Friday 6 May saw the first ever Queenswood Sports Awards
Dinner. It was an evening to celebrate 
all our numerous individual and team achievements over the previous
twelve months.

The list of achievements continues to amaze and impress.
However, the evening was not just about winning and being an International
sportswoman: it was an opportunity to acknowledge participation, spirit and
volunteering in sport.
The event  was also
proof of how effectively  staff and
pupils can collaborate to organise a special evening  that could put the BBC Sports Personality of
the Year to shame!

Rebecca Hurley (Sports Chairperson) was the instigator of
the event and did a tremendous job. She presented a review of the year with her
deputy Bethan Langley – amazingly they managed to cram 14 sports, three tours
and 12 months into just 10 minutes! The
review was accompanied by photographs of the year.

The evening was compered by the Director of Sport, Jo
Wakeley. Sue Mott, renowned sports journalist, and former England netballer
Sasha Corbin were invited to speak and give out prizes.

Sue gave an inspiring speech about how women in
sport and the media have developed in her lifetime. Her speech ranged from her
memories of wearing navy blue knickers for PE and playing Hockey in the mud, to
the 7/7 London bombings. Sue  is
currently working on a book with paralympian Martine Wright, who has received a
good deal of media attention as a result of her being injured in the London
attack. It was striking to hear how Martine would not change a thing about her
life (even suffering horrendous injuries): sport has given her so much pleasure
and so many amazing experiences that she would never have experienced had she
not become a Paralympian. Sue made us all reflect on the power of sport and
what a positive impact it can have on our lives.

Sasha Corbin (dressed in Queenswood purple) presented the
awards. Sasha is currently recovering from a serious injury and encouraged our
sportswomen to follow their dreams and work hard to overcome obstacles.

 

Team captains, coaches and staff were invited to nominate
pupils for awards in advance of the evening. All nominated sportswomen stood
for a round of applause. In true Oscars style, Sasha opened the secret gold
envelopes to reveal the winners.

The two main awards were Team of the Year and Sports
Personality of the Year; these were voted for on the night via a smartphone
app. The shrieks of delight when the 1st XI won the first ever Queenswood Team
of the Year would have been heard in Potters Bar! Sprinter, Hannah Williams
(6th at the World Youth Games, 4th at the Commonwealth Youth Games) won the
prestigious Sports Peronality of the Year – the 20th recipient of this coveted
award. Shaka Egbo (UK number 1 ranked High Jumper) was runner-up. 

Principal Pauline Edgar was in attendance and
congratulated girls and staff on their year of hard work and achievement, and
on the professional organisation of the evening. We look forward to this
becoming an annual event.

View more photographs

• Club of the Year
• Fencing Club (for their team spirit and hard work, culminating in five fencers competing at the British finals)

• Team Spirit Award
• U16 Indoor Hockey Squad

• Most Improved Team
• Year 8 B Team Netball

• Team Player of the Year
• Lara Sikka

• Volunteer of the Year
• Lucy Wakeley (Hockey goalkeeper)

• Junior Pupil of the Year
• Gabriella Murray Panayiotou

• Senior Pupil of the Year
• Bec Hurley

• Olympic and Paralympic Values
  Seven very special prizes were awarded recognition of the Seven Olympic and Paralympic Values
• Friendship: Laura Hope
• Courage: Lucy Baker
• Determination: Bethan Langley
• Inspiration: Georgie Walker
• Respect: Jess Hurley
• Excellence: Maddy Wray
• Equality: Lara Sikka and Marina Baldwin

• Team of the Year
• 1st XI Hockey Squad (Regional finalists in Indoor and Outdoor Hockey; last eight of National Independent Schools Cup)

• Sports Personality of the Year – Nominations
• Georgie Walker – ranked 29 in GB Tennis
• Milly Davies – England U15 HiPaC Hockey
• Ema Lazic – represents GB at Tennis, ranked 12 in GB and as high as 62 in the world
• Hannah Williams – represents GB in Athletics:  6th at the World Youth Championships, 4th at Youth Commonwealth Games
• Maddy Wray – England U16 Hockey
• Meghan Pick – GB Fencing
• Bella Moen – ranked 14 in GB for Tennis, trains with GB squad
• Kaya Smith – GB Fencing
• Shaka Egbo – UK number 1 ranked High Jumper
• Victoria Mangan – England Rounders
• Olivia Peet – ranked 9th in GB Tennis
• Sports Personality of the Year – Winner – Hannah Williams