Olympic Medalist and BBC Olympic Swimming Correspondent Steve Parry hosted the annual British Universities & Colleges Sport Awards Dinner, in association with PwC, when more than 400 people joined us to recognise and celebrate the best of student sport over the past twelve months. Parry was joined on stage by England Rugby legend and World Cup Winner Lewis Moody who presented the awards to the individuals and teams acknowledged for their contribution to the success of higher education sport during the past twelve months.

Jonny Browlee (University of Leeds) won Sportsman of the Year for the second year running as he continues to embed himself as one of the leading senior male competitors in the world. Jonny is the current ITU World Sprint Champion and ITU world number two ranked athlete and has been a superb ambassador for student sport.

The prestigious PwC Sportswoman of the Year award recognised University of Nottingham student High Jumper Isobel Pooley who has won indoor and outdoor Gold in BUCS competitions this year as well as making her senior international debut, representing GB at the European Championships in Helsinki and establishing herself as the number two British female high jumper. Isobel was unable to accept her award in person as she was competing however she did send a video message expressing her delight at winning the award.

Loughborough continued their dominance of the BUCS points table as they collected the Kerslake trophy for an astonishing 34th consecutive year. Second place was awarded to the University of Durham after a very successful season that included Championship final appearances in Rugby, Cricket and Basketball as well as winning Championship victories in men’s Lacrosse and women’s Hockey. Birmingham slipped down one place from last year as they picked up the third place trophy. The University of Derby scooped the much coveted Most Improved University as they moved up 27 places from 104th to 77th in the overall BUCS points table.

The first award of the evening went to Will Turner as Lewis Moody presented him with the Student Volunteer of the Year award for his enthusiasm and dedication to growing participation at the University of Nottingham. Next RELAYS, the joint project by eleven universities of the South West, won the Diversity in Sport award in recognition of the 1032 sporting events delivered this year to provide playing and volunteering opportunities. The winner of this year’s BUCS PwC Unsung Hero award threw himself into the promotion of his institutions sport and student sport as a whole and building a team in order that students can develop their media skills and use university sport as a way to progress their skills and ambitions, congratulations to Christopher Penn from Swansea University.

The Chris Potter Award went to Krishna Suraj Kambi from the University of Bedfordshire. Krishna who is studying for an extended law degree is working to develop every aspect of football at his university. Our official charity partner Right to Play awarded the Red Ball Award to the University of Cambridge for their fundraising activities and support of in Right to Play events, while the Kukri ‘For the Team’ Award was won by the University College London Women’s Rugby team after a record breaking season.

Congratulations to our winners and also all our nominees who all played their role in making the past twelve months so successful for university sport.

Thanks must go to PwC for their ongoing support and Big Wave Media for providing the evenings welcoming drinks, Star Trac and Endsleigh for sponsoring this year’s conference, University Business, TakeThat Photo and of course the University of Exeter for hosting what was a fantastic evening and three great days of conference.

Photos available from www.takethatphoto.co.uk