Olympic trio unite to pay tribute to former coach

Morgan Bolding, Annie Vernon and Ed Coode gathered at Castle Dore Rowing Club

Three Olympic medallists from Cornwall have returned to their old rowing club to celebrate the life of a former coach who died last year.

Morgan Bolding, Ed Coode and Annie Vernon were members of Castle Dore Rowing Club, near Fowey, where the late Alastair Barr trained some of the best Cornish talent.

Bolding, who won gold in the men's eight at the Paris Olympics, said Mr Barr made an important contribution to the community.

The 29-year-old, from Withiel, said at the memorial on Saturday: "We have to recognise people like Alastair and anyone who commits to these clubs and schools."

The rowers at Castle Dore created an "A" shape to pay tribute to Mr Barr

Coode, who won gold in the coxless four at the 2004 Athens Olympics, said the rowing club had been transformed over the years.

"It was a proper tin shack many years ago when I was 18 and 19 and sculling here," he said.

"Now it's a thriving club with a juniors programme and it's producing results."

Alastair Barr, who died last year, coached gold medallist Morgan Bolding

Vernon, who won silver in the quadruple sculls at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, said winning a medal was "totally life-changing".

"It really just gives you something to show, it's something to validate all those years of hard work," she said.

Bolding said of his medal: "I don't know if it's sunk in yet.

"I didn't realise how much the medal would mean and how much that is for other people as well as myself."