Senior School news
Sports Presentation Evening»
05/07/2010
Team of the Year - Key Stage 4 Cheer Squad
The 2010 Sports Presentation evening was opened with an outstanding fact from the Headmaster who stunned a crowd of almost 200 people with the information that no fewer than 6% of our school students are current National Champions and International Athletes. If you include second and third placings this figure goes up to an impressive 9%. The Head challenged us to find another school in the country to compete with this. After two days of research I have yet to find one, so we raise our glasses to you, our talented students.
The theme of National success was continued with our guest speaker Master Gymnast of 2010 Tom Rawlinson. With an impressive CV Tom has 4 British Championships, 6 years of International Competition, 10 years in the National Squad and 2 World Student Games under his belt. Tom is a local lad who has forfeited much of his social life over the past 14 years to achieve his dreams. Some would say he retired early, but the need to earn money becomes important in life and the funding from British Gymnastics and other minor forms of sponsorship is not always enough. Right now, Tom is coaching full time with Cirque de Soleil knocking on his door. An impressive interview revealed the fact that his favourite career moment was his most recent British title when his parents managed to watch him lift the trophy! I have known Tom for the past 15 years and coached him to win two British Championships, this sportsman is dedicated to the end, he has the perfect attitude to training, he is eager to improve weaknesses, he is disappointed with failure and ecstatic with success but most importantly he is humble and a genuine nice guy!
Tom's Pommel Horse display
An impressive Pommel Horse display from Tom followed the interview, the sheer strength, flexibility, muscular endurance, grace and elegance were a joy for all to see. I am not sure the females saw any of this though as they were more focussed on the naked ripped torso flexing and moving with style! Tom made it clear just why he is Master Gymnast of the Year.
Senior Sportsman of the Year - Elliott Craven
The presentations to our wonderful, dedicated and talented students then lasted an hour and a half. A long time to stand, applaud and endure the heat? Not in my opinion, every minute of it was well deserved by our young sportsmen and women. If only it could go on for longer, if only we could award everybody with a medal, after all each and every one of you who attends training, performs for school, fills the water bottles, writes a report, reads a report, washes the kit, feeds the teams, sponsors a kit and taxis the students deserves an award, without you, none of this would be possible. Tonight was about a select few to receive the awards they deserve, Players’ Player, Coaches’ Award, Captains’ Badges, Team of the Year, and Sports People of the Year, these were tough choices for all to make, but after a year of Sport and achievement, decisions had to be made, some were so difficult that they could only be made on the last day.
Senior Sportswoman of the Year - Jessica Brearley
Captains and coaches reviewed the year, the training and the students and then went on to announce the winners. In true BBC sports personality of the year style, the audience were on the edge of their seats, successful winners were deservedly applauded and cheered by all and only a few minor mistakes were made by the presenters. In fact, one award was still not given on the night, so here we go…. “The winner of the KS4 Spirit Award for Cheerleading goes to …….(drum roll and suspense)…….India Shibil!”
Junior Sportspeople of the Year - Arandeep Gill and Katie Ormerod
Team of the Year was one of the toughest decisions to make, we currently have two teams who are National Champions, the KS3 and KS4 Street Cheer teams who both produce performances worthy of a Britain’s Got Talent Final, in fact, Calendar TV are keen to do a piece on them both, so keep your eyes glued. The winners of the award, The KS4 team just took the edge on account of a National title and two second places in three different National Championships in one year. The team were not only successful at the Schools’ Championships but also competed at the higher level and won the National Club Championships.
Intermediate Sportspeople of the Year - Adam Parkinson and Laura Wadsworth
Overall Sportswoman of the Year - Sarah Roberts
The decision for overall Sportspeople of the year was a much easier one and were given to two students who this year have achieved national and international success. I am firmly of the belief that weekly fixtures at the Spring Hall athletics track, success in national competitions and dominating local competition must have something to do with the fact that both students are athletes, I am convinced however, that hard work, dedication and simple raw talent are the reasons why these two students have achieved so much success. Sarah Roberts, the winner of Sportswoman of the year is to compete at the National Schools’ Finals in the Javelin Event. In qualifying for the finals we saw Sarah throw close to 40 metres which was better than any other male or female on the day. Unfortunately a back injury may hinder her performance in the final but we are behind her all the way. This event will be televised live on Sky Sports TV this weekend so be sure to support Sarah and cheer her on the way to a successful competition. The winner of Sportsman of the year, Liam Stedman, has also had a recent TV performance in the finals of the National Cross Country Championships; a brilliant run in this event secured him a place on the England team earlier this year in his very first international. Like any other true competitor these two know exactly what it takes to get to the top of their sport and maybe, just maybe, we could have two students in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Overall Sportsman of the Year - Liam Stedman
The formalities of the evening were over, the food was served and the dancing continued until the early hours of the morning. Thanks were given to all who deserved it including The Old Brodleians, Calder Cabins for providing the Team of the Year trophy, Coral Windows for the Sportspeople of the Year trophies and Tom Rawlinson, our entertaining guest speaker. Roll on next year when we look forward to an even more successful and exciting year of sport from you, our talented and valued students.
Click here for a full list of award winners
