On Thursday 25 April, Gilson House gathered in the evening for its annual Sports Dinner. It provides a chance to reflect on a year of girls' sport, celebrate achievements, and look forward to next year.
Attended by the majority of Gilson House and by members of staff who have been involved throughout the year, it proved to be an enjoyable evening with a great atmosphere throughout.
The evening consisted of a three-course meal, a fun quiz on the girls’ sports year, and concluded with awards and speeches from all the coaches and captains. The quiz was led by Girls' Sports Captain, Grace Weedon, who also did a fantastic job in organising the evening. This included organising the quiz, the theme – a night in Greece – and the meal and decorations reflected this.
In her speech on the night, Head of Girls’ Sport, Mrs Lovelock, said:
‘This evening is all about celebrating this year within Girls’ Sport. In my eight years at Shiplake, I have seen Girls’ Sport grow – both in numbers in Gilson, but also in reputation and success. This is all down to the enthusiasm and commitment from your coaches, umpires, and from all of you as players.
We have done so much, and it has been such a brilliant year and this all makes me very proud to be Head of Girls’ Sport here at Shiplake.
I really hope hearing about all of the highlights and hearing the recaps from your Captains will make you all feel proud of what you have done this year – whether you are leaving Shiplake in Year 13 and can look back on your broad sport experience from Shiplake, or whether you are in Year 12 and looking forward into next year and getting involved in even more to come.’
And, in their speeches, the captains from each sport paid tribute to the coaches with special mentions and thanks going to Miss James, Mr Cooper, Mr Bradley, Mrs Rojas, Mrs Morgan, Dam, and finally to Mrs Lovelock.
At the end of the awards, the Girls' Sport Captain for 2024-25 was announced, with this going to Amelia Flower. In her speech, outgoing Girls’ Sport Captain Grace Weedon said:
'One girl in particular has stood out to us, after joining Shiplake and diving straight into the hockey season with high spirits. She is a great all-rounder and someone that is really respected by her year group. She has also shown great commitment in all sports this year. I have no doubt she will encourage and lead those joining next year.'
Rowing
- Most Improved Rower: Eva Rootkin-Gray
- Rower of the Year: Emily Downing
- Coach’s Rower of the Year: Emily Over
Hockey
- Most Improved Players (Year 12): Amelia Flower and Olivia Clarke
- Most Improved Player (Year 13): Darcey Knight
- Players’ Player (Year 12): Sophie Pendlebury
- Players’ Player (Year 13): Olivia Parkin
- Coach’s Player: Grace Weedon
Football
- Most Improved Player (Year 12): Amelia Flower
- Most Improved Player (Year 13): Roey Acton
- Players’ Player (Year 12): Madeleine Spooner
- Players’ Player (Year 13): Flo Lenthall
- Coach’s Player: Lisanne Schoenmakers
Netball
- A Team Most Improved Player: Lily Cheek
- A Team Players’ Player: Abi Botterill
- A Team Coach’s Player: Flo Lenthall
- B Team Most Improved Players: Lucy Price and Florence Short
- B Team Players’ Player: Emily O’Neill
- B Team Coach’s Player: Emily Morris
- C Team Most Improved Player: I Davenport-Thomas
- C Team Players’ Player: M Rider
- C Team Coach’s Player: Emily Flower
Colours and Special Awards
Rowing colours went to Emily Over, Emily Downing, Amelie Parker, A Merritt, Sophia Foreman, Sophia McDavid, and Lara Vahle. Team Sport Colours were awarded to Flo Lenthall, Grace Weedon, Abi Botterill, and Olivia Parkin
The Personal Achievement Within Sport went to Abi Botterill, the All Rounder Award went to G Wyndham-Smith, and Sportswoman of the Year went to Flo Lenthall