New manager for Mount sports centre

Justine Brennan has been appointed as Tauranga's High Performance Centre manager. Photo / George Novak

Justine Brennan has been appointed the manager of Tauranga's new High Performance Centre.

The centre, which is scheduled to open at the end of this year, will see Ms Brennan take the reins as strategy and high-performance centre manager which will become home to the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, the New Zealand Rugby Union (Sevens), Body In Motion physiotherapy and sports medicine, women's and community rugby.

Sport centre manager Justine Brennan takes Bay Venues board members on a tour through the former Mount Cosmopolitan Club.

The Bay Venues-led initiative, based at the former Mount Maunganui Cosmopolitan Centre, is set to become a world-class training environment for Bay of Plenty athletes.

With a long and exciting curriculum vitae, the new job was one to be excited about, Mrs Brennan said.

"I feel as if everything I have done before in my life has built up and contributed to this position."

There is a vision for the venue to cater to, and host, national and international athletes and teams, and it would be the vehicle to strategically position Tauranga as a centre of high-performance sport, she said.

"It will be the catalyst. What is under-realised is the climate, Mauao, the beaches, our hot saltwater pools, all on offer. These provide the opportunity for active recovery of athletes in training downtime.

"We have been turning our back on what our natural environment offers in that respect. It's the best kept secret of high-performance sport and as a city we can leverage off those natural attributes."

Ms Brennan said the centre would be of great economic value to Tauranga too.

"Look at Cambridge, which used to be known for its cows and horses. Then along came the Sarah Ulmer and Rob Waddell effect. Now it is identified as a top-of-your-game high-performance sport centre for rowing and cycling.

"With those top sports people come a lot of professionals to assist them on their journey to excellence - it has a high, multiplying effect. There is good economic return plus vibrancy and excellence.

"High-performance sport attracts a momentum of people who are good to have in society. They are great role models, high achievers themselves, and happy to give back."

Ms Brennan has held other corporate positions including time at Bay of Plenty Regional Council as a coastal planner; Smart Growth programme director and Tauranga City Council strategic planner.

Successful athlete in her own right

Justine Brennan was also a successful athlete herself.

While her first business, Resource Management Consulting, was in its infancy she began rowing and won the Intermediate Women's Single Scull New Zealand title in her first season.

The same year she also made the New Zealand U-23 team and was shoulder-tapped to move to Cambridge to seriously pursue international rowing.

She put her business on hold, trained full time, pursued the first two years of a law degree in her spare time, and rowed with the New Zealand squad for five years.

She made the squad for the New Zealand Women's Eight aiming to qualify for the Sydney Olympics before breaking a rib.

She dedicated a month to really full-on recuperation, then got back in the boat for the first training and snapped it again just prior to the team leaving for Europe.

It was a devastating experience, she said.