Rower named best athlete for third year

OLYMPIC rower Katrina Werry has been named Ballarat Sportsmen’s Club’s Sportsperson of the Year for a third time.

Werry’s 2022 achievements included World Rowing Cup gold and World Championship bronze in the coxless four.

She became Australian champion in the coxless pair, stroked the Victorian eight to Queens Cup gold, and won national silver in the open women’s coxless four, but there were also local highlights.

“Lucy Stephan and I raced last year at the Wendouree Regatta, and it was really special and a rare opportunity to come back to Ballarat to race and be a part of that,” she said.

“It was great to see the community, the kids coming up, race against them, and be a part of it.

“We also went to Henley last year which was fun, and something we rarely get to do. It was a rebuilding year post-Olympics.”

Werry said she felt overwhelmed and fortunate to continue to be supported by the Ballarat community, and recognised what an honour it is to be named Sportsperson of the Year more than once.

“Ballarat holds a huge place in my heart,” she said. “Even though I rarely get to come home, I still have that connection to the community and I feel really grateful for that.

“There’s a huge sense of loyalty and support. I feel so honoured and special that I have so much support behind me, and to be recognised alongside so many amazing athletes.”

Ballarat Sportsmen’s Club presented Werry with her award at a formal dinner earlier in the month, which highlighted the city’s high-performing sporting community.

President Bruce Tweedale said it was a wonderful celebration of the year gone by.

“The ability to showcase sport across all levels and see community participants share the stage with home grown sporting heroes made for a very special occasion,” he said.

Racewalker Alanna Peart was awarded the Hollioake Medallion, high-jumper Lachlan O’Keefe and BMX rider Josh Jolly were named joint winners of Junior Sportsperson of the Year, athletics coach Lindsay Burgoyne won the Widmer Award, and sports administrator David Poulton received the Mackenzie/Valpied Award.

Werry won Sportsperson of the Year in 2017 and 2019, and received the Hollioake Medallion for her achievements in 2021.