coaching has been following the success of people he has coached - whether that be at local West of England regattas or watching ex Dart Totnes’ Junior Bill Lucas race at the London Olympics in 2012.
Will currently coaches the J17/18 boys and the Senior men.
Maggie's interest in rowing was sparked by watching her mother Jenny row – way back when the club was situated on the other side of the river. She started learning to row on the day before her 13th birthday in 1972 and has continued ever since. She also started coxing and when a teacher at KEVICS school, Nick Richardson, got involved with the club and introduced rowing for the boarders, it was Maggie who helped teach them to row. Since then Maggie has rowed, sculled, coxed and coached. Probably her highest rowing achievement was coming 50th in the Women’s Eights’ Head in 1996 and her coxing achievements winning Junior Fours and Women’s J18 Fours at the South Coast Championships.
Maggie enjoys teaching beginners and novices and has lost count of how many people she has taught to row over her many years. As well as coaching the J13/14s, she runs the Adult Learn to Row.
Favourite Command: 'Put the blade in before you move it!'
Joined Dart Totnes way back in 1974 when we had a tin shack as a clubhouse and heavy wooden boats to race in!! We were one of the first WEARA clubs to race out of the West of England winning at Bristol (with a youthful Maggie Hawkyard rowing) and even Henley – ok Henley Town regatta not the Royal regatta. Progressed from coxing to rowing, winning J18 and Senior B championships. Had a few years at Torquay Rowing Club where I was captain for 3 years and coached a girls crew to a J18 championship and a senior ladies crew to the Novice championship. Had a few years off rowing before ending up back at Totnes getting roped back in to coaching. Currently coaching the masters women's squad.
Favourite Command: “Relax your shoulders!”
Pete started off as a self-taught coxswain aged 12 – coxing our very own Maggie Hawkyard, back in the days when women rowers were rare. He learned to row and competed all over the West of England, before being asked by Maggie in 1985 to become a coach. In the last 30 years he has coached Women’s Eights competing in the Head of the River (his crew once achieving 50th out of 260). Our most experienced coach, Pete currently coaches the J15-J16 girls.
Favourite Command: “Keep your heels down!”
Steve started rowing at the age of 14 and has been coaching since 2009. Steve studied Sports Coaching and Performance at Buckinghamshire New University as well as Strength and Conditioning at Marjons. Since 2014, Steve has coached the University of Plymouth Rowing Club. His most notable results as a coach are a Gold and Silver medal at BUCS regatta as well as a pennant at WEHORR. Since 2019, Steve has been the lead coach in the South West for the British Rowing Women's Development Programme.
Andy has for many years coached the Junior Learn to Row sessions on a Sunday morning. Committed to encouraging kids into sport, Andy, when not rowing works for Active Devon.
Mark began rowing at school in 1977 and continued racing through to 1992. His coaching career began at Latymer Upper School in 2001, later he was Master in Charge of Rowing at Charterhouse School for 9 years. He holds British Rowing's Level 2 Coaching Award.
Mark currently coaches the Womens J17/18 squad.
Ray started rowing in 1968 at the age of 17 and has been a member of DTARC since 1977. He is an ARA Level Coach. His experience includes 7 WEARA Championships, he has rowed at Henley Royal Regatta 3 times, has 42 National and Henley Masters medals, and 4 World Masters medals. Ray is responsible for coordinating visiting clubs' training camps at Totnes and has coached many of the visiting crews, plus DTARC medal winners.
