News & Headteacher Blogs

Students, families and staff came together for a wonderful evening at The Downs School’s 2026 Sports Awards, celebrating another exceptional year of school sport.

We were delighted to welcome former international netball player Shona O'Dwyer as our guest speaker. Having represented Wales at the Commonwealth Games and Netball World Cup, Shona’s sporting journey provided an inspiring focus for an evening filled with achievement, pride and ambition.

Awards were presented across a wide range of sports, recognising individual performances, team success, leadership and outstanding contributions to school sport. We celebrated students who had reached county level, achieved personal bests, captained teams, supported younger players and represented The Downs with distinction.

However, the evening was about far more than medals, results or being the strongest player on the pitch. Many of the awards recognised students who attended every training session, kept going after disappointment, accepted feedback, tried an unfamiliar position or put the needs of their team before their own. Commitment, resilience, teamwork and a genuine desire to improve were evident throughout the evening.

These qualities reflect our CREARCI values of Courage, Responsibility, Equality, Ambition, Resilience, Creativity and Integrity. Sport gives our students countless opportunities to live these values. Courage can mean entering a competition for the first time. Responsibility can mean supporting a teammate or helping to lead a training session. Resilience is returning after a difficult result, while integrity is shown in the way students treat their opponents, officials and one another.

Among the evening’s special recognitions, the Year 10 rugby squad was named Team of the Year following an excellent season and several years of continued growth. The squad has grown significantly since Year 7, demonstrating the commitment, high standards and inclusivity that sit at the heart of school sport.

Fin B received the Cricketer of the Generation Award, Isaac P was presented with the Colin Clay Trophy for endeavour and perseverance, and Louis D received the Shepheard Cup for Sporting Excellence. Each award represented something different, from exceptional sporting ability to determination, versatility and a refusal to allow challenges to limit participation.

We are enormously proud of every student who received an award, but also of every student who trained, competed, volunteered, encouraged others or represented the school during the year. None of this would be possible without the staff who give their time to run clubs, coach teams and organise fixtures, or the families who provide so much encouragement and practical support.

The evening recognised achievements through the following award categories:

• Sports Leaders Awards
• Athletics Awards
• Rugby Player of the Season Awards
• Girls’ Football Player of the Season Awards
• Netball Awards
• Boys’ Football Player of the Season Awards
• Swimming Awards
• Cross-Country Awards
• Rounders Awards
• Cricket Player of the Season Awards
• Cricketer of the Generation Award
• Team of the Year Award
• Girls’ Contribution to Sport Awards
• Boys’ Contribution to Sport Awards
• Colin Clay Trophy for Endeavour and Perseverance
• Shepheard Cup for Sporting Excellence

 

Here are the final winners: 

2026 Sports Awards Winners

Sports Leaders

• Annabel W.
• George T.
• Zach H.

Athletics

• Izzy B.
• Andrii D.
• Harrison E.
• Harry O.
• Emily W.

Boys Rugby

• Charlie P.
• George S.
• Simeon A.
• Oscar H.
• Arthur T.

Girls’ Football

• Imogen B.
• Isla A.
• Beth M.
• Gracie H-B.
• Lacey B.

Girls 'Netball

• Charlotte T.
• Cerys R.
• Izzy B.
• Emily T.
• Lacy W.

Boys’ Football

• Oliver C.
• Max B.
• Will R.
• Josep W.
• Jonny K.
• Ollie C.

Swimming

• Anna M.
• Alexis M.

Cross-Country

• Olly G.
• Ella C.
• Charlie A.
• Abi G-I.

Rounders

• Tess D.
• Abi H.
• Zara P.

Cricket

• Thomas F.
• Ally H.
• Arthur K.
• George R.
• Evie C.
• Gracie H.
• Lily S.

Cricketer of the Generation

• Fin B.

Team of the Year

• Year 10 Rugby Team

Girls’ Contribution to Sport

• Millie S.
• Emily C.
• Emily G.
• Olive C.
• Lucia K.
• Felicity D.

Boys’ Contribution to Sport

• George T.
• Harry G.
• Max A.
• Harrison E.
• Elliot E-D.
• Josep W.

Colin Clay Trophy for Endeavour and Perseverance

• Isaac P.

Shepheard Cup for Sporting Excellence

• Louis D.