Coaches and Staff

Rob Baker

Chief Coach, Men

Rob began his CUBC career as Assistant Coach in 2001, leading Goldie to wins in 2006 and 2007 plus a win in the Britannia Challenge Cup at Henley in 2003, and in the Stewards’ Challenge Cup in 2008 whilst the Club’s acting Head Coach.

Rob moved to Ireland to lead Irish Rowing’s U23 squad for three years, and then in 2015 returned to Cambridge as the first full-time coach for the women’s squad, overseeing their move to the Tideway for their Boat Race, and leading them to dominant wins in 2017 and 2018 in both Blue and Reserve races. Since the 2018-19 season, Rob’s primary focus has been the men’s squad.

Rob is Cambridge born and bred, the son of a university boatman, and has rowing and Boat Races in his blood. His wife Hayley rowed for Cambridge as a Lightweight and they have two children.

Patrick Ryan

Chief Coach, Women

Paddy began his career here as the assistant coach at CUWBC in October 2013, he began rowing in his native Australia, going on to medal nationally as an Under-23 sculler. On moving to the UK in 2000, Paddy joined Thames Rowing Club and remains a member to this day. His time there saw TRC earn many Blue Ribbon wins including the Wyfold Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 2006 (which he won as an athlete in 2003). Paddy’s wealth of Tideway experience and know-how is a huge asset to the team. He spent six years at London Youth Rowing (LYR), during which he helped to grow the organisation from a small charity to a London-wide group working with thousands of teenagers each year. While there, he won multiple medals at the British Championships and guided many athletes through the GB Junior Trials.

Although intimidatingly tall, Paddy’s kindness is unparalleled. His care and devotion to his athletes brings a special warmth to the club. On top of this, Paddy’s ability to adapt to any rower with patience and commitment, to bring out the best in each rower he works with, is striking.

Bill Lucas

Assistant Coach, Men

An Olympian in 2012 in the GB M2x, Bill quickly progressed as a coach, where his work as S and C Coach and lead coach contributed to Sir William Borlase School’s 2015 win in the Fawley and Surbiton High School’s win in the JW4x at Henley Women’s Regatta, before taking over as Women’s Head Coach at Thames Rowing Club and achieving success in events such as Scullers’ and Pairs’ Head.  

In 2017, Bill moved to Switzerland where he took the position of Assistant Head Coach with the Swiss Rowing Federation. Success followed Bill to Switzerland where his crews won multiple medals at World Cups, European Championships, and U23 World Championships. 

Matilda Horn

Assistant Coach, Women

Matilda joined CUBC as assistant women’s coach in June 2023. Matilda brings with her a background in rowing, coxing and coaching. She became an Olympian in 2021 as the cox of the Great Britain Women’s 8 and spent 6 years coxing with the national team achieving multiple medals at World Cups and European Championships. Her rowing career really started at Eton Excelsior Rowing Club, where her dad, who very much shares her passion for rowing, coached a successful junior programme. During her degree at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, she rowed with the University of London Boat Club and took up coxing following a back injury.

Matilda has had success as the assistant coach of the U23 women’s four and eight at the 2016 World Rowing Championships in Rotterdam. Prior to CUBC she was the assistant head coach of American School London, during her 7 years there they qualified their first boat for Henley Royal Regatta and achieved Gold and Silver medals at National School’s Regattas. Her tideway knowledge and coxing expertise add a strength to the team for the Boat Race course. 

Oliver James

Lightweight Women’s Coach

Oliver James began coxing in 2009 as a student at the University of Warwick, where he studied Philosophy. After graduating in 2012, he joined Leander Club and soon began working with the GB Para-Rowing squad. Over four seasons, he coxed the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four to multiple World Championship titles and a Paralympic gold medal at Rio 2016. Domestically, he also achieved success on the Tideway, earning pennants at WeHoRR, HoRR, and 4s Head.

He began coaching in 2014 at Warwick and took on his first full-time coaching role in 2016 with London Youth Rowing, leading the programme at Mossbourne Community Academy.
In 2023, Oliver became Assistant Director of Rowing at Bedford Modern School before moving to Cambridge to join CUBC. He continues to compete with the City of Cambridge women’s squad and enjoys the unique challenge of Bumps racing.

Nick Acock

Lightweight Men’s Coach

Nick began with Cambridge as cox of Blondie in 2003 and started as an assistant coach with CUWBC the following year. Joining full time in 2013 for the move to the Tideway, he coached Blondie and the lightweight women, leading to wins in 2015 and 2017 for the lightweights and 2016 for Blondie. Nick has also coached several crews to wins at BUCS regatta and a win at the elite level of Henley Women’s Regatta. After a spell away, he returned to CUBC for the 2021 season.

Henry Fieldman

Coxing Coach

Henry studied at Cambridge for an MPhil in Psychology and Education, coxing the Light Blues in the 2013 Boat Race. In 2015 he took on the role of CUBC coxing coach. Outside of the CUBC Henry has represented the GB Team at all levels. Highlight performances include two European titles, two World Championship Gold medals and two Olympic Bronze medals from Tokyo 2020 in the Men’s Eight and Paris 2024 in the Women’s Eight.

Henry’s role as coxing coach is to prepare the CUBC’s coxes to perform to their potential on Boat Race day. He brings considerable experience in effective communication, tideway steering, crew coaching, race strategy, psychology and leadership.

