SPORTS AWARD EVENING- 2nd July

Sports Award Evening

Congleton High School’s 7^th annual Sports Award Evening took place last night [Wednesday 2^nd July], which celebrated another successful year, with success coming in every sport.

The evening started with a Commonwealth Games themed delicious three-course meal for the guests, award winners and their families, provided by Year 10 catering students. After the meal the awards ceremony took place, which was an opportunity for CHS to celebrate the sporting success of students both inside and outside of school. 120 students were presented with awards including Contribution to Sport, Extra Curricular Awards, Player of the Year, Athlete of the Year and Sports Persons of the Year.

Mrs Salt, head of PE, started the evening by saying again what another busy and successful year of sport it has been at Congleton High School. The gathered audience were amazed to hear that CHS had entered 100 different leagues and competition over the last nine months, showing the strength in depth the school have.  She once again praised the students who she said are “consistently outstanding”.

Within ten minutes of the awards ceremony starting it was evident why Congleton High’s PE department has so much success in a wide range of sports. Over 30 students were invited to the stage, all of them play for either football academies, represent the county at sports from netball to athletics, some students have even set national times with at least three people representing Great Britain on an international level. 

The special guest on the night was former Rugby Union hooker, Andy Titterell. He took part in a question and answer session with the questions provided by Mr Cross, which was very insightful and inspirational. Andy talked about how he has had to stay resilient during his journey from being on the school rugby team to playing for the British and Irish Lions in 2005, a value which is strongly rated at Congleton High School and one which they want every student to follow.

The most important point Andy made and the one which students should take the most advice from is “don’t let anybody tell you who you are or who you should be because you know who you are and you know what you are good at”. Andy knew the player he wanted to become and be. He didn’t want to be judged or compared to someone who he looked up to; he wanted to be who he was. He always stuck to his word and he was told he was too small to play on the front row but he has still played over 230 games professionally including five England caps because he didn’t let anybody tell him who he was or who he should be.

He says that rugby is “for all shapes and sizes” despite the stereotype. Last year, less than ten students regularly turned up for rugby training at CHS but this year that has increased to between 60 and 70. Next year, why don’t you give rugby a try because as Andy said it is for all shapes and sizes.

Team of the Year Award
Boys: The boys team of the year award went to the combined boys football team which played exceptionally well during the Tour of Malta, last October. The team, consisted of players from different years, and dealt with the hot climate very well against local Malta teams.

Girls: There were no prizes for guessing who won the girls team of the year. The under 15 girls football team, who embarked on yet another gripping journey. They scored 36 whilst conceding just eight goals en-route to becoming national semi-finalists. They gripped the whole school with over 300 people turning out to watch CHS take on St. Bede’s in the semi-final at Congleton Town FC. The under-15 girl’s manager Mr Naylor said after their semi-final defeat that the girls can take “incredible pride in their achievements”.

Daniel Sturridge Rising Star Award
The Daniel Sturridge Rising Star Award is named after former CHS student and Liverpool and England striker, Daniel Sturridge and how fitting that this year the award went to Jenna Baxter. Sturridge, as I am sure many will know, played for England at the World Cup in Brazil and Jenna also competes internationally for Great Britain in taekwondo. She is definitely a rising star and I am sure that we will see her wearing the Team GB kit at either the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janerio or in Tokyo in 2020.

If you saw Jenna around school you wouldn’t think she was one of the world best in taekwondo, a quiet, friendly girl but beneath that is a determined, focused and driven mentality.  She has just finished her GCSE’s and between all the revision and hard work she has been doing over the recent months and years she still finds time for an intense training regime, which has seen her become one of the world best and a real contender for an Olympic medal in the future.

The Lynda Arnold Award

The Lynda Arnold Award, named after a former PE teacher, is for outstanding contribution to school sport. This year the award went to Cameron Geimer, who has shown outstanding contribution to school sport throughout his time at CHS. He is a very talented all-rounder competing for Congleton high in football, badminton, hockey and athletics. He has given up time to coach the boys hockey teams and is chairman of the school sport student committee. Mrs Salt only had good words to say about him saying he is “organised, has great manners and his work ethic is second to none”. Mrs Arnold taught Cameron before retiring when he was in year 9 said she is “not at all surprised” that he has won the award.

Mrs Salt concluded the evening by thanking the PE staff and all the other teachers who have contributed to school sport over the last year. I just want to thank Mrs Salt and all the PE staff on behalf of all the students in attendance last night for all their hard work and support they have given over the last 9 months as without them then CHS wouldn’t have had half as much success this year.

Written by Adam Bailey