An Evesham-based para-rowing coach has been named among the finalists for the Variety Disability Sports Awards. 

Mark Dewdney, who was born in Pershore, has been nominated for the 'Unsung Hero Award' for his work as an internationally-renowned adaptive rowing coach and mentor. 

His influence in the sport is wide-reaching. Dewdney coaches a number of adaptive rowers at Stratford-Upon-Avon Boat Club, he has helped to develop the national strategy for adaptive rowing, he has aided coaches across the country to coach adaptive rowing themselves, and he currently sits as the chair of The British Rowing Club Adaptive Group. 

Dewdney's influence in the sport is wide-reachingDewdney's influence in the sport is wide-reaching (Image: Stratford upon Avon Boat Club)

Dewdney initially rowed and coached in Evesham before making the move over to Stratford Boat Club. It was at Stratford that he coached paralympic athlete, Kingsley Ijomah. 

"Kingsley wanted to go to the Paralympics, so I said ok, I'll just coach you and then I will call it a day. But one thing leads to another and you end up where you are today," said Dewdney. "Kingsley did achieve his goal and went to the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2020. He was born in Nigeria so he represented Nigeria and got to the semi finals."

Dewdney's program has since grown on a large scale, and now sees around 20 adaptive rowers regularly taking to the river. 

"Our greatest growth has actually been coming out of COVID," said Dewdney. "We had around 10 coming into COVID, and now we have around 20. 

"But the main thing is that it is very much volunteer lead. In rough terms I need one volunteer for every adaptive rower I've got. I've got about 20 rowers so I have 20 volunteers as well and that is what makes it work."

Due to the uniqueness of each individual, and their disabilities, part of Dewdney's role is about finding a different way for each person to be able to propel a boat. 

"I like the challenge of working things out and I find it a great mental puzzle to actually work out how to support people with disabilities to propel a boat," said Dewdney.

"For the individuals concerned, many of which might have had a traumatic injury or a congenital issue, they perhaps haven't done a lot of sport in their life or since their injury, that is what we provide. Rowing provides a level of independence they might not have outside of their sport and it is great to do that."

Mark says the award is a club achievement, rather than his ownMark says the award is a club achievement, rather than his own (Image: Stratford upon Avon Boat Club)

The awards will be hosted on Monday, November 25, as sohoplace Theatre in London. 

"These things are always nice," said Dewdney. "I do personally find it a bit embarrassing.

"I regard it very much as a team award. If I didn't have my team of volunteers, we wouldn't have achieved anything like we did. 

"This isn't a Mark Dewdney award."

However, Mark's rowers are at the forefront of his mind, with hopes that becoming a finalist will bring eyes onto the sport, and help him to aid his adaptive rowers even more. 

Dewdney said: "It is good because it increases our kudos, that can only help in getting the next bit of sponsorship, attracting people into the sport. I'm aiming to produce systems that enable anyone to get into the sport, whether they want a paddle on the river or to go to the Paralympics. 

"It would be nice to win, but for me it's worth is what it then opens up for us both locally and nationally."