Daily Telegraph-Aviva Sports Matters Awards 2009
On Tuesday 6th October fourth form pupil Jack Mynott and members of the P.E. Department, Miss Eleni Conidaris and Mr. Dave Messenger were honoured to represent Dauntsey's School at Chelsea Football Club to attend a gala luncheon at the fifth annual Daily Telegraph-Aviva School Sport Matters Awards.
'School Sport Matters' was a campaign initiated five years ago to celebrate all that is good and exemplary in school sport and physical education. The awards are designed to recognise dedication, commitment, team-work and the core belief that sport in the school environment, setting a pattern for life, does matter. In other words, the foundation for sporting success is developed at school.
Independent School of the Year 2009
Winner: Oakham School, Rutland.
Highly commended: Millfield School, Somerset.
Commended: Dauntsey's School, Wilts.
Dauntsey's was recognised as a leading sporting school in the South West and to be placed within the top three Independent schools in the country is an outstanding achievement and testimony to all the hard work that goes on to promote sport at Dauntsey's and the wider community. The Independent School of the Year award is awarded to the 'school whose staff make best use of its facilities and time to deliver sport for all.'
The gala luncheon was attended by a host of British sporting greats from an array of sports, including Olympic gold medalists Dame Kelly Holmes, James Cracknell, Sally Gunnell, Marlon Devonish and Paralympic gold medallist David Weir; England and British Lions legends Brian Moore and Roger Uttley. Dauntsey's pupil Jack Mynott was honoured to represent the School at such a prestigious event and his day was complete when he found out that Dr David English, organiser of the annual Bunbury English Schools Cricket Association U15 Cricket Festival was to be sat at his table.
The award to Dauntsey's school was a fitting tribute to Miss Eleni Conidaris who has stepped down from her post as Director of Sport following 14 years of dedicated service, promoting sport at Dauntsey's school and the wider community.