Sports Awards

17 May 2025

On Friday 16 May, we gathered to celebrate sporting excellence at Stowe. Following a record-breaking year of achievements, there was much to honour and enjoy.

Our Guest of Honour was former pupil Liv Thomas (Nugent 18), who was an integral part of the School’s lacrosse programme. Despite being in her early 20s, Liv has already achieved an impressive amount in her sporting career.

The GB and England lacrosse midfielder had to wait two years for her England debut due to the Covid pandemic. However, when the moment finally came, she made it count, earning her first cap and going on to help the team secure a World Cup Bronze medal in a thrilling triple overtime match. In her speech to the pupils, Liv highlighted her lacrosse journey and spoke candidly about the adversity she has faced, including a ruptured ACL and a torn meniscus. Eight months on, she is still on the long road to recovery, as she works toward her goal of competing in the 2028 Olympics.

This challenging period has tested not only her physical resilience but also her mental strength, as she has had to navigate the often overlooked demands of being an elite athlete, balancing intense rehabilitation, financial pressures, and a full-time job, all while striving to remain at the top of her sport. Her message to the Stoics was clear: if you want it enough, you can reach your goals.

We were delighted to have Liv present the Sporting Colours and Player of the Season Awards, as listed. Among the highlights were the prestigious Triple Crown awards, presented to Stoics who have represented the School in first team competitions across all three terms. Congratulations to James Bristow (Upper Sixth, Grafton), Noah Cloete (Lower Sixth, Chatham), Hannah Campbell (Lower Sixth, Nugent), and Anna Maria Collinge (Upper Sixth, Nugent) on this exceptional achievement.

It was also a great honour to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Isaac Michael, who will retire from Stowe at the end of term after 34 years of outstanding and dedicated service.