Queenswood Sports Award Dinner 2017
Thursday 18 May 2017
On Friday 5 May Queenswood hosted its second annual Sports Awards Dinner. All pupils who have represented Queenswood in any of the 16 competitive sports were invited to attend (in Year 7 this meant all but two girls!). The evening is not merely a celebration of Queenswood’s success in sport but a celebration of participation, friendships formed, and the pure enjoyment of joining a sports club or team. The awards acknowledged girls’ commitment, spirit and community spirit.
The evening was compered by Director of Sport Jo Wakeley. All members of the PE department pulled together in the planning, organising decorations, table plans, voting, presentations and music.
The review of the year was given by Lucy Fishpool, Olivia Baines and Maddy Davies, who also helped with the planning. The girls had the challenge of condensing 12 months into less than 10 minutes! We then enjoyed the year in photographs, which brought back many proud and happy moments from House Sport to the Tennis team being crowned 3rd in the world!
It was Principal Jo Cameron’s first Sports Awards Dinner and her speech to the girls, staff and leavers parents included references to her own sporting career and showed a passion and commitment to sport.
We were delighted to welcome back OQ Naomi Cavaday to present the awards. Naomi was a Tennis scholar at Queenswood, and went on to be a successful Tennis professional. Naomi had success at Wimbledon, the US Open the French Open, and was a member of the Federation Cup team as well as performing well on the ITF circuit. She is currently Queenswood’s patron of Tennis.
The year after Naomi left Q the whole school came to a standstill to watch her play the defending champion, Venus Williams, in the opening match of Wimbledon. After going 4-1 up in the first set the experience of Venus kicked in and victory for Naomi was not to be, but nevertheless it was an amazing achievement and a proud moment for the school. Naomi’s memories of Q and stories of her determination and work ethic were truly inspiring.
Nominees all stood and were applauded, the gold envelope passed to Naomi and the winners were announced. The atmosphere at the dinner was fantastic: Queenswood sportswomen acknowledging and appreciating each other’s commitment and achievements.
The two main awards of the night were Team of the Year and Sports Personality. Nominees were announced at the start of the evening and voting online took place until 9.30pm. Shaka Egbo (National High Jump Number 2, previously Number 1) was the deserved winner of Sports Personality of the Year and the Tennis team (Aberdare Cup winners and Bronze medal at the World championships) collected the Team of the Year Trophy to rapturous cheers and applause.
Queenswood Sports Awards Dinner 2017 (*winners)
Nominations for Club of the Year:
- Trampoline Club – fasting growing club since September
- Fencing Club – dedication, achievement and commitment
- Football Club – commitment spirit and development of skill – zero to hero! Farida Mohammed-Koko*
- Cricket Club – beginners to competitors
- Yr 7 Hockey Club – progress and positivity for loving hockey
- Yr 8 Hockey Club – dedication and humour
- Fun Swim Club – for fun
Nominations for the Team Spirit Award:
- Yr 8A Hockey – Chaela Lambrias*
- 2nd XI Hockey
- 7B Hockey
- 7A Netball
- Brazil World Championships Tennis Team
- Aberdare Cup Team 2016
Nominations for the Most Improved Team:
- Jnr Swimmers – Jessica Robertson (doubled league points)
- Yr 7A Hockey – Sofia Martin*
- Yr 8A Hockey- Chaela Lambrias
- 2nd XI Hockey – Olivia Robinson
- U12 Football – Sofia Martin, Farida Mohammad-KoKo (Regional finals)
Nominations for Team Player of the Year:
- Sofia Martin (Hoc Bad Foot XC)
- Olivia Baines (1st Xl)*
- Isobel Beynon (1st Xl)*
- Paris Petrou (Hockey Netball Football Cricket)
- Adetiura Andu (Hoc Foot)
- Jessica Hawes (Bad Hoc)
- Ella Higgens (Net)
Nominations for Volunteer of the Year:
- Kat Barlay – Netball*
- Lucy Wakeley – Hockey
- Isobel Beynon – Hockey
- Saniya Singh – Swimming
- Lia DiGesaro – Badminton
Nominations for Junior Pupil of the Year:
- Ella Higgens
- Hannah Kilpatrick*
- Megan Langley
- Sofia Martin
- Jess Robertson
Nominations for Senior Pupil of the Year :
- Kat Barlay
- Jessica Hurley*
- Maddy Davies
- Anna Dunham
- Lara Sikka
- Isobel Beynon
Seven very special Awards in the name of the Seven Olympic and Paralympic Values:
- Friendship = Amelia Brown
- Courage = Maddy Davies
- Determination = Jessica Hawes
- Inspiration = Lia DiGesaro
- Respect = Annabel Davis
- Excellence = Georgie Walker
- Equality = Anna Dunham
Nominations for Team of the Year:
- 1st XI Regional Finals
- U16 Badminton National Finals
- U16 Athletics Regional Finals
- U13 Gym Team – National Finals qualification
- U12 Football – Regional Finals
- U13 Aegon Tennis
- Brazil World Champ Tennis Team 2017 & Aberdare Cup Tennis Team 2016*
Nominations for Sports Personality of the Year:
- Bella Moen – Nationally Ranked Tennis
- Evie Bullman – England Fencing 3rd at National Championships
- Jessica Robertson – National Swimming Champs Qualification
- Cat Langley – U18 Wales Hockey Squad
- Victoria Mangan – England Rounders
- Shaka Egbo – Currently 2nd in UK for High Jump, formerly number 1*
- Kaya Smith – England Fencing
- Georgie Walker – Nationally Ranked Tennis
- Chloe BB – National Swimming Champs Qualification
- Emma Lazic – Junior Wimbledon and Nationally Ranked Tennis
- Meghan Pick – England Fencing