Sports Awards 2023

Last week’s Sports Dinner held at Cumberwell Park Gold Club, celebrated the very best of sport at KES, and further recognised the long-standing commitment of many of our outgoing most senior Year 13 players as they prepare for life beyond KES.

During the evening our guest speaker, Max Waller, spoke about his career as a Somerset cricket player, before an awards ceremony celebrated the individual achievements of our sportsmen and women.

Listed below are this year’s Sports Award recipients.

Sportswoman of the Year – Molly Livesey

There are always individuals that standout from the crowd and Molly is one of them! Since, Year 7 Molly has put everything into her sport at KES. Underpinning all talented games players are characteristics like humility, a sense of perspective, an engaging personality, and a positive mindset. Molly ticks all these boxes. 

In hockey, Mr King comments: "Molly has worked hard to develop her skills on the hockey pitch, and always gives 100% for her team. Her strongest asset is her delightful personality. She brings positivity and energy and a great sense of humour to every session. Molly always looks out for her teammates and was pivotal in helping create a fantastic squad atmosphere. Week in, week Molly was a pleasure to coach, and she will be hugely missed." 

Of course, like many of our top performers they have more than one string to their bow. Molly has made considerable progress through the Team Bath Netball Programme and was a central and ever-present performer in every school A team throughout her career at KES. 

Mrs Gwilliam comments, "Molly’s commitment to school sport has been quite exceptional, always playing with total dedication and proud to be wearing her KES kit. The 1st team has been unbeaten for the past two years, and Molly has played an integral role, both as a captain and a key player during that time. Her tireless work rate and ability to remain composed have been key attributes. She has attended numerous regional finals throughout her KES career. As the Head of Netball for many years, I can safely say that Molly would make my starting 7 in an All-Stars KES team!"

Female Sports Personality of the Year – JoJo Keating-Gardner

JoJo has not stopped running since joining KES in Year 9! She is a versatile athlete who has a skill set and ability to influence all aspects of play. 

In hockey, JoJo’s explosive pace makes her a real attacking threat on the pitch, and she has worked hard to develop her all-round game. Her engaging, thoughtful and pleasant demeanour alongside a great sense of humour, ensures she contributes to a fantastic atmosphere in the 1st XI squad. 

JoJo is equally at home on the netball court, playing A team throughout her time at KES. 

Mrs Gwilliam comments: "JoJo brings many physical attributes to the netball court, including her turn of speed and her ability to intercept and pass the ball with confidence."

Sportsman of the Year – George Ritchie

There is no doubt George has embraced his final year at KES from a sporting perspective, representing all three of the major sports at 1st team level. He is someone who understands service and the significance of representing the School in whatever jersey he is selected for. 

Mr Lilley, Head of Rugby, comments: "George captained the 1st XV this season and led fantastically both on and off the field. His natural leadership and his defensive abilities contributed towards everything good that came from the rugby season. There have been some excellent captains of rugby in the past, and George can proudly stand among them. Quite often George was the standout player on the pitch, highlighting not only his skills but his willingness to be involved in everything going on. With his birthday falling where it does, it is scary to think that if he was born one/two days later, we would have another year of George representing KES at Sport!"

Whilst rugby has a special place in his heart and is his main sport, George has worked incredibly hard on his hockey over the past two years. 
Mr Livesey writes, "George was a leading player in the 2nd XI last season, and he deservedly earned a place in the 1st team this year. He made some very important contributions in some big games. George has always conducted himself in an extremely respectful and dignified manner. He has shown skill and determination in equal measure, and he should be very proud of his time representing KES."

George is very much a man for all seasons, and he completes the set in the summer representing the 1st XI cricket team. 

Mr Brown comments, "George’s reliable, accurate and probing medium pace bowling has helped balance our bowling attack. However, the common thread is his attitude as a sports man which shines through and makes him the person he is."

 
Male Sports Personality of the Year – George Walton

George is impressive in every way! Beneath his calm, quiet persona is a competitive, determined, and assertive games player. He is happier leading from the front, through his actions rather than words. 

Mr Livesey comments: "George is eager to learn and has been a valued and respected member of the 1st XI hockey squad over the past two seasons. The hockey team has performed superbly at times, competing against some of the very best schools in the country and George has been an important part of that success."

It is true to say that he is more at home with the oval shaped ball rather than the round, and Mr Lilley has always been hugely impressed with him as a footballer. He made the fullback position his own, whilst also playing as a second fly half, utilising his run/pass/kick game so effectively. His performance in Year 12 against Beechen Cliff under the lights at Bath University was quite incredible and will long live in the memory. 

Whilst cricket has not necessarily come naturally to George, he has always worked diligently on technique and his athleticism in the field have meant he has represented the 1st team over the past two years. 

The Lang Jones Award

The Lang Jones Award is for sporting spirit and is presented in memory of Lang Jones, a former Head of PE.

The two recipients of this year’s Award are:

Sheev Tirbhowan

Sheev has got the most out of his sporting career at KES. He displays every quality you could hope to find in an athlete. He is determined, hard-working, resilient, and has earned the complete respect and trust of his teammates and coaches alike. His infectious personality and undeniable competitive spirit have helped define him as a person and as a performer. Throughout his time at KES, he was always committed to training and been extremely proud to represent the School. 

As a hockey player, Mr Livesey comments: "Sheev has been a vital player and leader in the 1st XI hockey squad that competed so well in the National competitions. He  has also been an inspiring role model for the younger members of the School."

