Tonks crowned world's best rowing coach

3 Nov 2012, 2:40 pm   -   Source: AAP

Overseeing an Olympic program that bagged three gold medals has helped secure New Zealand coach Dick Tonks another world honour.

New Zealander Dick Tonks has been honoured as world rowing's coach of the year for a third time.

The World Rowing Federation (FISA) acknowledged Tonks' efforts in lifting New Zealand to a record Olympic rowing medal haul in London at its awards evening at Limerick in Ireland on Saturday (AEDT).

Tonks oversaw a program that resulted in gold medals to single sculler Mahe Drysdale, the men's pair of Eric Murray and Hamish Bond and double scullers Nathan Cohen and Joseph Sullivan.

The gong secured a hat-trick of world coaching honours for Tonks, who received the same recognition in 2005 and 2010.

"When New Zealand picked up an unprecedented five medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games, it was clear that their head coach Dick Tonks was behind this success," FISA said in a media statement.

"Tonks has been the brains and sweat behind the amazing success of New Zealand rowing."

Others to have benefited from Tonks' mentoring include double Olympic champion sisters Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell and Sydney 2000 Olympic single sculls champion Rob Waddell.

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