Otago rowing manager Sonya Walker at the Otago University
Aquatic Centre. Photo by Jane Dawber.
New Otago rowing manager Sonya Walker has developed a
passion for the sport since testing the waters of Lake Wakatipu
in 1998.
At the time, she was one of only two rowers at Wakatipu High
School and they won a gold medal in the intermediate double
sculls at the South Island championships.
Walker (27) has replaced Dean Horo as the part-time manager
for Otago rowing and will start her new job on November 2.
"I'm excited about my new role," Walker said yesterday.
"But I've got big shoes to fill because Dean was so
successful in the job."
Horo, who resigned in August, has accepted increased
responsibilities at the New Zealand Academy of Sport South
Island.
"I love rowing," Walker said.
"It's been a passion of mine since I started."
Walker was not in the elite mould as a competitor but still
won medals at New Zealand University Games when she was a
geography student at the University of Otago.
It has been as a coach and administrator that she has made
her mark on the sport.
This was illustrated when she became head coach and developer
of the high school programme at the Wakatipu Rowing Club from
2005-07.
Membership for school rowing remained at a low two or three
until Walker returned and developed a rowing culture at the
school.
A Wakatipu High School crew won a bronze medal in the boys
novice double sculls at the national championships.
Walker also developed her administrative skills at the club
and and these came to fruition when she became a research
associate at the AgResearch at Invermay and started coaching
at the University club two years ago.
She was co-coach with Glen Sinclair of Otago University crews
that won six medals - two gold, two silver and two bronze
medals - at the New Zealand championships on Lake Karapiro in
2008.
Walker has been manager of New Zealand University crews for
the transtasman clashes with Australia for the past four
years and is club secretary with the university club.
The Otago job is part-time and Walker will combine this role
with her duties as a professional coach with the University
club.
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