The Physical Education Faculty at QEGS was delighted to host the 2022/23 Sports Awards ceremony to share the award winners for this academic year. The annual awards event, which was held at Ewood Park Football Stadium earlier in the month, recognised performance, commitment, improvement, and excellent playing attitudes shown across the school year.
QEGS welcomed special guest speaker Eileen Marchant MBE, former Chair of afPE (Association for Physical Education), who spoke about PE at QEGS, the changes over the years, and that one of our greatest sporting achievements, the ‘Quality Mark with Distinction’, infers we offer ‘outstanding provision to our pupils and students and that the afPE Quality Mark is a prestigious award that will evidence the strength and quality of Physical Education, School Sport and Physical Activity (PESSPA) in your school.
QEGS also paid tribute to a former Teacher and Clerk to the Trustees, Mr David Hopkinson. Dave came to Queen Elizabeth’s in September 1974 with a History and Politics degree from the University of Wales. He also brought with him a burning passion for football and was in action on the first Saturday of that Michaelmas Term, managing the U12A team. The number of young footballers Dave has inspired and encouraged since that day is incalculable, and many of his past players regard their football with Dave as the highlight of their broad education at school. Typically modest about his own footballing skills, Dave was himself a mean centre-back in his younger years, representing his University and going on to play for the Old Blackburnians. Playing with strong peripheral vision, he no doubt organised the defence. At the time, he surely did not realise that he would be seeing the “bigger picture” with regard to the school’s strategic development and organising skilfully many whole school events as a Deputy Headmaster and Clerk to the Trustees.
Dave made his presence felt as a truly gifted coach and manager of the 1st XI with the ability to get the best out of players. In these endeavours, he would not work alone and loved being part of a team of colleagues with complementary expertise. The success of football and Dave’s part in this success cannot be overestimated. Not only did the 1st XI win numerous Lancashire County and National Public Schools Sixes trophies, but Queen Elizabeth’s was the first (and still the only) school to win the national ISFA Cup competition three times, in 1996, 2001 and 2004. Winning in extra time against Millfield in the 2004 final was a particularly proud moment for Dave and all those involved. In recognition of this huge achievement the Chairman of ISFA presented school with the trophy in perpetuity.
Dr Butler proudly announced there would now be a Sporting Ambassador Award added to the run, named after Mr David Hopkinson to honour a very special ‘Sporting Ambassador’ who will always be remembered for his contributions and impact on QEGS.
The Awards
The winners for each category were announced:
Netball Review of the Year presented by year 13 students Niamh Hamilton & Sadie Merrit.
Under 12’s Netball Awards
Player’s Player: Dana Juma & Millie Tyer
Manager’s Player: Mariam Ahmed & Nayah Wardingley
Under 13’s Netball Awards
Player’s Player: Sofia Menor Butler
Manager’s Player: Aisha Mahmood
Under 14’s Netball Awards
Player’s Player: Ariana Haydock
Manager’s Player: Ava Kelly
Under 15’s Netball Awards
Player’s Player: Eve Jenkins
Manager’s Player: Fiza Zafar
Senior Netball Awards
Player’s Player: Lilly Short
Manager’s Player: Maryam Khattak
Club Player of the Year
Swimming: Mohammad Chopdat
Swimming: Harry Boaler- Swift
Girls Football: Lillah Bawah
Girls Football: Zainab Zaman
Table Tennis: Xander Proctor-Woof
Table Tennis: Hamza Tahir
Multi Skills Club Year 7: Eshal Ahmad
Multi Skills Club Year 8: Benni Bouna
Young Volunteer Awards presented by Dr Butler
Queen Elizabeth’s Primary School Swimming Coach: Grace Brook
Queen Elizabeth’s Primary School Swimming Coach: Sydney Chadderton
Netball Coaching: Archa Anilkumar
Netball Coaching: Saffa Mahmood
Netball Coaching: Haajar Ahmed
Football Review of the Year presented by year 13 student Josh Asal
Under 12’s Football Awards
Player’s Player: Yazed Shaglof
Manager’s Player: Stan Sidebottom & Leo Hyde
Under 13’s Football Awards
Player’s Player: Umar Sidat
