MARK Perkins from Malvern Link scooped a top accolade at the Amateur Rowing Association's annual awards ceremony.

He was named senior club rowing coach of the year at the Warwick University conference.

Perkins, 49, who coaches at both Worcester Rowing Club and Hereford Rowing Club, received his award from Jurgen Grobler, coach of Great Britain's Olympic gold medal winning four.

Perkins said: "I was delighted because you put in all the hard work and you don't expect any recognition so it's nice to be recognised nationally.

"It was presented to me by Jurgen Grobler, which was brilliant. It was nice to have congratulations from all the national coaches."

The chiropodist, who has started a rowing programme at Malvern Girls' College, has enjoyed tremendous success in the last few years.

He was the mastermind behind the individual successes of local athletes Jane Fisher and Claire Vincent.

Worcester Rowing Club's Fisher, who nominated Perkins for the top award, won the national veterans' championships in 2003 at both A and B level.

Vincent won the elite single sculls at Henley Women's Regatta last year.

Back in 2002, Perkins coached an England women's quadruple sculls team to a silver medal at the Commonwealth Regatta after just four weeks together.