Phil scoops a rowing award

Boston Rowing Club's Phil Latka has been honoured for his devotion to the sport.
Phil with Katherine Grainger.Phil with Katherine Grainger.
Phil with Katherine Grainger.

He was named the Overall Regional Winner of British Rowing’s Volunteer Award.

Phil - who is a junior volunteer coach at the Carlton Road Boathouse, as well as a British Rowing Umpire - was presented with his award by Olympic gold medallist Katherine Grainger at Henley River & Rowing Museum.

“I had a great day at the awards lunch. It was inspiring to be around so many great volunteers from around the country being awarded for all manner of achievements,” Phil said. “Personally I have gained an awful lot through volunteering at Boston Rowing Club.

“Umpiring and coaching are both avenues which I never expected to be heading down. Especially as I never got involved in rowing until my twin daughters decided to take up the sport after the London Olympics 2012.”

However, daughters Ruby and Jasmine took to the water and Phil hasn’t looked back.

He took part in a Learn to Row course with the club and, due to being a bricklayer by trade, helped extend the landing stages down into the river.

He then qualified as an umpire in 2016.

This weekend has seen a tremendous effort from the club’s juniors as five youngsters headed over to represent Boston Rowing Club at Holme Pierrepont in Nottingham for the East Midlands Time Trials.

Haven Middleton-Horner, in the J14.1X, competed against Nottingham RC and Derwent RC, taking the win by just two seconds in a very close time trial.

Ted Pitman, in the J16.1X, took an easy win against his nearest competitor from Loughborough Boat Club by 16 seconds.

Both Haven and Ted will now go on to represent East Midlands in April at the Junior Interregional Regatta.