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Students and staff shine at University of Bristol sporting awards

Bristol Reds award winners with University staff

12 June 2017

On Saturday 3 June the University of Bristol celebrated the outstanding sporting achievements of our students and staff with the Bristol Reds awards.

Held at Gloucestershire County Cricket Ground, the evening event was attended by students, their families, and University staff.

Professor Nishan Canagarajah, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise), presented the awards, which recognise individuals who have achieved elite levels of performance in their sport. Students who have made extraordinary contributions to the organisation and success of sport at the University were also honoured, with new 'Director's Awards' presented by Matt Birch, Director of Sport.

Alongside the student awards, the evening was an opportunity to celebrate and thank coaches and other staff who have made notable contributions to the student experience, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for Pete Johnson in rugby, and the University Coach of the Year award going to Ali Blackett, tennis coach.

Director of Sport Matt Birch said of the awards:

“I’m very proud to have been able to bestow the newly created Director’s Award to such a deserving group of recipients. Every year our students raise the bar on the standard of sport played at the University of Bristol, balancing their academic studies with hours of training and fixtures, so I’m delighted to be able to reward their efforts with this new prestigious award. Behind our students is a talented and dedicated team of staff and coaches, whose commitment to them on and off the pitch has been inspirational, and no doubt a contributing factor in our excellent BUCS results this year”.

The full list of award winners is as follows:

Reds Winners 

  • Steffan Williams - Water Polo 

  • Sue Neumann - Women's Rugby 

  • Emily Crowe - Tennis

  • Sam Hockenhall - Mens Lacrosse

  • Josh Maxwell - Fencing 

  • Ellie Hillier - Ladies Lacrosse 

  • David Watchorn - Men's Rugby 

  • George Burton - Fencing 

Director's Awards

  • Tristan Bradshaw - Water Polo 

  • Leo Gundle - Fencing 

  • Alex Wilson - Trampoline 

  • Jamie Caldwell - Men's and Mixed Lacrosse 

  • Lauren Hayward - Tennis 

  • Grace Youell - Basketball 

Lifetime Achievement for Coaching 

  • Pete Johnson - Men's Rugby 

Coach of the Year 

  • Ali Blackett - Women's Tennis

Further information

Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health

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