Rowing: Tonks wins supreme coach award - again

Legendary rowing coach Dick Tonks. Photo / Janna Dixon

New Zealand rowing guru Dick Tonks has again been recognised as the world sport's top coach.

Tonks has won the International Rowing Federation's (IRF) world coach of the year award for the second time.

He also won it in 2005 and the incredible run of success for New Zealand rowers has continued since.

At last year's world championships on home waters, New Zealand crews won three titles among a haul of 10 medals.

Tonks, who is in Britain for a coaches' conference, commanded respect and attention, according to Rowing New Zealand high performance manager Alan Cotter.

"Richard is often seen as a man of few words, but when he speaks people listen," explained Rowing New Zealand High Performance Manager Alan Cotter.

"He has a knack of being able to read his athletes and he receives huge respect from coaches and athletes alike.

"He has been in many ways the key part of the programme that we have today. Sure, you have to have the athletes, but Dick is a massive part of the success the sport has enjoyed and it is always great to see real, global recognition from the sport for that."

Tonks has been the coaching brains behind New Zealand's leading rowers for two decades. Among those to benefit from his tutelage are Brenda Lawson and Philippa Baker, Rob Waddell, Nicky Coles and Juliette Haigh, Mahe Drysdale, Eric Murray and Hamish Bond and Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell twins.

- NZPA