Two gifted footballers and a multi-sports talent were among the individual winners as sporting and leadership successes among schools and Watford and Three Rivers were recognised on Monday.

The Three Rivers and Watford School Sports Partnership held its first face-to-face presentation ceremony in three years as students, parents and carers and teachers came together at Watersmeet Theatre.

Hosted by Rickmansworth School since it was launched in 2005, the partnership is a collaboration of 38 infant, primary and secondary schools with the aim of improving the provision of PE and school sport.

Following a performance from dancers from the Scots Hill school, the audience was treated to a motivating, engaging and often amusing speech from special guest Gail Emms, who spoke about her journey to winning badminton silver at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Emms then handed out the awards in 11 categories, culminating in the presentation of the Key Stage 3 to 5 Exceptional Performer Award to Alexei Rojas.

The Parmiter’s School pupil is currently with Arsenal and will be starting a scholarship with the Gunners in July.

Having been part of teams up to Under-23 level, the young goalkeeper has trained with Mikel Arteta’s first team squad on occasions and is preparing to represent Colombia in an international tournament in France.

Fellow footballer Yorke Mead Primary’s Bella Miller, who plays for Chelsea, was the recipient of the Key Stage 2 Outstanding Achievement Award, while the equivalent honour for Key Stage 3 to 5 was awarded to Alice Godfrey. The St Clement Danes student’s most noticeable performances have come in netball, tennis, hockey, rounders and athletics.

The Reach Free School’s Daisy Ormsby was named the Key Stage 3 to 5 Sports Leader of the Year, with Amy Byrne, from St Joan of Arc, the winner of the Young Official of the Year for the same academic age range.

More than 15,000 young people enjoyed opportunities through the partnership’s competition structure last year, with 1,800 taking the chance to officiate, coach and volunteer through the leadership programmes on offer.

Watford Observer:

Gail Emms was the guest speaker at the ceremony

The full list of winners and nominees is:

Young Sportsmanship Award (presented as a roll of honour): Anna Anene, Alban Wood Primarty; Isla Avigard, Chorleywood Primary; Joseph Manning, Harvey Road Primary; Gerry Cooke, Holy Rood Catholic Primary; Thomas Gallagher, Little Green Junior; Emily Humphries, Malvern Way Infant and Nursery; Josh Thurston, Parkgate Junior; Jessica Norman, Rickmansworth Park JMI; Isaac Foskett, Sarratt CofE Primary; Jasmine Chan, Shepherd Primary; Emilia Shiehzadeh, St John’s Catholic Primary; Maciek, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary; Charlie Gutreich, St Mary’s CofE Primary; Harrison Chambers, St Paul’s CofE Primary; Dylan Henson, St Peter’s CofE Primary; Manya Reddy Baddiapadaga, The Orchard Primary; Halimatou, Woodhall Primary; Ian Steyn, Yorke Mead Primary.

Healthy Heroes Award (Key Stage 1 and 2 – presented as a roll of honour): Noah Darling, Chorleywood Primary; Milly Mcgovern, Parkgate Junior; Melissa Anton, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary; Burhanuddin Ebrahim, Shepherd Primary; Radha Hemraj, Harvey Road Primary; Aldona Samakaj, Little Green Junior; William Deardon, Malvern Way Infant and Nursery; Kaitlyn Martin, Rickmansworth Park JMI.

Play Buddy of the Year: Elizabeth Carter (presented as a roll of honour): Elizabeth Carter, Malvern Way Infant and Nursery; Joe Roberts, Kingsway Infant; Maisie Taylor, Kingsway Infant; Isla Mactavish, Kingsway Infant; Filip Szabo, Kingsway Infant; Heydn Robinson, Kingsway Infant.

Play Leader of the Year: Margo Cash, St John’s Catholic Primary; Elisha Marshall, The Orchard Primary; Mia Ford, Chorleywood Primary; Ashley, Parkgate Junior; Elena Small, Harvey Road Primary; Toby Walters, Little Green Junior; Bella Williams, Sarratt CofE Primary; Willow Rolph, Alban Wood Primary; Eadie Breadin, Rickmansworth Park JMI; Finley McTavish, Kingsway Junior; Riley Jarrett, Kingsway Junior; Josie Motts, St Mary’s CofE Primary; Amelie Pearson-Wiggs, St Paul’s CofE; Sophia Garrett, Holy Rood Catholic Primary.

Key Stage 2 Team of the Year: 1, Little Green Girls Football Team, Little Green Junior; 2, Year 6 Boys Football Team, Holy Rood Catholic Primary; 3, Sarratt Swim Team, Sarratt CofE Primary. Also nominated: Tag Rugby Team, Harvey Road Primary; Year 6 Netball Team, Rickmansworth Park JMI; Netball Team, St John’s Catholic Primary; Girls Football Team, St Mary’s CofE Primary; Year 6 Boys Indoor Athletics Team, The Orchard Primary; Netball Team, Woodhall Primary; Yorke Mead Girls Football Team, Yorke Mead Primary.

Key Stage 3 to 5 Team of the Year: 1, Parmiter’s Year 10 Hockey Team, Parmiter’s; Year 9 Boys Football Team, Rickmansworth; 3, Chess Cup Rugby Squad (Year 10 & 11 Rugby Team), St Joan of Arc. Also nominated: Croxley Danes Under-13 Football Team, Croxley Danes; Year 7 Boys Football Team, St Clement Danes; The Reach Free Football Team, The Reach Free.

Young Official of the Year (Key Stage 3 to 5): 1, Amy Byrne, St Joan of Arc; 2, James Coleman, Parmiter’s; 3, Olivia Dagliesh, Rickmansworth. Also nominated: Poppy Godfrey, St Clement Danes.

Key Stage 3 to 5 Sports Leader of the Year: 1, Daisy Ormsby, The Reach Free; 2, Charlie Ferris, Croxley Danes; 3, Jack Hawkes, Future Academies. Also nominated: Grace Smithard, Croxley Danes; Amelia Fox, Croxley Danes; Zoe Williams, Rickmansworth; Amy Charlsworth, Future Academies; Elysia Hilton-Kodalashvili, Parmiter’s; Zac Turpin, Rickmansworth; Zach Wiseman, Rickmansworth; Betsy Godfrey, St Clement Danes; Isabel Martin, St Clement Danes; Sam Williamson, St Joan of Arc; Anni McLoughlin, St Joan of Arc; Dominic Taylor, St Joan of Arc.

Key Stage 2 Outstanding Achievement Award: 1, Bella Miller, Yorke Mead Primary; 2, Lily Jones, Harvey Road Primary; 3, Simeon Azeez, St Paul’s CofE Primary. Also nominated: Billy Daver, Chorleywood Primary; Dylan Nolan, St Peter’s CofE Primary; Freddie A, Woodhall Primary; Imogen Arnold, Rickmansworth Park JMI; Naomi Redmond, Little Green Junior; Niobe Wojcik, St Mary’s CofE Primary; Sophie Carroll, St Joseph’s Catholic Parimary.

Key Stage 3 to 5 Outstanding Achievement Award: 1, Alice Godfrey; 2, Tyler Channer, Parmiter’s; 3, Matt Pinching, The Reach Free. Also nominated: James King, Croxley Danes; Jack Thompson, Rickmansworth; Kaitlyn Mcluskey, St Joan or Arc.

Key Stage 3 to 5 Exceptional Performer Award: 1, Alexei Rojas, Parmiter’s; 2, Ellie Harber, 3, Noah Peters, Croxley Danes. Also nominated: Madeline Roberts, St Clement Danes; 3, Orlaith Graham, St Joan of Arc.