PRINCETON, N.J. - Regatta racecourse designer and former coach and athlete Tim Royalty has been named the 2012 USRowing Clayton W. Chapman Award recipient, the association announced Wednesday.
Named in honor of Clayton W. Chapman, steward of the Eastern Sprints and IRA Championship Regatta for 30 years, the award recognizes someone who has consistently served in a behind-the-scenes administrative role that has previously gone unrecognized. The recipient may be an athlete, coach, referee, administrator, volunteer, regatta organizer, sponsor, vendor or any other individual involved in the staging of a regatta.
Royalty will be honored December 1 at an awards reception held in conjunction with the 2012 USRowing Annual Convention scheduled for Nov. 29-Dec. 2 in Oklahoma City, Okla.
"This is great," Royalty said of being named the award recipient. "I was totally surprised. I had no idea I was even nominated. It's a great honor."
A former national champion lightweight sculler and longtime rowing coach, Royalty has designed and installed racecourses around the world for rowing, canoe/kayak and swimming. As founder of Precision Racing, Royalty designed and installed the 1984 and 1996 Olympic racecourses, the 2001 world cup course in Princeton, N.J., the course for the 2002 Central American And Caribbean Games in El Salvador and numerous courses across the country including the NCAA Championships from 1997-99, 2001, 2004-08 and again in 2010.
Royalty's coaching experience spans 20 years and includes stints as the head coach at the University of Cincinnati Rowing Club from 1990 to 1999, and head coach of the University of Cincinnati women's varsity team from 1999 to 2005.
"There are few rowers in America who haven't benefited from Tim's behind-the-scenes involvement in regattas," said USRowing Chief Executive Officer Glenn Merry. "His courses provide the backdrop for champions and competitors to demonstrate their skills.
"His role in course construction is perhaps unknown to many rowers, but his reputation as a skilled tradesman is recognized by the top regatta organizers across our country. The Chapman award is a fitting tribute to Tim and his dedication in supporting our sport," Merry said.
USRowing recognizes individuals and organizations for their contributions and achievements in the sport in 14 categories.
Seven of the awards will be presented November 14 at the Golden Oars Dinner including the USRowing Medal of Honor, awarded to Stan Pocock; Male Athlete of the Year, awarded to Glenn Ochal; Female Athlete of the Year, awarded to Oksana Masters; Jack Franklin Lifetime Achievement Award, awarded to Kate Godwin; Jack Kelly Award, awarded to Mike Knopp; Anita DeFrantz Award for Advancing Diversity in Rowing, awarded to RowLA; and the Isabel Bohn Award for Achievement in Adaptive Rowing, awarded to Oksana Masters and Rob Jones.
Seven additional USRowing Awards will be presented Saturday, December 1 at the 2012 USRowing Annual Convention in Oklahoma City, Okla., including the John J. Carlin Service Award; Clayton W. Chapman Award, awarded to Tim Royalty; Joan Zandbergen "Mama Z" Award, awarded to Elaine Roden; Julian Wolf Award, awarded to Lloyd McDonald; Man of the Year Award, awarded to Rob Jones; Ernestine Bayer Award (formerly Woman of the Year); and the Club of the Year Award, awarded to Community Rowing, Inc.
Seven Fan's Choice Awards also will be presented at the Golden Oars Awards Dinner. They include the National Team Rower of the Year, Charlie Cole; Junior Rower of the Year, Alia Shafi; Masters Rower of the Year, Paul Green; Collegiate Rower of the Year, Kristine O'Brien; Junior Coach of the Year, Greg King; Masters Coach of the Year, Boris Kusturic; and Collegiate Coach of the Year, Paul Cooke.
For more information about the Golden Oars Awards Dinner in New York City, visit www.usrowing.org. To purchase a ticket or secure a table, visit http://usrowing.tix.com.
The 2012 USRowing Annual Convention and Advanced Coaches Conference is open to all individual members of USRowing. Information for membership and convention registration can be found at http://www.usrowing.org/Events/AnnualConvention.aspx.