Fred Strachan

Frederick Strachan (born 17 August 1923) is a New Zealand retired rowing coach.

Biography Strachan was born on 17 August 1923. Beginning in 1944, he has been a member of the North End Rowing Club (NERC) in Dunedin. He was a provincial representative rower for the Otago Rowing Association in 1948. He was involved in rowing for seven decades and 70 rowers coached by him have represented New Zealand internationally. In the 1960s, Strachan was one of the few rowing coaches who supported women's rowing.

In 1960, Strachan coached a coxed four at NERC that was the first boat for the club to win a national championship.

Strachan has officiated for FISA, the World Rowing Federation, at the 1964 Summer Olympics, 1968 Summer Olympics, 1970 World Rowing Championships, 1972 Summer Olympics, 1976 Summer Olympics, 1978 World Rowing Championships, and 1981 World Rowing Championships. He retired from FISA in 1988 when he hit the age barrier. Maritime New Zealand laid charges in connection with the crash.

Strachan celebrated his 100th birthday on 17 August 2023. Rowing New Zealand compiled a number of tributes from the rowing community. For example, Hamish Bond said:

Fred is an encyclopedia of rowing knowledge, constantly producing random printouts and photocopies of East German training philosophies. If it was written, he had read it.

Honorary roles and awards Strachan was president of Rowing New Zealand from 1985 to 1990, in which year he was awarded life membership. He is vice-patron of Rowing New Zealand. At the 2005 Halberg Awards, Strachan was awarded a lifetime achievement award. In 2019, he was awarded the Sir Don Rowlands Medal by the New Zealand Rowing Association. Strachan received the lifetime achievement award at the 2022 New Zealand Sport and Recreation Awards.

Private life Strachan was known as a "confirmed bachelor". After Kate Gow, a member of the Auckland University Women’s Rowing Club, moved to Christchurch, she got together with Strachan. They married in the 1970s at the St Joseph's Cathedral in Dunedin. Strachan lives in Twizel, which is close to Lake Ruataniwha.