This week, we had A Conversation With... Mr David Currie. Mr Currie joined Shiplake in September 2014 as the College's first full time Director of Rowing. Since then, his accomplishments at Henley Royal Regatta, National Schools' Regatta and even the World Championships have helped to shape Shiplake College's rowing culture.
What does your average day entail?
Being Director of Rowing, I need to wear a few different hats; rowing coach, Boat Club administrator, line manager, tour organiser, event manager, budget holder and mentor. Due to these different roles, an average day is actually varied which is something I enjoy about the job. Living in Henley, I take the opportunity to cycle into work most mornings, which is a great start to the day. Then, for the morning I get stuck into emails and whatever needs to be organised at that time of the year. Coffee break is important, not only for the much needed caffeine hit at that time of day but I use this time to catch up with all the rowing staff and Housemasters that I may need to chat about anything rowing related. Lunchtimes are busy with land training sessions; this is my first contact of the day with the students. They will either be weight training or on the ergo, it is a good chance to make sure I know who is in school and if there is any reason for rowers not to be attending afternoon training. After lunchtime training I do more emails and admin. 3.00pm to 5.30pm is when most of the training happens so I go down to the river to coach. I try to finish the day off with an extended cycle home.
What is your greatest personal achievement to date?
I think I should say my wife and children. Other than that, I am very proud of my achievements in rowing, winning at Henley three times and representing Great Britain for nine seasons as a junior, U23 and senior athlete, I won a Bronze medal at U23 and senior level. I’m also very proud of what I have achieved as a coach, passing on my passion for the sport to young people and having a positive impact in their development as a sportsman and young people.
How did you come to be Director of Rowing at Shiplake College?
I applied for the job of Director of Rowing at Shiplake after gaining experience and some success in the same role and as Head coach at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School and Abingdon School respectively. This experience set me up well to take on the challenge of being Shiplake College’s first full time Director of Rowing. I wanted to draw upon all my experience of rowing and coaching and see how far I could lead Shiplake College Boat Club.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your role in the College?
Given the nature of the job, I am continuously feeling rewarded for doing something that I truly love. I love seeing an outcome for hard work and rowing is very transparent. It is very rewarding to run the rowing programme in a school that genuinely understands rowing and is passionate about it like I am. Having a positive impact on students, development through sport is great, it is always a pleasure to meet OVs that have continued with rowing or continue to support the boat club because of the experience they have had at the school.
Where is the most amazing place you have rowed, and how did you come to be there?
One of the great things about any sport is the opportunities that it gives individuals. I have been lucky to have some great experiences through rowing and visited many great places throughout Europe, America, South Africa and Japan. Many of these amazing places I would not have visited had it not been because of rowing, I’m not sure I can choose any one place as being the most stand out. Most of the venues I have trained, coached or raced at are usually pretty idyllic rivers or lakes, amongst nature in its natural habitat.
In what ways will the new boathouse development benefit Shiplake’s rowing culture?
The new Boathouse development is very exciting for me and the school as a whole. The school prides itself on its rowing and water sports tradition and to invest in a new building shows the rest of the country and our students how much it means to the school. I hope that this will enthuse more students to want to be a part of this side of the school’s tradition. I also think for the current rowers it sends them a good message of how supported they are. Having a professional rowing centre will make the rowers’ environment more professional and therefore they may feel they want to achieve higher standards.
What does the future hold for Dave Currie?
Who knows? I am very happy at the moment and I feel there are still things to be achieved at Shiplake College.
