UJ sports manager recognised for her contribution to rowing
WESTDENE – Devoted rower receives recognition for her contribution to the sport and explains the honour of being nominated in the Rowing SA administrator of the year award category.
WESTDENE – UJ sports events manager, Niamh Faherty, received recognition for her contribution to rowing when she was nominated for the Rowing SA administrator of the year award last month.
Faherty was a devoted rower during her days as a student. She now lives in Westdene and said although she later moved into dragon boating, the rowing bug never left her.
“The rowing community is a very small one and there are so many amazing people in it who do amazing things, to be singled out is an incredible honour,” said Faherty.
After leaving university, she continued to be involved in rowing as a University Sport South Africa (USSA) rowing umpire. Last year, Faherty was promoted to a national umpire and has been seated on the USSA rowing committee as treasurer for the past two years. Besides her role with USSA, Faherty plays a part in mentoring clubs on a volunteer basis.
“For example, I have taken the University of KwaZulu-Natal [UKZN] under my wing to assist them to find funding, among other things,” she said. “They are a small club who needs some guidance. Obviously, UJ is my job and that is where my loyalty lies, so my rowing commitments are done outside of those commitments. My focus is to try to help, not only clubs like UKZN but others, where I can, to assist in raising the level of rowing to the benefit of all universities.”
Faherty went above and beyond her position to play a crucial role in ensuring that the UKZN Rowing Club was well administered and had clear leadership in the build-up to and during the Universities Boat Race.
Her citation for the award read: ‘She not only handled the administration for the club but also worked with the student leaders to develop their administration and leadership skills to ensure future success within the club. It is important to note that this year [2018] was the first year UKZN was able to field both a men’s and women’s eight at the Universities Boat Race.’
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