David Synnott from University College Cork was awarded the 2018 Student Sport Ireland Leadership Award for his fantastic work in reinvigorating the rowing club in the college. David was presented with his award by Mayo Ladies Football legend Cora Staunton at the recent Student Sport Ireland Network Event Awards Dinner in the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone.
David Synnott who was nominated the captain of UCC Rowing club in 2016 has been the driving force in turning the club around in recent years, the third-year medical student has managed every aspect of the club as well as being a very successful competitive athlete in his own right, having represented Ireland at the 2016 World University Rowing Championships.
David saw the opportunity to help raise the standard of the club by organizing some competitive trips overseas to events such as the London Metropolitan Regatta and the Heineken Roeiviercamp in Amsterdam in 2018. Along with this David revived the winter training camp for the club.
David has not only worked on the present for UCC Rowing club but his work sees him thinking of the future with ongoing talks taking place with Cork County Council with a proposal to move the UCC Rowing club to Cork Marina, which would make the facility more accessible to students. David has recruited two new coaches for the club to cater for the women and novice sections of the club, all of which will help to improve the standard of the rowers in the club.
All clubs need a sound financial footing and to make sure the club could progress David Synnott organized the sale of a Filippi 8+ boat and with the money reinvested into club development it was a huge benefit to the club.
Rowing boats take up a lot of space and their transport is another issue for clubs. David worked with Lee Rowing club to set up boat storage in their club for long-term periods an initiative that allows UCC rowing club members three times more time in the water and less time transporting boats around.
David has also worked hard to get UCC Rowing club involved in charity work and fundraising. An event called ‘Champs Night’ in July 2017 raised €1000, which was one of a number of charity links set up.
Along with his outstanding ability as a leader, David runs a very efficient committee, and is actively working towards building the clubs future leaders. Not content to simply carry out the work to make the club run smoothly in 2018, he is building the club towards a bigger and brighter future. David has been described by another member of the club as “The man who woke the sleeping giant of UCC Rowing Club”.