Gordon Trevett, Sports Performance Manager at the University's Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health, has been awarded membership of the Leander Club in recognition of his exceptional achievements in the sport. The club is recognised the world over for its extraordinary track record, its members having won more Olympic and world championship gold medals than any other. Membership of the club is one of the most highly prized honours in rowing and is by invitation only.
Mr Trevett has an extensive and distinguished rowing background, both in competition and in coaching. He has coached the University’s successful rowing team for the past six years and helped many rowers go on to represent Great Britain. In 2007 he became the first Director of Rowing to receive the BUSA (now BUCS, British Universities and Colleges Sport) Coach of the Year award, introduced to acknowledge and celebrate great coaches. He has also coached many world and Olympic medallists.
He is an international rower himself, with several age-group national and world best times to his name. He currently holds two unofficial world records and four New Zealand records on the indoor rowing machine, and is in training to break the world record for his age group over 2000m on the indoor rower.
University of Bristol Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eric Thomas, said: ‘Sport is a very important part of University life and we are privileged to have Gordon on our staff. Membership of Leander is the Holy Grail of rowing and this award reflects Gordon’s exceptional talents in the sport.’
Bob Reeves, Director of Sport, Exercise and Health at the University, said: ‘We are delighted that Gordon has been accorded this honour. Gordon's international rowing CV is impressive, but when one considers that he has only been coaching at the University of Bristol for the past six years this recognition is particularly remarkable. He has achieved so much in such a short space of time and we feel the University of Bristol is also honoured by this recognition.’
The Leander Club aims to attract and develop young, high-potential oarsmen and women by providing state-of-the-art facilities and a world-class coaching capability. It is home to heroes such as Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Debbie Flood and Steve Williams.
Mr Trevett will be presented with his membership tomorrow [Saturday 5 July] by Chris Hartley, the Club’s President, at the Henley Regatta rowing alums party.