Three local students have recently been recognised by Caterham Rotary Club in their 6 th Annual Sporting Excellence Award. They each received certificates and a cash award towards the funding of their sporting activity.

Charlotte Alexander, a student at Woldingham School, was declared the overall winner by the three judges who interviewed all three candidates following their shortlisting. She has represented the school at hockey, netball, swimming and cross-country.

She is a member of the East Grinstead Swimming Club where she was more recently appointed captain of the girls team following success in county and regional events, She is currently ranked number 1 in Sussex for the 200m backstroke. However it is in the field of cross-country and middle distance running that Charlotte has really excelled. She has progressed through county championships to national level and is now ranked number 5 in the UK.

More recent achievements in middle distance running have seen Charlotte ranked number 3 in the UK for the 1500m and number 1 in the 3000m for under 15 girls. Charlotte is using her cash award to purchase new running shoes and vests.

Caroline Treacy, Director of Sport at Woldingham School, says  “There are few 14 year olds I have met who are so driven and focused in their individual endeavours as Charlotte.” 

Runners up were Chloe Vyner from Caterham School and Emma Fossett from Warlingham School.

Chloe first picked up a lacrosse stick at age 11 and has had an outstanding rise over the last 5 years to become part of the English national squad as well as being a regular team member of the Surrey Under 18s. This year she has played against Scotland, Wales and a USA touring team in an Italian tournament. She has scored many goals for her country.

Chloe plays for the School 1 st team and earlier this year scored 20 goals in the national schools tournament where the school reached the semi final. At this year’s Caterham School Speech Day she received her International Cap and was awarded the season’s Most valuable lacrosse team player. She is using her cash award to fund an advanced lacrosse coaching course.

Emma Fossett is the women’s team captain for local athletics club Croydon Harriers. Her main event is the javelin, although she has competed well in the Hammer Throw and last year finished as Surrey County champion.

Despite injuries earlier this year she still managed to throw her javelin to English Standard level with a personal best of 37.51m. She also won both the Surrey Schools Championship and the Surrey County Championships. She finished the season number 1 in London for U20s women and number 20 in the UK. 

When she is not competing she is engaged in coaching and promoting throwing sports to young athletes and has received a Community Sports Leader Award for her work. 

Emma is off to Hertfordshire University to study physiotherapy and is aiming to compete in the British Universities national competition. She is using her cash award to help fund a new javelin.

Chairman of the Rotary judging panel Geraint Jenkins commented: “There was an extremely high standard of entries this year. It was not an easy task for the three judges to select the outright winner and the two runner up awards. We are delighted to have been able to recognise such talented young people and to reward them for their achievements. We wish them continuing success in their future sporting endeavours.”