Honoured for services to rowing

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Pictured, from left, Andy Triggs Hodge, Sir Steve Redgrave, David Sherriff, pete Reed and Colin Smith from the GB squad.

Five-times Olympic gold medal winner Sir Steve Redgrave presented David Sherriff with a medal of honour for his contribution to amateur rowing.

Sir Steve, president of the Amateur Rowing Association, bestowed the honour at the Sherriff’s Boathouse, on the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake in Caversham.

The vision for the 2000m rowing course came from Mr. Sherriff who spent 25 years on the project. His strategy was to buy up small parcels of land and relocate his 300 berth marina to make way for the rowing centre.

Ultimately, this has meant a seven-figure contribution from one of the sport’s biggest philanthropists. It took him 12 years to get planning permission for the first marina on the disused gravel pits at Caversham.

Since its opening in 2006, the Redgrave Pinsent Rowing Lake has provided training facilities for British rowing, and has already begun to make a significant difference to performances at major events.

This year’s Olympic squad train at the lake regularly — as do young squads who have London 2012 in mind — and the senior team were on hand during the medal presentation ceremony. The overall site has also accommodated other sports and provides an ideal environment for local wildlife.

Sir Steve Redgrave paid tribute to Mr. Sherriff as the driving force behind the project. “David has invested an enormous amount of time, effort and financial resources to create this facility for rowers to enhance their preparation for major championships.

“I wish such a facility had been available to me when I was preparing to compete at the World Championships and Olympic Games.”

Mr. Sherriff responded by saying: “I am delighted to accept your very great honour for doing, what for me, was a lifetime’s dream.

“I am told both rowers and coaches are delighted with Caversham, and the lake performs exceedingly well. All in all it has been a great success.”