HUNDREDS of students have been honoured for achieving their sporting goals.
Pupils from Carmel College, Darlington, received a host of medals, certificates and trophies in recognition of their achievements at their annual college awards presentation, following a magnificent year of sport for the school.
Individual awards were presented to students from Year 7 to Year 11 for achievements in a host of disciplines, both in and outside of school, including swimming, athletics, volleyball, biathlon, sports leadership, sailing, cross country, badminton, rugby, skiing, trampoline, netball, show jumping, ice-skating, boxing, dressage, football, gymnastics, cricket, rounders, water polo, diving, golf, and hockey.
Special awards, chosen by the PE department, were also made to individuals who had achieved high levels of success and who had represented their chosen sport at town, district, county, regional and national level.
Presenting the awards, special guest BBC Tees sports journalist and broadcaster Rob Law said: “We need to shout louder about our sporting successes in the North East and I hope that’s what we try to do at BBC Radio Tees.”
Speaking to students, the 31-year-old radio presenter, of Stockton, offered words of advice for success in all walks of life.
“With patience and persistence you can do anything” he said. “When I said I wanted to be a sport radio presenter people told me I’d never make a living from it, there was no money in it and I needed a plan B.
“I wasn’t the smartest, or most eloquent, so I began to believe that I would never make it – but I wanted to try.
“I volunteered at North Tees Hospital radio. I got lucky and managed to get myself invited to Radio Tees where I spent a year giving up my weekends to go and watch and learn, all unpaid, but the sacrifice was worth it.”
When a vacancy became available at the station Rob was in the perfect position to apply.
Rob was also tasked with an impromptu interview of former Premiership footballer and ex-Carmel College pupil Tom Craddock.
Striker Tom, 32, of Darlington, who played for Middlesbrough, Luton and Oxford before injury forced him to quit the sport, has recently graduated from the Carmel Teacher Training Partnership as a PE teacher.
“Teaching is challenging and a very different world from football but I hope to be able to use my experience and the lessons learnt from my teachers to give pupils the love of sport that they gave to me,” he said.
The packed audience of family, friends, invited guests and staff, including former Carmel College PE Curriculum leader Simon Hanniford, were entertained by Carmel College dance leaders with a rendition of Naughty, Revolting Children from the musical Matilda.
Hosting his first awards event as new PE Curriculum leader Lee Richardson added: “This is a very special event and an opportunity to celebrate an incredibly broad range of sports at Carmel College.”
Special award winners
Netball Player of the Year Lucy Whiting
Male Cross Country Runner of the Year Daniel Boyer
Female Cross Country Runner of the Year India Pentland
Rugby Player of the Year Ben Brown
Cricket Player of the Year Male Harry Crawshaw
Cricket Player of the Year Female Lucy Dewar
Hockey Player of the Year Olivia Campbell
Skier of the Year Cecily Gibson
Footballer of ther Year Male Kieran Longstaff
Footballer of ther Year Female Lily Large
Swimmer of the Year Niamh Sweeney
Biathlete of the Year Alex Boyer
The 'John Naisbitt' Sports Personality of the Year Francis Humble
Female Sports Loyalty Award Ellie Bailie
Male Sports Loyalty Award James Todd and Joseph Leng
Female Athlete of the Year Darcey Garbutt
Male Athlete of the Year Nathaniel Bell
Victrix Ludorum Sarah Wilcock
Victor Ludorum Ben Brown
The Derek Coates Sports Performance of the Year Alice Day, Olivia Halliday, Milly Anderson and Niamh Sweeney
The Eve Hannaford Sporting Excellence Award Sarah Wilcock
Sports Leader of the Year Emma Burgess
Sailor of the Year Ellewen Pailla-Smith
Outstanding services to PE and School Sport Sophie Turver