Sydney University Boat Club’s (SUBC), Director of Rowing and Men’s Head Coach, Mark Prater has been appointed to a prestigious coaching position with Rowing Australia.
Prater, 34 years of age, will leave SUBC with the sweet smell of success lingering strong as he just coached the University of Sydney Men’s Eight to another victory against the University of Melbourne in a classic Australian Boat Race, held on Sydney Harbour, October 23, 2016.
Prater will be working alongside Men’s Head Coach, Ian Wright at Rowing Australia’s Reinhold Batschi Men’s National Training Centre in Canberra. The goal being to help build our men’s crews for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics over the next four years.
Joining SUBC in 2006, after six years coaching at Sydney Boy’s High where he began his rowing, Prater is a distinguished rowing coach at State, National and International level. Focussing initially on youth development, Prater has guided and prepared numerous under 23 athletes towards National titles and higher representation. Prater was named NSW Coach of the Year in 2010. In 2012 Prater was selected to coach the Men’s Quad on the Australian U23 Team. This crew captured the Queen Mother’s Cup at Henley Royal Regatta and the bronze at the World U23 Rowing Championships. A rich run of success ensued when Prater coached SUBC Men’s Pair, Jack Hargreaves and Nick Wheatley to U23 World Rowing Championships silver in consecutive years, 2014 and 2015. This pairing also made the Senior A Final at the 2015 World Rowing Championships.
Prater’s abilities as a coach were further recognised when he was chosen as one of two Rio Olympics underpinning coaches for the Australian Rowing Team, supporting the preparation of all qualified crews, including assisting at the Games.
It is impossible to do justice to Prater’s positive contribution at SUBC as his influence has been far reaching on so many. Needless to say under his watch and expert coaching countless SUBC rowers have been propelled to selection in the Australian Rowing team. Additionally Prater has helped SUBC prepare rowers for the Australian and World University Rowing Championships.
Through all these years, Prater, along with other SUBC coaches, rowers and the Executive Committee, have been incredibly patient and adaptive as they faced countless hurdles and difficult conditions following the major fire that totally destroyed the SUBC Boatshed, all club boats and ancillary equipment in 2006. Enduring and succeeding in such a challenging period of SUBC history is testimony to the character and leadership qualities of Mark Prater.
On a personal note Sydney University Sport and Fitness (SUSF) wish to thank Mark for his professionalism, accessibility and assistance in keeping us informed about the exploits and successes of our SUBC rowers.
Please join SUSF in wishing Mark every success as he moves to the next phase of his already prolific career in rowing.
