By Nick Butler

The Parmigiani Spirit award recognises university rowers from across the world who have demonstrated the core values of the sportSeptember 13 - University rowers from Britain, Australia, South Africa and China have been named in the six person shortlist for the 2013 Parmigiani Spirit Award which recognises those who have demonstrated the "core values" of the sport.

The award is made to university rowers who have thrived in their social, academic and sporting life as well as inspiring success on the water in the lives of others through means including education, business, sports or charity.

An impressive 25 nominations from 12 countries were originally received and this has now been whittled down to a final six

This list consists of two Britons in James Cook and Andrew Smith and two South Africans in Sarah Bishop and Athenkosi Hlenkani.

Sarah Bourke of Australia and Zhisong Hu of China complete the lineup.

All six have contributed heavily to their respective university clubs both in a competitive and an organisational sense as well as to their wider university community.

Five time world single sculls champion Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand will sit on the three-man judging panel which will decide upon the winner of the World Rowings Parmigiani Spirit AwardFive time world single sculls champion Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand will sit on the three-man judging panel which will decide upon the winner of the World Rowing's Parmigiani Spirit Award


The final decision will be made by a panel of three judges which includes the reigning Olympic single sculls champion and former five-time world gold medallist Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand.

Alongside him will sit the chief executive of Parmigiani Fleurier Jean-Marc Jacot and the outgoing World Rowing Federation (FISA) President Denis Oswald.

"The quality of the nominations we received have been outstanding," said Oswald.

"It is heart-warming to read of the extraordinary work that has been done on a voluntary basis by these young university rowers, who have given hundreds of hours of their time and expertise to help others.

"The Parmigiani Spirit Award is a wonderful way to recognise this."

The competition forms part of watchmakers Parmigiani Fleurier's partnership with World Rowing which began in 2012.

The winner will be announced late in October and will receive a hand-crafted Parmigiani Fleurier watch as well as a racing eight boat to be named "Parmigiani Spirit 2013" which will be presented to their university club.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
April 2013: Olympic rowing champion to judge Parmigiani Spirit Award
September 2012: Parmigiani Fleurier and World Rowing present new university award