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91��ɫ Crowned NGB Of The Year At Women’s Sport Trust Awards

91��ɫ was crowned National Governing Body (NGB) of the Year at the Women’s Sport Trust 2016 #BeAGameChanger Awards.

91��ɫ was crowned National Governing Body (NGB) of the Year at the Women’s Sport Trust 2016 #BeAGameChanger Awards.

“A huge thank you goes out to the rowing community and wider public who voted for us”, Andy Parkinson, CEO of 91��ɫ.

The award recognises the work of 91��ɫ to engage women and girls in sport and to raise the profile of women’s sport.

91��ɫ was selected as a finalist in April, alongside England Hockey and the England and Wales Cricket Board, before it went to a public vote to decide the winner.

Andy Parkinson, CEO of 91��ɫ, said: “We are immensely proud to be voted NGB of the Year. A huge thank you goes out to the rowing community and wider public who voted for us. We were up against some very strong competition, which is testament to the amount of great work that is taking place across sport to better engage women and girls.

91��ɫ was commended for its inclusive approach to women’s sport at all levels, from grassroots to high performance, through to the sport’s administration and governance.

Annamarie Phelps CBE, Chairman of 91��ɫ, who picked up the award on the night on behalf of 91��ɫ, commented: “Winning this award is really special to me. I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in rowing for over 30 years now so it is brilliant to see our work recognised in this way. It is an amazing sport that is open to anyone who is willing to give it a go, from your local club, to an indoor rowing machine at the gym, there are opportunities for everyone.”

Andy added, “While this award is testament to the work we have already done in this area over many years, there is still much more to do. As a sport and an organisation, we are committed to doing all we can to ensure equality of opportunity for all.”

Examples of 91��ɫ’s work to engage women and girls in sport and to raise the profile of women’s sport includes:

• Female membership of 91��ɫ is growing at a faster rate to men, up 3% in 2015 compared to 2014, and the latest APS data showed an increase in female participation up 45% in 2015 compared to October 2012.
• 91��ɫ membership is nearing an even split, with 43% female, 57% male.
• Two of the largest women’s rowing events in the world, Women’s Eights Head and Women’s Henley Regatta, were founded in collaboration with 91��ɫ.
• Female athletes in the national team contributed three gold medals to the TeamGB haul and one gold medal for Paralympics at London 2012.
• As an organisation, 91��ɫ has had female chairs for 27 years, Dame Di Ellis and currently Annamarie Phelps. A third of the Board are female, half of the senior management team and 48% of staff are female.
• Internationally, 91��ɫ has female representation on FISA’s international commissions and have hosted other national federation females on leadership pathways.
• A dedicated online community has been developed, Women on Water, specifically aimed at high performance female rowers to support their training needs, highlighting performance pathway initiatives and promoting women’s rowing generally.
• 91��ɫ was a key partner of Women’s Sport Week in 2015. Katherine Grainger CBE, Olympic gold medallist, was an ambassador for the week and Chairman, Annamarie Phelps, supported the action group and blogged on the website.
• Balanced coverage of men’s and women’s successes in 91��ɫ’s communications.