Put together by the University Sports service, the yearly event gathered students, staff, alumni, and guests to celebrate the outstanding achievements and efforts of sports clubs, teams, and individuals throughout the University.
Mark Brian, Director of Sport, hosted the evening. The awards were handed out by a notable group of guests including Professor Bhaskar Vira (Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Chair of the Sports Committee), Deborah Griffin (incoming RFU President), Scott Annett (CURUFC Director of Rugby), along with Senior Tutors and Committee Members Victoria Harvey and Dr Jane Greatorex. Jack Murphy, a former Sports Personality of the Year, came back to present one of the main awards.
The ceremony highlights how sport plays a big role in life at Cambridge – boosting student wellbeing, creating community spirit, and encouraging excellence on and off the pitch. A panel made up of senior University staff picked most winners; except for Sporting Moment of the Year which was chosen by public vote.
This year’s winners:
Club of the Year: Association Football Club
Team of the Year: Women’s Cross Country A Team, Hare & Hounds
Sports Person of the Year: Jan Helmich (Trinity Hall), Rowing
Unsung Hero: Emma Paterson (Gonville and Caius), Mixed Lacrosse
Sports Club Personality of the Year: Tads Ciecieski-Holmes (Wolfson), Modern Pentathlon
Sporting Moment of the Year: Men’s Volleyball Blues Varsity Set Point
Newcomer of the Year: Lauren Airey (Emmanuel), Modern Pentathlon
College Team of the Year: Downing Table Tennis
Outstanding Contribution Awards went to:
Lucy Xu (Pembroke), Taekwondo Sam Grimshaw (Girton), Hockey Georgina Quayle (Homerton), Modern Pentathlon and Swimming & Water Polo Ben Rhodes (Jesus), Touch Rugby Izzy Howse (Robinson), Netball Ksenija Belada (Peterhouse), Volleyball Izzy Winter and Jess Reeve, Clarissa’s Campaign for Cambridge Hearts
A very touching moment happened when Clarissa’s Campaign for Cambridge Hearts received an Outstanding Contribution Award. Izzy Winter and Jess Reeve were recognised for their work raising funds and awareness about student heart screenings. For details on screenings coming up in October 2025, check www. sport. cam. ac. uk/heart-screening.
The University congratulates all nominees and winners alike. Thanks go out to everyone who took part in or supported this year’s Sports Awards. The event really showed just how much passion, grit, and team spirit sport brings to Cambridge.
If you want to see more about all nominees visit: https://www. sport. cam. ac. uk/sportsawards/sports-awards-2025
Story by: Will Galpin
The crowd cheers as nominees and winners celebrate at the 2025 Sports Awards.
