Success at the Rowing NSW Presentation Dinner 2017

The Balmain Para Program enjoyed an extraordinarily successful evening at the 2017 Rowing NSW Presentation Dinner on 13 June 2017, with Balmain Rowing Club winning the Para Shield and Barbara Ramjan the Governor’s Cup.

2017 NSW Para Shield

Held in the magnificent bar of the recently rebuilt UTS Haberfield Rowing Club, the Rowing NSW Presentation Dinner celebrates the achievements of all rowers in NSW across the previous season.  This year, the para-program was proud to receive on behalf of Balmain Rowing Club the NSW Para Shield, for the NSW Para-Rowing point score.  With 200 points recorded, Balmain had a very successful season, scoring more than twice the number of points of the second-placed Nepean, with previous winners Penrith Rowing Club in third place on 68 points.  Kevin Wall and Ruby Sutherland, two of the LTA para-rowers who raced for Balmain throughout the season (and were selected to trial for the Australian Rowing Team) received the award on behalf of the whole squad.

“It’s a wonderful achievement and a testament to the work of every member of the program” said Balmain’s Kevin Wall, following the presentation.  “Every rower has really put in a complete effort and it is lovely to see the program recognised in this manner.”

2017 Governor’s Cup

In the second round of awards, recognising individual performance and contribution, the program’s own Barbara Ramjan was awarded the Governor’s Cup.  First presented in April 2016 by His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), Governor of New South Wales and Mrs. Hurley, to Ben Felten, the Governor’s cup is presented each year to an individual who has made a significant and sustained contribution to Para Rowing in NSW as an athlete, Coach or Administrator.

“I am delighted and honoured to receive the Governor’s Cup for 2017,” said Barbara “though the task of managing the program is really shared with life member and co-founder Anne Craig, as well as coaches Liam and Alex, and all of the other volunteers, parents and supporters who give up their time to help with equipment, hold boats, fundraise, or do so many of the other things that let us continue to support the athletes.  This is to their credit as well.”

A Wonderful Event

The program also congratulates Kate Murdoch of Nepean Rowing Club, who won the para-rower of the year award for 2017 – as a Paralympian and World-Championship medallist, Kate has been at the forefront of para-rowing for years, and it is wonderful to see her back on the water in 2017.

The rest of the evening was spent enjoying the atmosphere and congratulating the recipients of the other awards and trophies, and it was especially pleasing to see that, with three tables of rowers, supporters and parents in attendance, the Para Program was very well represented, and possibly the largest single cohort in the room.  Certainly we were the loudest!

Don’t forget, training is still on in the morning!