Christ Church Boat Club welcomes Dr Ben Reed as Head Coach

Ben brings with him a distinguished coaching career spanning more than two decades, including success at university, school, national and international level. His return to Christ Church reflects both his longstanding connection to the College and his continued commitment to high-performance rowing.

Reflecting on his appointment, Ben said: ‘They say you can never cross the same river twice. But while personnel have changed, and boats that won headships now lie on the lower racks, the spirit of both college and students feels very familiar, and I’m looking forward to getting out on the water with the current crews.’

Ben’s academic career has run alongside his work in rowing. He read Modern History and completed a PGCE at Keble College, before undertaking an MSc in Educational Research Methodology at Linacre College. He later completed a DPhil in Educational Research at Christ Church.

Ben took up coaching during his doctoral studies at the House and quickly established himself as one of the most successful rowing coaches in Oxford. Between 1998 and 2005 he coached Oxford University Women’s Lightweight Rowing Club, achieving victory in seven of eight Boat Races during that period. He also led New College W1 to Headship in Torpids 2005 and to successive Headships in Eights in 2004 and 2005.

From 2005 to 2008 he served as Rowing Coach at St Paul’s School, before returning to Oxford to coach lightweight women targeting national team selection at Wallingford.

Ben has previously enjoyed considerable success with Christ Church crews. Between 2008 and 2010 he coached Christ Church M1 to Headship in Torpids in 2009 and 2010, and in Eights in 2009 and 2010. He later coached Oxford University Lightweight Rowing Club to victory in the 2011 Boat Race, alongside guiding Pembroke W1 to Headship in Eights 2012.

His impact has extended well beyond Oxford. After helping five athletes secure places in the GB Senior Team, Ben coached the GB lightweight women’s quad at the World Championships, winning gold in 2011 and 2016, and silver in 2015.

In 2018 he joined the World Class Start programme, leading the Reading centre before moving into Talent Identification for the Thames Valley, supporting the next generation of elite rowers.

Looking ahead, Ben emphasised his ambition to build a boat club that combines inclusivity with competitive excellence: ‘The coaching team, along with the college and committee, are aiming to fashion a boat club that offers the opportunity to row to all, supporting those with talent and drive to punch above their weight on the college scene – even trial for the University crews – while allowing those of a more recreational persuasion to enjoy all that the Isis has to offer. 

‘We want College members to gain satisfaction from both their achievements on the water and the friendships they forge striving for them, ensuring that rowing and the club to remain something meaningful to them after they have graduated.’

Now back at Christ Church, Ben returns with deep experience of the Oxford rowing environment and an impressive record of developing athletes at the highest level of the sport. His appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the Boat Club.