The University's rowing club president, Nadine Smith, won rising star volunteer of the year
A University of Portsmouth student has won rising star volunteer of the year at the British Rowing Awards.
Nadine Smith is president of the University’s rowing club and was recognised for the considerable leadership she has demonstrated at a young age.
Nadine took over at a difficult time for the club, without a stretch of water to use or much club organisation. She became club captain and then president, established a partnership with Itchen Imperial Rowing Club, and has continued to go above and beyond to organise events and the committee.
Nadine said: “I feel honoured to have won this award and to have recognition for how much the club has grown. There was a team of us striving to make the club better, I just happened to be heading it.
“One of my manifesto points when applying for president was to put the University of Portsmouth on the map for rowing and after being recognised by British Rowing we are definitely one step closer to fulfilling that.”
Nadine Smith (at front) rowing for the University
Nadine started rowing at the age of 12 at her home club in Dartmouth, Devon. She said she loves it so much because she has found such a strong sense of community within the sport.
“I have made the best of friends and shared some amazing memories. And once I started coaching, I realised that as much as I love to row myself, I also love sharing the sport with others,” she said.
“I think the thing that makes rowing so interesting is the intense mental strength that it requires, due to its repetitive nature, but also that it can be highly rewarding. When something that previously felt off within the boat finally falls into place, the enjoyment increases a hundred times!”
The British Rowing Awards celebrate the people, clubs and crews from across the rowing community who deserve recognition. The online awards ceremony took place at the end of January.