Coaches | bedfordcrew

Coaches:

Randy Ford, Water Coach

I have been coaching for Bedford Crew since 2013. I started my rowing career at UNH and have continued rowing and coaching through the years at high school and collegiate levels. I have coached at UNH, William's College, St. Anselm's College, Central HS, and Amoskeag Rowing Club. I live in Bedford with my wife, Anna, and two children, Jordan and Sydney.

Anna Petrella, Water Coach

I have been coaching the girl's team since the fall of 2015. My rowing career started at UNH in 1980, continued competitively after my college rowing years and also coached at Mt. Holyoke College. I continue to compete in masters events. I live in Bedford with my husband, Randy Ford, and two children, Jordan and Sydney. I work full time at my chiropractic practice in town. I am looking forward to another great season with Bedford Crew!

Jeff Upton, Water Coach

Jeff Upton started his coaching career with Bedford Crew as a volunteer in Spring 2021. In Fall 2023, he signed on as a full-time coach. Jeff rowed on Cornell University’s Heavyweight Team for 4 years. A long-time Bedford resident, Jeff has two children: Andrew, who current rows for BHS; and Emily, who is a coxswain at the University of Rhode Island and was a former coxswain at BHS.

Joan Lord, Water Coach

Joan Marie Lord started coaching for Bedford Crew in the Spring of 2023. She learned to row and cox at the University of Rochester, New York. Her favorite race is the Head of the Charles, for the technical difficulty of the race for the coxswains. After graduation for a couple of years, Joan continued to race at the HOC with group of women from Undine Barge Club. Joan lives in Merrimack and works at Memorial Elementary school.

Sydney Ford, Water Coach

Sydney Ford is a 2016 graduate of BHS, beginning her own rowing career right here at BHS. After high school, she competed in Division I rowing and served as team captain at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. During her tenure at Marist, she helped her team win Head of the Charles and two consecutive MAAC conference titles, earning the team back to back automatic bids to compete at the NCAA Championships. Sydney has also trained and competed at the elite level at Riverside Boat Club in Boston and ARION in Saratoga Springs, NY. Outside of rowing, Sydney works in the marketing and communications field.