The Welsh Volunteer of the Year and Welsh Orienteer of the Year awards for 2023 were presented at the Welsh Championships this Sunday.
Volunteer of the year 2023
Kerina Lake (SBOC) received the Volunteer award for all her hard work over and above her role as the Swansea Bay Club Development Officer. She has delivered numerous innovative initiatives, including wayfinding walks, fundays, Sunday Park-O together with Club & Junior development plus working with relevant partners and organisations. Kerina has also developed, designed and produced the Seren Award scheme which provides an easy-to-follow all-Wales programme to encourage the development of newcomers to the sport, organised the 2023 Welsh Championships and as WOA fixtures secretary has spent many hours organising permissions for this year’s Croeso.
Orienteer of the Year 2023
And the winner of the Orienteer of the Year award is Robin Irwin (SBOC). His achievements in 2023 have included his British Championship win (M14) and excellent performances at the JIRCs and JHI including his individual bronze medal at the JIRCs and a silver medal as part of the JIRCs relay team.
Moreover, Robin is an excellent role-model who puts time in between events studying maps and is a pleasure to talk to after he modestly describes how he raced. He is now running the longer courses and has taken a few notable scalps among the seniors.