Mark is a former RAF pilot, having flown helicopters before training as a flying instructor. In a diverse career he also trained young officers while on exchange at the Royal Naval College, before managing survival equipment trials at the Defence Survival School, where he also trained as a maritime survival instructor.

Mark’s rowing background is mainly in Cornish pilot gigs, and he managed the Naval College team for 2 years. He’s also competed for the RAF and Newquay, and currently rows for both gig and sliding seat clubs in Dartmouth.

Mark has coaching qualifications in fixed-seat rowing, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking, and is currently completing an MSc in Applied Sports Psychology.

He commented ‘beach sprints rowing is a really exciting format, and I’m looking forward to helping grow a successful GB team, as well as entice more people of all abilities to give it a try’