The Cambridge community celebrate Light Blue Sport at the Sports Awards Event!
Over 200 students, staff and members of the wider community came together in a transformed Sports Centre to recognise the breadth of sporting talent and achievement at Cambridge.
The event was hosted by sports commentator, Darren Paul, with award announcers including Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education & Chair of Sports Committee, Bhaskar Vira, as well as CURUFC Director of Rugby & Senior Member of the Blues Committees, Scott Annett, and Director of Communications & External Affairs at the University of Cambridge, James Helm. It was a pleasure to welcome previous award winner for the Sports Club Personality of the Year category in 2021-22, Phil Erm, President of the Canoe Club.
Awards were also presented by University of Cambridge Sport staff including Director of Sport, Nick Brooking, Deputy Director of Sport, Karen Pearce, and Sports Club Support Manager, Lucy McGennity.
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: CU Triathlon Club
Team of the Year: Hare & Hounds
Sports Person of the Year: Imogen Grant (Trinity), Boat Club and Cycling Club
Unsung Hero: Matthew Griffiths (Trinity), Boat Club
Sports Club Personality of the Year: Tom Wade (St. Catharine's), Cycling Club and Badminton Club
Sporting Moment of the Year: Amateur Boxing Club Varsity Victory / Chike Pilgrim (Darwin)
Newcomer of the Year:
- Charlotte Bardsley (Sidney Sussex), Table Tennis Club
- Jordan Mubako (St. John’s), Basketball Club, Rugby Union Club, Athletic Club
Outstanding Contribution:
- Alex Telford (Emmanuel), Netball Club
- Ellie O'Keeffe (Emmanuel), Swimming and Water Polo Club, Rugby Union Club, Athletic Club
- Joa Hoshizaki (Churchill), Ice Hockey Club
- Matt Neville (Clare Hall), Ice Hockey Club
- Priyanka Patel (Pembroke), Cricket Club
- Sofie Pultz (St. Edmund's), Badminton Club
Kicking off the event, Hare & Hounds won the Team of the Year category, after their double team bronze medals at BUCS, multiple individual BUCS medals, and their unprecedented 5-0 Varsity win!
Next up, the Unsung Hero was awarded to Matthew Griffiths. Matthew's behind the scenes dedication as coach to the CUBC Women's Lightweights have led to a host of successes on the water. In his speech, Matthew recognised the countless individuals throughout Cambridge and beyond who selflessly dedicate their time volunteering in sport, and how vital they are to sporting performance.
Tom Wade won the Sports Club Personality of the Year category. In the midst of his PhD, and in his sixth year of study at Cambridge, Tom is a huge part of the Cycling Club. Kind and caring for members, and always striving to improve club culture (and the ever-growing social calendar!).
In the award for Outstanding Contribution, this year six award winners were recognised: Alex Telford, Ellie O'Keeffe, Joa Hoshizaki, Matt Neville, Priyanka Patel and Sofie Pultz. Between them, the six have given 30 years of their time and effort to the sports clubs. All have held multiple roles and contributed behind the scenes as well as on the field. They have all been a credit to their clubs, colleges and to Cambridge over an extended period, and will be sorely missed!
With a strong shortlist for Newcomer of the Year, the judging panel felt it was fitting to recognise two individuals, Charlotte Bardsley and Jordan Mubako. Charlotte, after competing at the Commonwealth Games, arrived at Cambridge as a UCAPP athlete, took over Table Tennis Club captaincy duties, won a BUCS Individual silver medal, and has been elected to take on a club vice-presidency role in 2023/24. Jordan managed to find time to compete at a high level in three sports including Rugby Union, Athletics, & Basketball, and during this time his character and enthusiasm had an inspirational effect on all those around him.
The Sporting Moment of the Year category was decided by an audience vote, with CU Amateur Boxing Club winning with their Varsity Victory. The four shortlisted moments were shown to the audience on the day, with all four demonstrating the strength of Cambridge Sport.
The penultimate award was was by Olympian Imogen Grant, in the Sports Person of the Year category. Another stunning year on the water for Imogen included six BUCS Regatta medals in 2022, as well as back to back European Rowing Championships gold medals in 2022 and 2023, not to mention being the top performing lightweight athlete at the GB trials, and adding a BUCS Cycling gold medal to her palmares!
The final award of the afternoon was for Club of the Year. With so many clubs having a strong year, this made it tough for the judging panel to call. Ultimately, the Triathlon Club were recognised due to their transformational year, with excellent leadership from the committee, over 50% more members, as well as improved sponsorship and more events!
If you're interested in picking up an event programme, contact registration@sport.cam.ac.uk.
Thanks to sponsors Aldi Careers UK & OSB Events - organisers of the Cambridge Half Marathon for supporting the event.
Thanks to photographers Dik Ng (cover photo) and Kane Smith (picture below) for covering the event.
Director of Sport, Nick Brooking, hands over the award for Outstanding Contribution to St. Edmund's student, Sofie Pultz