Warwick Rowing Alumni: Where are they now?

With the recent release of the Warwick Rowers naked calendar, we thought it was about time to work out exactly where the faces behind the six packs went.

While being on the front cover might bring the starring men and women success at POP!, we wanted to find out which of our alumni have shown the world something a little more.

From Olympic and World Championship success in rowing, to the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, there must be something in the Warwick waters…

Tom Solesbury

It’s hard to talk about Warwick Rowing without looking to Tom Solesbury. He started off his rowing career at UWBC as a fresher, turning down rugby in favour of a new sport that would complement his 6’6 build. Despite several setbacks, including a fractured spine and a shoulder injury that required surgery, he now has a long list of successes to his name including reaching the finals of the London 2012 Olympics, getting a bronze medal in the World Rowing Championships and winning the 2009 Oxford and Cambridge boat race.

He has also founded and is partner of a legal firm specialising in sports and employment law. This is something he attributes in part to the rowing career that helped him to develop “both as an athlete and as a person”, and set him in ‘good stead’ for taking risks like setting up his own law firm. He’s also an ambassador for ‘The Muscle Help Foundation,’ rounding off his athletic, professional and personal success. Anyone feeling a little inadequate?

Oliver James

Next up is Oliver James, who started coxing in 2009 at Warwick and has since won three gold World Championship medals. Undoubtedly his greatest achievement to date is coaching our senior men’s squad, a role he took on last year before the small feat of winning an Olympic gold at Rio.

Oliver coxing a tough session at Warwick, putting in the work needed to achieve success in Rio…

Jamie Palmer

While the Olympics and World Championships are recognised for all sports, the most prestigious international regatta held in Britain is undoubtedly Henley Royal Regatta (HRR). As well as being a fantastic social event centred around all things British (insert Pimms, blazers and picnics by the river), it’s ‘the best-known regatta in the world’ and attracts universities and squads ranging from Oxford and Cambridge to Harvard and Yale. Jamie Palmer was the Senior Men’s Captain for UWBC in 2009, when they pre-qualified a boat for HRR for the first time in 11 years.

He told us about how he had almost quit in the first three months, but the social side and the strong friendships he made encouraged him to stick at it. This turned out very well for him, as last year he went on to win the Thames cup at HRR with Thames Rowing Club. This was the first time the club had won their cup in 84 years, making the already impressive achievement yet more memorable. He has now diversified his sporting interests, and next August will be completing an Ironman alongside a fellow UWBC alumni (an indicator of how strong those friendships are!)

Jamie is on the right

Mark Earnshaw and Ben Ellison

Having ticked off the Olympics, World Championships and Henley, there doesn’t seem to be much that UWBC alumni are missing. Insert Mark Earnshaw, who coached the men’s double scull to a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, and Ben Ellison.

We caught up with Ben about his experience of rowing; starting at Warwick as a novice, gaining momentum through his time at the club as he progressed to a position of leadership in the senior squad, and eventually overcoming injuries and setbacks to win the 2011 Oxford and Cambridge boat race.

One of the things he remembers most from his time at UWBC was the team mentality, central to a sport where you push one another on and achieve an ‘intensity of friendships’ that is unrivalled elsewhere. All of this culminated in a win that he described as a ‘defining moment,’ something that will stay with him forever.

The early winter training sessions and drinking bans were worth it for these alumni. But if you’re keen to support UWBC from the comfort of your bed, there’s always the calendar…