Celebrating another year of success at the 2025 Cambridge University Sports Awards!
The Cambridge University Sport Service were delighted to welcome guests from across Cambridge’s colleges and clubs, and those from further afield including friends and family.
The event was hosted by Director of Sport, Mark Brian, with the awards being announced by; Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education & Chair of Sports Committee, Bhaskar Vira, incoming RFU President, Deborah Griffin, CURUFC Director of Rugby & Senior Member of the Blues Committees, Scott Annett, and Senior Tutors and Committee Members, Victoria Harvey and Jane Greatorex.
It was also a pleasure to welcome back previous Sports Personality of the Year winner, Jack Murphy, to present this year’s award.
The award winners themselves were selected by a panel of senior University staff, with the exception of the Sporting Moment of the Year category, which was decided by an audience vote in the build-up to the event!
The award winners in full:
Club of the Year: Association Football Club
Team of the Year: Women's Cross Country A Team, Hare & Hounds
Sports Person of the Year: Jan Helmich (Trinity Hall), Rowing
Unsung Hero: Emma Paterson (Gonville and Caius), Mixed Lacrosse
Sports Club Personality of the Year: Tads Ciecieski-Holmes (Wolfson), Modern Pentathlon
Sporting Moment of the Year: Men’s Volleyball Blues Varsity Set Point
Newcomer of the Year: Lauren Airey (Emmanuel), Modern Pentathlon
College Team of the Year: Downing Table Tennis
Outstanding Contribution:
- Lucy Xu (Pembroke), Taekwondo
- Sam Grimshaw (Girton), Hockey
- Georgina Quayle (Homerton), Modern Pentathlon and Swimming and Water Polo
- Ben Rhodes (Jesus), Touch Rugby
- Izzy Howse (Robinson), Netball
- Ksenija Belada (Peterhouse), Volleyball
- Izzy Winter, Clarissa’s Campaign for Cambridge Hearts
- Jess Reeve, Clarissa’s Campaign for Cambridge Hearts
Outstanding Contribution winner, Lucy Xu, with CU Taekwondo members.
After a VIP reception for all shortlisted candidates and senior members within the University, the event started by recognising the incredible year Cambridge students have had across all aspect of sport. 12 BUCS league victories, 3 cup triumphs, 33 medals, countless Varsity wins, and a host of successes at college level.
With the presentation of each award, the winners were kind enough to share a few words on stage, all mentioning the support of their peers and their sports club in making their time at Cambridge special, demonstrating the value of sport and physical activity as part of the student experience at Cambridge.
In the Team of the Year category, the Women’s Cross Country A Team from the Hare & Hounds were the first winners on the day! The team won gold at the BUCS Cross Country Championships, which was the first non-Loughborough or Birmingham win for 25 years. The individuals have also picked up multiple GB vests, competing at the highest level on the world stage!
The first individual award, for Unsung Hero, went to Gonville and Caius student and Mixed Lacrosse member, Emma Paterson. Emma has made a lasting and meaningful contribution to CUMLC throughout her time with the University! She has gone above and beyond to support her club, and her efforts have been rightly recognised.
College Team of the Year was up next, recognising and celebrating the teams who best demonstrate the College sport values of respect, participation, sportsmanship and enjoyment. This years deserved winners, Downing Table Tennis, started the year with no members, and finishing with over 40 across 4 teams. Their positive impact within the college is testament to their hard work and passion to increase participation, congratulations
The Sports Club Personality of the Year category saw a shortlist full of people who light up their clubs and who’ll be sorely missed when they move on. Last years winner, Jack Murphy, was present to announce this award, which was won by Tads Ciecieski-Holmes (Wolfson) from the Modern Pentathlon club. Many describe Tads as “the life and soul of CUMPC” and is a deserving recipient of this award.
In the category for Sporting Moment of the Year, the audience voting took place leading up to the event, with votes coming in from far and wide. The four spectacular moments were played again for the audience during the ceremony, with the Men’s Blues Volleyball Set Point announced as the winner!
In the penultimate category, Sports Person of the Year, five outstanding student-athletes were shortlisted, all competing at a high level in their respective sports. The winner was announced at Paralympic Medallist, Jan Helmich (Trinity Hall), whose journey is a powerful story of resilience, dedication, and balance between academics and elite sport! Jan began rowing in 2016 as Computer Science undergrade with no prior experience. Now a PhD student in Engineering, he competes internationally at the highest level. His success continues to inspire the next generation of rowers at Cambridge and beyond!
The final award category for Club of the Year saw five clubs shortlisted for their various achievements over the course of the past year. One club was considered to have shown success in all areas, the Association Football Club! The collaboration and dedication from the committee has created an inclusive atmosphere which the club have reaped the rewards from on the pitch - three BUCS league titles, a cup win, and Varsity dominance!
Scattered throughout the ceremony were our Outstanding Contribution winners. Each winner was invited up on stage as we played a video sent in by their peers, sharing kind words and thanking them for all the work they have put back into sport during their time at the University. Congratulations again to our winners, they have been a credit to their clubs, colleges, and to Cambridge!
- Lucy Xu
- Sam Grimshaw
- Georgina Quayle
- Ben Rhodes
- Izzy Howse
- Ksenija Belada
- Izzy Winter
- Jess Reeve
A particularly touching moment was when Hillary Nicholls presented the Outstanding Contribution to Jess, who collected on behalf of Izzy who could not attend, and for all the work they have done raising funds and supporting the heart screenings that have taken place. To find out more about the screenings for October 2025 please visit www.sport.cam.ac.uk/heart-screening and links to the sign up for future screenings will be available when released.
University of Cambridge Sport Service would like to thank all involved in making the Sports Awards a success, from the guests joining us at the event, the voters in the Sporting Moment of the Year, and all who submitted nominations and engaged with us throughout. Until next year!
If you're interested in picking up an event programme, contact registration@sport.cam.ac.uk.
Thanks to Dik Ng for imagery.