Rowing Story Helena Smalman-Smith

Beryl Crockford (1950-2016), was a key figure in GB women's rowing. Amongst many other achievements, she was the first British woman to win a medal at the World Rowing Championships (silver in the openweight single sculls in 1981), and she and Lin Clark were Britain's first female rowing World Champions (in the lightweight double sculls in 1985). Beryl and Lin also rowed in the pair at the 1976 Olympic Games, the first to include women's events; and Beryl also competed at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games in the single scull. She won the first women's single sculls event at Henley Royal Regatta in 1982.

After she retired from international competition, Beryl developed girls' rowing at the Lady Eleanor Holles School in South West London to a point where they were one of the dominant forces in the country.

In 2002, Beryl emigrated to Australia with her husband Duncan and their son Daniel, where she became Head Coach at Sydney Boys High School. 

Read Bery's full rowing story at: https://rowingstory.com/people/beryl-crockford/

Annamarie learned to row at Cambridge University, racing in the university reserve crew, Blondie, in in 1987. She went on to represent GB from 1991 to 1996, winning a gold (in 1993) and three silver medals in the lightweight coxless four at the World Championships before joining the openweight eight and competing at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

She was sebsequently appointed as the second female Steward of Henley Royal Regatta  in 1997, and served as Chairman of British Rowing from 2013 to 2018, amongst many other governance roles. She was awarded a CBE for services to rowing in 2016.

Read her full rowing story at https://rowingstory.com/people/annamarie-phelps/

Written by Helena Smalman-Smith and read by Catriona MacLachlan.