MEET OUR COACHES

Clayton Lindstrom has been the driving force behind Marlborough Boys’ College Rowing for the past five years, bringing a steady, practical approach to developing both athletes and strong young men. What began as simply helping out when one of his sons took up rowing — towing the trailer and lending a hand where needed — quickly evolved into a full-time coaching role as Clayton discovered a passion for the sport and the culture that surrounds it.

For Clayton, the most rewarding part of coaching is watching boys arrive in Year 9 and grow through the programme into disciplined, dedicated athletes by the time they reach U18 level. He values personal growth as much as performance and takes pride in seeing rowers mature into confident young men, regardless of their ability or results.

His best advice for new rowers is simple: stay relaxed, listen, and be coachable — because being willing to learn is one of the most important traits a young athlete can have.

Clayton doesn’t have a pre-training ritual, but enjoys the simple moments: a coffee and a chat with the coaching team after a session. And like any rowing coach, he’s seen his fair share of memorable moments — especially when confident young crews discover the hard way what happens when they get a little too cocky and end up tipping a boat!

Coaching Style: Keep it simple.

Grant started rowing under the banner of Blenheim Rowing Club in the mid-1970s and went on to become one of the original Master’s Rowers in Marlborough.  In 2012, wanting to come back to rowing to ensure boys got to enjoy the sport as much as he had, Grant started coaching.  Grant spearheads the recruitment drive for new MBC rowers. He has a passion for rowing, making sure that all boys who want to row can, and introducing new technologies for continual improvement.

Glen Marfell is an Assistant Coach for MBC Rowing, working closely with the U17 squad and second-year rowers. Now in his second year coaching at MBC, Glen brings a great mix of experience, calm leadership, and a genuine love of the sport.

Glen first got involved in coaching after encouraging his daughter to give rowing a go. After helping coach during her novice season and supporting the MGC crews, he quickly found himself drawn back into the rowing world — and the following year he stepped into coaching the MBC crews. Glen loves the buzz of coaching, saying it brings back the same excitement he felt competing in races years ago.

For Glen, the most rewarding part of coaching is watching crews grow into confident athletes and achieve goals they once thought were out of reach. His advice for new rowers is simple: be patient, trust the process, and listen to your coach — always take at least one positive thing away from every session.

When asked about his pre-training essentials, Glen says it’s all about having an open mind, ready for whatever “not-so-thought-through teenage decision” might pop up that day. One of his most memorable coaching moments? Watching Hunter get launched out of the bow seat during an eight training session after a massive crab.

Coaching Style: Calm. Competitive. Committed.

Kris Godsall has been coaching with Marlborough Boys’ College Rowing since 2023, working primarily with our novice rowers as they take their first strokes in the sport. After returning home from university, Kris was eager to reconnect with rowing — a sport that played a huge role in his own school years — and saw coaching as the perfect way to give back.

Kris loves helping new rowers find their feet, build confidence, and learn what it means to move as one crew. For him, one of the best parts of coaching is watching novice crews come together over the season and seeing their excitement build as regattas approach — a feeling he remembers well from his own time as a rower.

His advice for beginners is grounded and encouraging: be patient, trust the process, lean on your coach and crew, and remember that everyone starts somewhere. He believes rowing is a journey, and progress comes through consistency and teamwork.

When it comes to pre-training routines, Kris keeps it simple — he’s usually just winging it every day. One of his most memorable coaching moments? Realising a little too late that he was trusting the bungs were in the coach boat.

Coaching Style: encouraging, team-oriented, and patient-ish — and he’s also well known for one important trait: loving parent baking.

📍 Instagram: @therealgods