Richard Honeyford Is New COO Of RYA Northern Ireland

5th October 2017

MacDara Conroy

Richard Honeyford Is New COO Of RYA Northern Ireland

#RYANI - Richard Honeyford has been appointed as the new full-time chief operating officer of the RYA Northern Ireland.

Previously performance manager for the RYANI for the last 11 years, Honeyford “has played an integral role in the organisation” during a period when Northern Ireland sailors have garnered more than 15 medals in international competition.

Among his achievements is overseeing the doubling in size of the Youth Championships in Northern Ireland, while he also coached at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Honeyford also brings a wealth of experience from his own sailing background to the role, from his start in the Mirror class before graduating to Toppers and Lasers, which gives him “a solid understanding of the pressures young sailors experience”, according to a statement by the RYANI.

The post, which is supported by Sport NI under the Sporting Clubs Sporting Winners Programme, will see Honeyford lead on the RYANI’s new Strategic Plan and increase engagement with stakeholders at all levels.

“This is a major step change for us to be able to fund a full-time chief operating officer for RYA Northern Ireland.” said RYANI board chair Sheela Lewis.

“I believe it is an endorsement by Sport NI and the RYA, recognising the progressive developments made by the organisation to date. Richard has already played an integral part in this, creating the Strategic Plan, and he is ready for the challenge ahead.”

Published in RYA Northern Ireland

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MacDara Conroy

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MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business

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About the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Northern Ireland

The RYA is the national body for dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sports boats, windsurfing and personal watercraft and a leading representative for inland waterways cruising.

The RYA is recognised by Government, the media and opinion formers as the representative body and voice for the activities that it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 112,000 personal members.

The RYA has more than 1,500 affiliated clubs and classes, which represent some 350,000 boaters throughout the UK. It is estimated that 4 million people in the UK take part in boating activity annually.

The RYA also sets and maintains recognised standards for training for both leisure and commercial boating through a network of more than 2,400 RYA Recognised Training Centres across 58 countries. More than 250,000 people per year complete RYA training courses.

The RYA is responsible for one of the UK’s most successful Olympic medal-winning sports. Our coaching and development schemes actively support 800 of our country’s top sailors, from talented juniors to Olympic and World champions.

The RYA is committed to promoting all forms of boating and making them accessible to everyone. For more information please visit www.rya.org.uk.

The Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland (RYA NI) acts for the RYA in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Chairman of RYA NI is invited to join the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) Policy Review Committee.

You can find the RYA Northern Ireland at Sketrick House, GE8, Jubilee Road, Newtownards, BT23 4YH.

RYA NI is a company limited by guarantee – Registration number NI 51945

Contact RYA NI: Tel: 02891 827154 email: [email protected]