Donald Legget

Supporting Coach, Men

Donald rowed in the 1962 Goldie crew, and the 1963 and 1964 Cambridge Blue Boats. He is the club’s Eminence Grise, having coached a CUBC crew every year since 1968. Donald has coached a string of Henley wins over 5 decades, including crews winning the The Thames Challenge Cup, The Wyfold Challenge Cup, The Visitors’ Challenge Cup, Queen Mother, The Stewards’ Challenge Cup (including the course record), The Ladies’ Challenge Plate, The Silver Goblets & Nickalls’ Challenge Cup, and Double Sculls Challenge Cup.

With unrivalled experience of The Boat Race, Donald’s role with Cambridge University Boat Club is to assist the coaching team and Presidents in their campaign to win The Boat Races.

Sarah-Kate Roberts

Head of Philanthropy and Communications

Sarah-Kate joined CUBC in 2021, after serving as the Director of Annual Giving for a university in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. She brings professional expertise in higher education fundraising, high-performance sport administration, and organisational management.

She received her post-graduate degree in Sport Management from Loughborough University, and relocated to the U.K. for a second time to begin her role at CUBC. Contact Sarah-Kate at sarah-kate@cubc.org.uk.

Fiona Gabrielczyk

Head of Operations

Fiona joined the staff of CUBC in 2024, after a career in university administration and teaching. She brings professional history spanning education, program management, and administration. Areas of her role at CUBC include athlete pathway management and operational administration. Contact Fiona at admin@cubc.org.uk.

Tom Dignum

Fleet and Facilities Coordinator

With a background in primary education, specialising in welfare and child protection, Tom is committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for athletes and staff.
A lifelong rower, Tom began the sport during his university years and has since spent extensive time in eights, as well as sculling in doubles and quads. In 2012, he completed an independent Atlantic crossing with teammate Chris. Outside of rowing, Tom is an avid motorcyclist and enjoys wild camping and exploring the outdoors.

Milosz Wrobel

Osteopath, Strength & Conditioning, Men

Milosz has a wealth of experience working with student, national and international athletes. He has been involved with the Boat Races and the Varsity Rugby Matches since 2012 with countless Light Blue success. He has a degree from Anglia Ruskin University in Sports Coaching and Physical Education as well as Osteopathy from Staffordshire University. Milosz incorporates osteopathy with corrective exercises and strength training which makes him a specialist in the field. Outside of CUBC, he has a keen interest in cold treatment research. Milosz is a co-owner of the first Cryotherapy Centre in Cambridge.

Gosia Bienek

Strength & Conditioning, Men

Gosia holds an MSc in Strength and Conditioning & BSc (Hons) in Sport and Exercise Science. She is an international sports massage therapist and a clinical health adviser with a keen interest in nutrition and female exercise physiology. She has gained her clinical experience working for BUPA at Spire Lea Hospital. Gosia has worked with a range of athletes from amateur to Olympic level, from a variety of sports including volleyball, beach volleyball, futsal, swimming and track cycling. Outside of CUBC, her work focuses on female athletes, training according to menstrual cycle, screening for LEA and RED-S. She is a co-owner of the first Cryotherapy Centre in Cambridge and a published author. 

Nicole Elkins

Strength & Conditioning, Women

Nicole holds a BSc in Mathematics and Sports Science and a MSc in Strength and Conditioning.  She has most recently led the Strength and Conditioning Programme for Great Britain’s Rowing Team and coached the rowers across the last two Olympic cycles.  Nicole started her S&C career at Core Cambridge, coaching a range of athletes from Rowing, Triathlon, Karate and Athletics. Developing sport specific strength that is underpinned by first principles of human movement is what drives Nicole in supporting ambitious athletes to unlock their true athletic potential.  Nicole spent her childhood as a gymnast and has taken this movement philosophy into Viktus’ proven training systems to develop athletes ready to perform.

Andy Elkins

Strength & Conditioning, Women

Andy holds a BSc in Sports Science and a MSc in Strength and Conditioning.  Andy most recently has led the Strength and Conditioning programmes for international athletes across Swimming, Paralympic Rowing and Netball.  Andy started his career at Gloucester Rugby and has since coached athletes across Track Cycling, Women’s Rugby Union, Equestrian, Women’s Football, and Shooting. Developing ambitious athletes to be bigger, stronger, and faster, and creating the opportunities to take the next step in their athletic performance, is what gets Andy up in the morning.  A former rugby player, Andy has taken his programming and diagnostics expertise to ensure Viktus athletes see consistent, evidence-based progression and results.

Tom Quantrell

Physiotherapist, Women

Tom Quantrell BSc (Hons) MSc MCSP  – Tom holds a bachelor’s degree is Physiotherapy and a master’s degree in sports and exercise rehabilitation. Tom has worked in the NHS, private sector and with numerous sports to an elite level.

Tom runs the physiotherapy and sports injury clinic at the University of Cambridge sports centre, Physioteq. Tom shares his time at the clinic and with the rowers with national and international teaching on the subject of children & adolescents with musculoskeletal and sporting injuries and working with the England hockey age group program.

Karine Chastang

Ely Boathouse Manager

Karine has been the Ely boathouse manager since December 2017 and manage everything relating to the logistics and daily use of the boathouse and surrounding area by the athletes, also helping arrange meetings and events including weddings, rowing camps and any hire of the boathouse.