As the Great Trapmore years come to their end, it is time for The Don to take the helm of Imperial College Boat Club.
Originally from New Zealand, Don Mclachlan represented his country as a lightweight and was part of a strong squad that won many international titles including those at the Under-23 Championships and Rowing World Cups. Unfortunately, dreams of further international and Olympic stardom were halted due to injury and so Don concentrated on his day job as a Physical Education teacher (rumour has it he taught a few New Zealand All Blacks in his time).
In 1999, Don came to the UK, apparently to escape the New Zealand sun (Press Coordinator Richards does not understand this). He joined Latymer Upper School as Head of Rowing in late 1999 and stayed there until 2004. During this time, he also coached at Tideway Scullers School and mentored the 2002 Commonwealth Games quad to victory. Don moved to Cambridge to work at Jesus College Boat Club and to coach a group of lightweight internationals including Hester Goodsell, ICBC’s very own Laura Greenhalgh, Helen and Laura Ralston and Doug Perrin. Cambridge University Women’s Boat Club (CUWBC) also had the pleasure of Don’s training during this time.
Don was offered and accepted a World Class Start job for GB Rowing at Reading in 2007. During his three years there, he helped coach the European men’s eight in 2007 and in 2009 took the lightweight women’s quad to the senior World Championships, where they won silver. Now, it is time for Don to step into the ICBC family and is “very excited by the honour of coaching at Imperial and look[ing] forward to building on Steve Trapmore’s recent successes”.
Speaking of family, Don met his wife, Mary – currently a coach with the GB adaptive rowing squad, while in the UK and have been described as “the most rowing made couple I’ve ever met”. Rumour has it that this romantic soul took his then girlfriend out in a double to Chiswick eyot, where he proposed to her. Thank goodness she said yes, otherwise it could have turned into a very awkward outing!
Previous protégés have warned of his “terribly bad jokes that will always make you laugh” and “endless quotes from films such as Rocky and Happy Gilmore”, so don’t be surprised if Eye of the Tiger is pumping out of the ICBC gym at full volume as the new season starts. Press Coordinator Richards’s sources have revealed that Don can make a perfect curve on the RowPerfect Ergo, an elusive skill to master that needs to be seen to be believed.
As well as his credentials and previous successes, Don has been described as “the most talented and dedicated coach I’ve ever had”, which suggests ICBC is in safe hands for the forthcoming seasons.
All at ICBC welcome Don and wish him every happiness here in London.
Libby Richards