Two students vie for Sports Club Personality of the Year

Two postgraduate students from St Catharine’s are finalists in the 2023 University of Cambridge Sports Awards – both going head-to-head in the Sports Club Personality of the Year category:

• Jessie Fischer (2019, Natural Sciences), an alumna who returned to complete a Genomic Medicine MPhil, has been shortlisted for her contributions to Cambridge’s Dance Competition Team.
• Tom Wade, (2016, Natural Sciences), an alumnus who returned for a PhD at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, has been shortlisted for contributions to both the Cambridge University Cycling Club (CUCC) and Cambridge University Badminton Club (CUBaC).

The Sports Awards take place each year during Easter term to celebrate sporting achievement at Cambridge during the last 12 months, recognise the achievements and successes of sports clubs, teams and individuals. The winners across eight award categories will be announced at a ceremony on 19 June at the University Sports Centre.

The organisers explain, “The Sports Club Personality of the Year is the individual who is the life and soul of your club – they lift the mood and keep heads high. They might not necessarily be a Captain or committee member, but they’re loved by all and your club is a better one to be a part of because of them.”

Alongside her studies, Jessie has supported CUTAZZ, the University’s Dance Society as Treasurer (2020–21), Social Secretary (2021–22) and now President (2022–23). The Dance Competition Team is the CUTAZZ blues-status team, competing for the University at a high level. The nomination describes Jessie as “a ray of sunshine, always happy and smiling, always checking in on everyone to make sure they are doing great”, adding that she “ran the CUTAZZ annual show, organised and hosted a holiday over the Summer, and has amazingly positive vibes”.

Jessie commented, “It honestly means so much to me to have been shortlisted for 'Sports Club Personality of the Year'. I have infinite love for everyone on the dance competition team and being part of it has been an unforgettable experience. I am humbled by this recognition, and it really fuels my motivation to keep dancing and providing unconditional support to everyone on the team.”

“My favourite part of this year has been being able to spend so much time with all of the dancers. We train for countless hours every week and we have seen each other through the hardest and also the best days. I am grateful for so many opportunities to represent our team at competitions and to experience first-hand the positivity and support that is always there between the team members. They are all so talented and such amazing people and I wouldn't want to spend rehearsals, shows, bus rides and competitions with anyone else!”

Nominations emphasised Tom’s caring, selfless nature and explained that he stepped up at the last minute to serve as CUCC Social Secretary “despite being busy writing up his thesis and also in demand from CUBaC for matches”, resulting in “more swaps than we have ever had before… enough momentum to continue outside of term-time”.

Tom was recently part of the Cambridge men’s team who won bronze medals by riding at the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) 25-Mile Time Trial. Tom was also on the podium earlier in the year when Cambridge secured best overall team for its men’s and women’s results at the BUCS Team Time Trial. The nomination also references how Tom finished in sixth place in the Varsity mountain bike competition even though his shifter broke so he ended up riding without shifting gears, on a course that included hills too big to do in the gear he had.

Tom said, “I am thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award – sport has always been very important to me throughout my time at Cambridge, and I’m honoured to have been able to give back to the Clubs that I have shared so many good times with.”

UPDATE - 19 June: Tom was announced the winner of Sports Club Personality of the Year 2023 at the awards ceremony.