Beth Rodford
Personal information
Born (1982-12-28) 28 December 1982 (age 41)
Burton-upon-Trent, England
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals2008 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
World Rowing Championships
Gold medal – first place 2010 Karapiro Women's quad

Beth Rodford (born 28 December 1982) is a British rower. Rodford participated in two Olympic games, 2008 Summer in Beijing and 2012 Summer in London. At Beijing, she finished in fifth place in the Women's Eight. In 2012 at London, she finished in sixth position in the quadruple sculls. She announced her retirement from international rowing on 16 December 2015.[1]

Biography

Quadruple scull of Great Britain (including Beth Rodford) at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Rodford was born in Burton-upon-Trent.[2] Rodford currently lives in Gloucestershire.[3] She is a student, and is studying Sports Science at Brunel University in London, UK.[4] Rodford is 77 kilograms (170 pounds) in weight, and is 178 centimetres (70 inches) tall.[2]

Rowing

Rodford started rowing in 1995.[2] She began rowing when in secondary school, and despite initial difficulties kept going and was first selected to represent Britain in 1999, winning a bronze medal in the coxless four at the World Rowing Junior Championships.[5] She currently trains with the Gloucester Rowing Club (Gloucester RC). She is classed as an official coach and rower. Rodford is trained by six people; Adrian Roberts (Ade Roberts), Cath Pollard, Gary Stubbs, John Keogh, Mark Pollard and Ron Needs.[2] She holds the British indoor record over 2000 metres at J13, J14, J15, and J16.[2] For much of her career Rodford rowed in a Quadruple scull (quad scull; W4x) rowing boat,[6] and participated in the Women's Quadruple Sculls event,[7] and the Women's Eight.[8] Rodford received Lottery Funding from UK Sport.[8]

Rodford participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics and finished in fifth place in the Women's Eight.[8][9] She won the gold medal in women's quadruple sculls at the 2010 World Rowing Championships. In the 2011 World Cup series she won silver and gold medals.[5] At the 2012 Summer Olympics held in London, she finished in sixth position with Team GB in the W4x class, with a final time of 06:51.54.[2][8] She was "off colour" throughout the 2012 season.[10] In the 2012 World cup competitions she raced in the women's quadruple scull. In Belgrade and Munich the team won bronze medals. In Lucerne they finished in fifth place.[8]

2014

On 17 March 2014 Rodford was part of the composite crew that won the Women's Eights Head of the River Race on the River Thames in London, setting a record time of 17:42.2 for the 4 1⁄4-mile (6.8 km) Championship Course from Mortlake to Putney. The crew comprised Heather Stanning – Army RC; Beth Rodford – Gloucester RC; Zoe Lee – Imperial College BC; Jessica Eddie – London RC; Helen Glover – Minerva Bath Rowing Club; Olivia Carnegie-Brown – Oxford Brookes University BC; Tina Stiller – Tees RC; Caragh McMurtry – Reading University BC; cox Phelan Hill – Leander Club.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Rodford calls time on her rowing career". British Rowing. 16 December 2015. Archived from the original on 19 December 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Beth Rodford". RowingOne.com. World Rowing. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ "Success of Olympians celebrated". This is Gloucestershire. 13 October 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  4. ^ "Beth Rodford". London2012.com. London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 2012. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Beth Rodford". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 June 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  6. ^ "Beth Rodford". Team GB. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  7. ^ "Street finds right road on Thames". Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News. 1 November 2012. Archived from the original on 3 April 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Beth Rodford | Biographies". British Rowing. 28 December 1982. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  9. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Beth Rodford". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Rowing: We paid heavy price for mistakes – Beth Rodford". This is Gloucestershire. 2 August 2012. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
  11. ^ Women's Eights Head of the River Race, Official Results Archive. 2014 results Archived 15 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine

External links

World champions – Women's quadruple sculls
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