Rowing: Prestigious award for committed King’s coach

King’s rowing coach Val Edwards has been recognised nationally with British Rowing’s prestigious Beryl Crockford Award.   

The Beryl Crockford Award is awarded annually by British Rowing to someone who has made a significant contribution to junior rowing.

As well as coaching at King’s since 2016, Val has maintained a high profile across the region for a number of years, working in school and club programmes, and leading the North-West Junior Team for a decade. 

Thanks to Val’s work with the Inter-Regional teams, the North-West is consistently near the top of the Inter-Regional table. 

Having supported many junior athletes on their pathway to a GB vest, the impact of her work also stretches way beyond the region.  

The winner of the Beryl Crockford Award is decided by members of the British Rowing Junior Committee, and Director of Rowing, David Blackham, is delighted that Val has been recognised in this way.

He said: “Val is a beacon of positivity and her can-do attitude has been inspiring athletes across the North-West for many years.

“Val leads by example and, as a coach with the highest expectations of her athletes, she pushes them to achieve their best, whatever their standard.”

In addition to her coaching work, Val is still a highly competitive sculler, regularly competing – and winning – on the North-West circuit. Even during lockdown, she continued to challenge herself and broke numerous British Ergo records.