20 June 2018
Former England cricketer, double World Cup winner and four times Ashes winner, Lydia Greenway was guest of honour at Woldingham’s annual Sports Dinner. With cricket now one of the main summer sports at Woldingham, hearing Lydia’s story of how she became one of England’s most successful cricketers was of special interest to our budding cricketers and her advice to keep setting new goals was an inspiration to all.
Lydia learnt this the hard way, after being dropped from the England team. Working with her coach, she discovered that her issue was complacency: she had achieved her long-held dream of playing cricket for England and had stopped pushing herself. So she set – and achieved - a new goal of being the best batswoman in the world, before striving – and succeeding – to head the world rankings for fielding.
After Lydia presented the many well-earned Coaches’ and Players’ Player Awards, this year’s Supreme Awards were announced. Two of these, Team of the Year and Sportswoman of the Year, were voted for online during the evening by dinner guests and were presented to the 1st XI Hockey Team, winners of the U18 Surrey Schools Trophy, and Charlotte Alexander respectively. Among Charlotte’s sporting achievements this year were winning silver in the English Schools 3000m and being the U17 National 3000m Champion.
Other Supreme Awards were presented to Imogen McNamara (Sacred Heart Cup for demonstrating sportsmanship and the desire to improve in a range of sports), Georgie Sykes and Grace Flanagan (Contribution to Sport Medals) and outgoing Sport Ribbon Holly Castle (Sports Personality of the Year).
Acting Head of Sport, Bridget Blackwood commented: “A wonderful evening brought together the whole Woldingham sporting community – including those who regularly support the girls from the sidelines - in celebration of this year’s many fantastic achievements. It was an honour to have Lydia Greenway join us; her message to keep setting new goals is so relevant across all aspects of our pupils’ education.”