OLYMPIC rower Katrina Werry has been named Ballarat Sportsmen\u2019s Club\u2019s Sportsperson of the Year for a third time.<\/p>\n
Werry\u2019s 2022 achievements included World Rowing Cup gold and World Championship bronze in the coxless four.<\/p>\n
She became Australian champion in the coxless pair, stroked the Victorian eight to Queens Cup gold, and won national silver in the open women\u2019s coxless four, but there were also local highlights.<\/p>\n
\u201cLucy 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was great to see the community, the kids coming up, race against them, and be a part of it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also went to Henley last year which was fun, and something we rarely get to do. It was a rebuilding year post-Olympics.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cBallarat holds a huge place in my heart,\u201d she said. \u201cEven though I rarely get to come home, I still have that connection to the community and I feel really grateful for that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballarat Sportsmen\u2019s Club presented Werry with her award at a formal dinner earlier in the month, which highlighted the city\u2019s high-performing sporting community.<\/p>\n
President Bruce Tweedale said it was a wonderful celebration of the year gone by.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Racewalker Alanna Peart was awarded the Hollioake Medallion, high-jumper Lachlan O\u2019Keefe 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.<\/p>\n
Werry won Sportsperson of the Year in 2017 and 2019, and received the Hollioake Medallion for her achievements in 2021.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
OLYMPIC rower Katrina Werry has been named Ballarat Sportsmen\u2019s Club\u2019s Sportsperson of the Year for a third time. Werry\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n