Anna Basford, Emmanuel, CU Modern Pentathlon Club
Anna has been the driving force of CUMPC, dedicating an extraordinary amount of time to organising competitions, training, and logistics across all five disciplines. She has run Novice Varsity, Old Blues, BUCS, Varsity and the winter training camp, while coordinating venues, coaches, and joint sessions with other clubs. She coaches fencing and shooting, drives the team nationwide for obstacle training, and used her initiative to secure an obstacle rig at Emmanuel, making Cambridge a leader in the new pentathlon format. She keeps Old Blues connected, supports every athlete, and leads by example - lifting, running and swimming at an exceptional level while patiently teaching others. Her reliability, kindness and commitment have shaped the club’s culture, and she is universally respected as the person who holds CUMPC together.
Aram Sarkissian, Trinity Hall, CU Association Football Club
Aram has been an outstanding provider of goalkeeper coaching over 4 years at CUAFC, rarely recognised by the club. Due to having no paid goalkeeping coach, Aram dutifully and religiously provides the club’s keepers with drills and training sessions at all times in the week. He delivers specific, planned training sessions for up to 6 keepers without being asked.
Aram also helps the Women's side, improving their technique and confidence. Aram’s extraordinary humility has meant his work disappears completely under everyone’s radar. He does all this while playing Step 4 football; to play semi-professionally every week in London and still take the time out in the week to help more amateur keepers shows the incredible commitment and generosity of time he gives to the club. Aram has never sought compensation for his work; he gives all this help without a second thought. Aram thoroughly deserves this award; it would go some way in recognising the dedication he offers the club.
Aurelio Lencioni, Jesus, CU Swimming and Water Polo Club
Aurelio has made an extraordinary contribution to CUSWPC through his leadership, professionalism and unwavering commitment. He transformed the club’s finances after a difficult start to 2024, securing major alumni support that reduced future member costs and strengthened long‑term stability. He consistently goes far beyond his roles, supporting operations across swimming and both water polo teams—organising transport, liaising with the Sports Service, managing pool and referee hire, and ensuring no detail ever impacts athletes. His work on the Winter Training Camp, the Speedo partnership, and a hugely successful Cuppers has expanded accessibility and participation across the club. He has built strong relationships with alumni and University leadership, uniting all sections of CUSWPC and fostering a supportive culture. Widely respected and genuinely valued, Aurelio’s dedication has been central to the club’s success, and he is truly deserving of this award.
Bethan Workman, Girton, CU Olympic Gymnastics Club
Bethan is incredibly hard working and a huge support to the club.
In Michaelmas and lent she was present at most sessions and played a big role in encouraging new members and supporting them. She (and our men’s captain) organised and ran our Cuppers competition at the end of Michaelmas, they created a supportive and friendly environment which encouraged new, less experienced, members to participate.
In early January she broke her arm and so was unable to train for most of lent. Despite this she was at least one training session every week to help create, refine, and perfect competition routines for everyone who was competing. She played a crucial role in preparing both our Men’s and Women’s teams and Varsity ended up being an incredibly close competition.
Many of our gymnasts who competed at Varsity had not competed for the university before, and some had not competed in a gymnastics competition since childhood. Her support and advice were invaluable for these members.
George Clark, Girton, CU Association Football Club
George has been a phenomenal media officer this year, and his stellar work is rarely fully appreciated. He has worked tirelessly to create stunning graphics, which transformed the appeal of the @cuafc Instagram page; the pages have received 600k monthly views, with one reel receiving 150k views.
From making weekly team graphics and Varsity posts, to designing the cover of the Varsity match-day programme and driving advertisement for Cuppers games, we have called upon him constantly this season, and he always delivered. He contributes to the Women’s side and CUAFL media, which goes beyond his job description. His relentless publicising of Blues Varsity was key in selling tickets, and his CUAFL graphics made all four Cuppers finals feel more official and exciting. Once, when he heard we were struggling with designs for the cover of the Blues Varsity programme, he made no fewer than eight designs to help. George never complained about the amount of work, despite the considerable time commitment he gave.
