Trinity Hall students’ contribution to sports at all levels in the University is astounding.
This year four of them were involved in the University Sports Awards, with one of them, Camila Cimadamore-Werthein (photo, far right) joining five other winners for Outstanding Contribution to University Sport.
We spoke to them about what it means to be recognised at such a high level and what College support meant to them.
Camila Cimadamore-Werthein
Camila’s Outstanding Contribution to University Sport award was given because she “made a significant contribution to the development of the Polo Club at Cambridge, securing sponsorship which will ensure the long-term success of the club while also making a strong impact on the field.”
Speaking after the award Camila said: “I am very grateful to the Sports Service and to my peers who nominated me for this award. It means so much that people valued my efforts in the committee.
“Polo is an amazing sport: it involves horses, is very dynamic and requires teamwork! When I am playing, I completely forget about everything else going on in my life; it gives me a wonderful sense of freedom and an adrenaline rush like no other.”
Camila has received support from the Aula Club during her time at Trinity Hall and for that she’s truly thankful: “The Aula Club has been extremely helpful with their financial support throughout my journey from a beginner to the Varsity team. I truly appreciate it. Without the Aula Club grants, I wouldn’t have been able to afford as many practices and training matches, which were absolutely essential for improving as a player.”
Ella Ykema
The Ice Hockey Club won the Club of the Year award. Their treasurer Ella Ykema is a Trinity Hall student.
The men’s and women’s clubs merged in 2021 to form one club.
Ella said: “Winning the club of the year award is great recognition of all the hard work the committee has put into the successful merger of the men and women’s clubs, as well as the performances of all the teams in varsity.
“I am very grateful to the Aula Club for supporting me financially which has enabled me to be a member of such a fantastic club.”
Callum Henderson
In the Unsung Hero category, Trinity Hall’s Callum Henderson was shortlisted for his behind-the-scenes efforts supporting the yacht club operations and organising their summer trips.
He said: “It was great to be nominated. I’ve put in some serious man-hours for CUYC (Cambridge University Yacht Club) this academic year, spending almost every single weekend of term and several weeks during the holidays either sailing or doing maintenance on the Club’s boat, Skylark. It’s been really hard and taxing work that’s necessary to keep students sailing and is often a thankless job, so it was lovely to be appreciated at such a fabulous awards ceremony hosted by the incredible Sports Service.
“Sailing is freedom to me. One of my Vice-Commodores (Tara, Downing College) likes to say “sailing is the last of Wild West” and she’s absolutely right. I particularly love adventurous, offshore sailing – through night and day, sun and storm. It makes me feel so alive!”
Callum said financial help from the College was made easier with the help of his tutor: “Support from the College has been great. My tutor, Dr Isabelle McNeill, has been brilliant in helping me with the Aula Club Award and advice on balancing studies and sailing. The Aula Club Award itself has obviously been fantastic and a great honour to be awarded. I remain extremely grateful to both the Club and College for facilitating this.”
The importance of financial support cannot be overstated said Callum who’s been able to put it to good use.
“This year I am competing in CUYC’s full racing campaign. All of those races require privately chartered boats which is (a very expensive) cost split only between the eight crew on board. There is no doubt I would not have been able to compete in all of these fabulous competitions without the generous support of the Aula Club – thank you very much.”
Rosa Millard
Rosa Millard was also a winner, along with her crewmates, in the Sporting Moment of the Year category, for their record-breaking lightweight women’s boat race victory.
She said rowing had become part of her “routine” and given her some of her closest friends: “Now rowing is just part of my life, it’s my routine. I love the competitive atmosphere and I am a very driven person but now the main factor is the friends I have in the team (and in past teams).
“You see these people 12 times a week so naturally they become some of your closest friends and having them is such a nice break from the intensity of Cambridge academia.”
She added she was incredibly proud of the team: “This award is such a nice recognition of the hard work the whole team has put in to get us over the finish line first, it definitely feels nice that Lightweight Rowing is getting wider recognition as it isn’t just about how fast you go, but how fast you go whilst at a precise weight, which is tough to manage.”
College sport and support have also been an important part of her rowing story she said: “The college has been incredibly supportive of my rowing, and without them I certainly wouldn’t have been able to perform at a high level.
“The Aula Club has been very generous in their grants and for that I am incredibly grateful. Trinity Hall Boat Club, especially Paul Townshend, have been evermore supportive. I had the privilege of subbing into some outings and races this year (including coxing M2), and honestly it has been such a rowing highlight for me. THBC have such incredibly facilities and they do a great job in getting people involved in the sport.”
Image, far right: Camila Cimadamore-Werthein