Manager’s Player: Cameron Stevens
Under 14’s Football Awards
Player’s Player: Sahil Ifthikar
Manager’s Player: Umar Patel
Under 15’s Football Awards
Player’s Player: Husan Malik
Manager’s Player: Umar Alam
Senior Second X1 Football Awards
Player’s Player: Oliver Jenkins
Manager’s Player: Niran Ogunlana
Senior First X1 Football Awards
Player’s Player: George Hargreaves
Manager’s Player: Oliver Catterall
Swimming Review of the Year presented by year 13 students Ruby Brandon & Daniel Ainsworth
Under 12’s Swimming Awards
Player’s Player: Dana Juma
Manager’s Player: Ben Brown & Niamh Lambert
Under 13’s Swimming Awards
Player’s Player: Jack Dunstan & Ava Haddock
Manager’s Player: Lewis Reeves Harper & Liam Mackowski Bailey
Under 14’s Swimming Awards
Player’s Player: Daniel Saunders
Manager’s Player: Kyden Lobo
Under 15’s Swimming Awards
Player’s Player: Ewan Saunders
Manager’s Player:
Senior Swimming Awards
Player’s Player: Omar Juma & Daniel Ainsworth
Manager’s Player: Jenson Gibson
Cricket Review of the Year presented by year 13 student Milo Gammon
Under 12’s Cricket Awards
Player’s Player: Cameron Stephens
Manager’s Player: Rayhan Burondkar & Mikayeel Ali
Under 13’s Cricket Awards
Player’s Player: Hamza Amin
Manager’s Player: Zaryab Ayaz
Under 14’s Cricket Awards
Player’s Player: Neela Vora
Manager’s Player: Yusuf Burondkar
Under 15’s Cricket Awards
Player’s Player: Usman Khan
Manager’s Player: Hanzla Rana & Aidan Robinson
Senior Cricket Awards
Player’s Player: Milo Gammon
Manager’s Player: Zain Akhtar
South Africa Cricket Tour
Most Improved Player: Zain Khokhar
Player of the Tour: Isaac Blackburn
QEGS High Achiever Awards
Blackburn With Darwen Town Honours
Sami Butt (Football)
Sahil Ifthikar (Football)
Husan Malik ( Football)
David Bowan ( Football)
Eve Jenkins ( Football)
Tahzeeb Shah ( Football)
Leo Hyde ( Cross Country)
Lancashire Schools & Inter Countries
Nicole Saunders
Special Recognition Awards
U20 GBR Fencing Team – Nicole Saunders
Northern Ireland U17’s Football Squad – Oscar Kelly
Junior British Tae Kwon Do – Nameera Hashmi
NW Schools Skiing Championships – Leo Hyde
Professional Contract Honours
Rochdale Football Club – Oscar Kelly
‘Dave Hopkinson’ Sporting Ambassador Award
Josh Asal
Congratulations to all of our winners and all those who have achieved success on a county, regional and national stage.
“There have been some incredible performances and improvements seen across all the sports we play here, as well as some fantastic county, regional and national recognition for several of our pupils and students.” – Dr Butler
“We look forward to marching into a new school year, refreshed and motivated to achieve.” – Mr Brierley
Farewell and Recognition
The Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor Suleman Khonat presented Dr Mark Butler, Head of Physical Education and Games with the Mayoral Recognition Award, for 35 wonderful years of sporting contributions at QEGS and wished him all the best in his retirement. Special thanks and recognition were also received from Mrs Gammon, Executive Head for QEGS who thanked Dr Butler for 35 years of service followed by thanks from Mr Ashley Brierley, who will step into the role of Head of Faculty from September, on behalf of the Physical Education and Games Faculty for his coaching, wisdom and leadership over the years.
Dr Butler said “I am humbled to receive the gifts presented by so many of you and the kind words offered by Mr Brierley & Mrs Gammon. To receive the Mayoral Recognition Award is truly something I shall cherish in my twilight years. Thank you QEGS.”
It was a memorable night where we celebrated and recognised our pupils’ and students’ achievements in sport both in and out of school. We give our thanks to the QEGS PE faculty for their hard work and dedication in supporting all our pupils and students in not only encouraging them to achieve but also to take part.
Thank you to all our parents who supported the event and for making it yet another fantastic memorable evening. Your generosity raised an amazing £304.00 for ‘Children with Cancer UK’ charity, bringing the faculty’s fundraising efforts, over the years to a grand total of £10,954.
Finally, a very special mention to an extremely talented young lady, Sixth Form student Angelina Jones for entertaining us with her beautiful singing.
