Richard Spratley
Honorary fellowship
Year conferred: 2001
In 1991 Richard became part-time Coach for the former Oxford Polytechnic Boat Club. Within two years the Club had had its first success at Henley Regatta and was on the verge of a meteoric rise. He became full-time Coach in 1995, and in 2000 three Brookes' students were amongst the gold medal winning crew of the British Men's Eights boat.
By 2008 seven athletes from Brookes represented GB in Beijing. Four returned with medals: three silver and one gold. By 2008 Brookes' first crew had been in the top ten crews in the GB Head of the River race ever year since 1996. The Temple Cup for universities at Henley Regatta has been won on three occasions since 1993 and Brookes are the current record holders. The Visitors Cup for coxless fours has been won six times at Henley since 1998 and Brookes are the current record holders. Brookes has won seventeen times at Henley Regatta in various boat classes.
Richard's coaching has also transformed women's rowing at Oxford Brookes.
