Para Rowing Foundation Intensive 2025

The Para Rowing Foundation recently concluded its annual Foundation Intensive event in Portugal with support from a number of prominent individuals from the UK taking part:

• Isaac Clarkson, athlete, Stratford Upon Avon
• Court Clarkson, observing coach, Stratford Upon Avon
• Ben Marsden, observing coach, Marlow
• Rachel Morris, coach, Guildford
• Andy Kelly, boatman, Broxbourne
• Benn Klewpatinond, R&D engineer / coach, Milton Keynes

Marlow coaching colleague, Ben Marsden, shared the following report of the week:

Between 13^th to the 20^thApril, I attended the Para Rowing Foundation Intensive as an Observing Coach. The training camp was held at Herdade da Cortesia Avizaqcua Team Center Avis. This role allowed me to assist the three main coaches (Jenny Sichel Rio 2016 USA PR3Mix4+ coxswain and Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Coach for USA Rowing; Renae Domaschenz Tokyo 2021 Australia PR3Mix4+ coxswain and a Paralympic Coach for Rowing Austrailia, Rachel Morris Rio 2016 Great Britain PR1 1x) to run 2 water sessions a day for the 8 athletes on the camp.

A typical day would be:

• 7:30 am – Breakfast
• 8:00 am – Head down to the boatshed
• 8:30 am – Prepare boats for first group water session
• 9:00 am – First group water session
• 10:45 am – Second group water session
• 12:45 pm – Return to hotel for lunch
• 2:00 pm – Head down to the boatshed
• 2:35 pm – Prepare boats for first group water session
• 3:00 pm – First group water session
• 4:25 pm – Second group water session
• 5:30 pm – Return to to hotel for dinner.
• 8:00 pm – Coaches meeting
• 8:30 pm – Relax

Over the week I gained more confidence in my own coaching, learnt more about PR1 and PR2 coaching and rigging, and met many amazing athletes and coaches I hope to cross paths with again.

Favourite coaching moments were at the end of every session seeing athletes with massive smiles on their faces after making technical changes especially Brian Okoth Otieno whose smile at then end of as session became the coaches’ benchmark for whether we’d performed well!

Favourite coaching points learnt: being mpre simplistic in describing the recovery “Potato-Mash” works just as well as counting, and I should use catch drills more often during warm ups.

Thanks to Marilyn Koblan and Steven Dowd at PRF for selecting me, Kingsley Ijomah and Sophie Brown for hyping up just how good the intensive was (and it exceeded this!), Jenny Sichel for all the coaching advice and tolerating me, and finally Bruce Lynn for all the encouragement with coaching and ensuring I have the most anxiety inducing journey trying to get a PR1 rigger and pontoons on the airplane! I would encourage all coaches to apply and see what they can gain from this fantastic opportunity.

Executive Chair of the PRF Board Steven Dowd added the following:

Eight athletes. Eight nations. One life-changing week.  Global non-profit Para Rowing Foundation’s 2025 Intensive Training brought together eight para rowers and six expert coaches from across the globe – including adaptive rowing coach Ben Marsden – for an unforgettable week of growth, grit, and transformation in Avis, Portugal.

This wasn’t just about training. It was about unlocking potential; on the water and within. Featuring a programme of personalised coaching, daily water and land sessions, and a strong sense of community, the international cohort left stronger, more confident, and more connected than ever.

Every stroke taken was a step towards greater independence, equality, and opportunity in sport. PRF’s Intensive Training is the power of para rowing in action and with your financial support, we can bring it to even more athletes around the world.