In rugby Mr Lilley identifies similar characteristics, but also mentions that whilst Sheev’s strength and physical presence on the rugby pitch is an asset, he has shown his versatility by playing three different positions during the season. The key to his game is his creativity, decision-making and his ability to offer an attacking platform. Sheev cares deeply about all aspects of the sporting programme and will be sorely missed by the department.

Lola Record

There are always challenges to overcome when joining a new school, but Lola was a superb addition to KES Sixth Form across all areas of school life, including sport. Right from the start Loa embraced all aspects of representing KES, and her positive, engaging personality shone through in everything she did. From a coaching perspective, what is always extremely rewarding is seeing pupils grab hold of the opportunities that present themselves.  In doing so, they add value in so many different. Lola has done this throughout her two years at KES and she has been an integral part of any sporting team. In hockey, Mr King comments that on the pitch Lola showed a superb work ethic and bought into the squad’s playing principles. As a Year 13 she led by example with her commitment to training, fixtures, and other squad activities shining through. Most significantly Lola was a ray of positivity which was infectious and helped to create a fabulous squad environment which in turn, made the season an enjoyable and memorable one. 

Mrs Gwilliam also highlights that in netball, Lola has demonstrated total commitment and it has been excellent to see the progress she has made. Loa has played with determination and true KES sporting spirit and is proud to wear the KES kit. She has been a player for her teammates to look up to in all aspects, playing a crucial role in a successful unbeaten season for the 2nd team.

Recognition of Sporting Excellence Award

The Sporting Excellence Award is designed to reflect the development, expertise and progression of a pupil in a chosen sport.  This year sees three recipients.

Eleni Francis

Generating speed on the runway, a powerful and purposeful drive off the take-off board before defying gravity for as long as possible and shooting your feet into the sand, is something that Eleni excels at in long jumping! With a PB of 5.64, Eleni is one of the leading long jumpers for her age in UK athletics and she was close to setting a new PB of 6.74cm recently. In the past two years Eleni has been Avon & Somerset 100, 200 and 300 M champion alongside the long jump.  In 2021 she was named Team Bath Athletics Club Athlete of the Year and in 2022 she was not only Avon U20 LJ Champion, but also came 10th in the English Schools National Final. Eleni is very much reaching for the stars, and she recently came 6th in the Welsh Senior and in the English U20 Championships, competing against international level athletes, during the indoor season. 

The second recipient is Josh Lang

Josh has had an outstanding hockey career at KES. He has been a central figure in a period of sustained and considerable success for the 1st XI, including captaining and helping the team reach the National quarter finals this year. However, Josh receives this award today for his progression through the England Hockey Pathway, and his selection onto the England Hockey Diploma in Sporting Excellence. You must be invited onto the course and exhibit the qualities required to play top level sport. The Diploma links high level performance with specific modules such as sports psychology, strength and conditioning, contract laws, sports nutrition, and sports injury, delivered over four residential camps which are a mixture of theory and hockey performance.  Josh played for England White squad which won the tournament against the other top performers in the country in 2022..

The final award winner is Alex Marshall

Mark Twain once said ‘golf is a good walk spoiled’…fortunately for Alex he has managed to not only enjoy the walk but the golf as well! He is a fabulous golfer who has a current handicap of +1.2 which is outstanding in every way. He plays locally at Farrington GC and here at Cumberwell. His roll of honour is very impressive…he has captained the Somerset U18 team for the past two years including leading the team to victory in The South West 4 Counties Match and Stroke play titles in 2022 and he also made his debut in September last year against Glamorgan, for the full Senior team. He was county Champion at U16 & U18 level, and he came 5th in the National Golf Championship run by HMC in 2021 under the KES banner. He tied 10th in the Junior European Open at Alceidesa Golf Club in Spain and he has recorded numerous top 10 finishes in other club/national competitions including The Fairhaven Trophy, which is a renowned International Open event.  And just recently Alex played in the Welsh Mens Open Amateur Championship with 4 consecutive rounds in the 70's in brutal conditions at Southern Down Golf Club. A superb result amongst a top-quality international field. 

Alex has gained a scholarship to study Economics and Business and to play college golf at Our Lady of The Lake University in San Antonio, Texas. The key element here is to progress his golf career in the most competitive of environments. 

Sporting Excellence Award – Bella Lowton

The final award of the night is for Sporting Excellence. The overwhelming criteria for selection in this category is for a pupil to have represented their country at international level whilst being at KES. Naturally for any athlete playing for one’s country is the ultimate accolade, and it elevates the person to the very highest bracket of sports performance.

It is true to say Bella is ‘excellent’ in every way. The Sporting Excellence Award reflects the significance of playing for your country and the journey that has been undertaken. There is nowhere to hide at the highest level, and it is also true to say Bella has never hidden from what was required. Mr King comments, humility and a sense of perspective sits comfortably on Bella’s shoulders, and she has all the attributes to continue playing at a top level. Bella’s journey to high performance hockey was not straightforward. She suffered setbacks when she missed out on selection for the Bristol Performance Centre in 2020, and the Team Bath Buccaneers Senior Performance Squad in 2021. However, she continued working hard and developing through school and club. In Year 13 she broke into the Team Bath Buccaneers 1st XI squad and helped them to win the National Conference and was selected for the Wales U18 National Squad.

On the pitch Bella has an impressive variety of skills, both defensive and attacking and has developed the ability to have an impact in a range of positions on the pitch, which is an important part of the modern game and will help her as her hockey career continues to progress. However, it is Bella’s leadership qualities where she really stands out. She has gained the complete trust and respect of all her teammates. On and off the pitch she helped to create a positive performance environment for the girls’ 1st XI, and it was no surprise that Wales recognised her talents and named her as captain in their match against Ulster.