The race is on to find Rhodes University’s Sports Personalities of the year. Every year Rhodes sports clubs are able to nominate two members they feel worthy of the title Sport Personality of the Year.
The race is on to find Rhodes University’s Sports Personalities of the year. Every year Rhodes sports clubs are able to nominate two members they feel worthy of the title Sport Personality of the Year.
The event, held by Rhodes University Sports Admin, promises a clean but competitive fight to the finish. Nominees present themselves to a panel of judges who score them according to criteria such as passion, involvement, service and leadership skills.
In accordance with the award’s title, however, nominees are judged mainly on their personalities, confidence and people skills.
This year’s judges are Candice Christie, senior lecturer in the Rhodes HKE Department; Tim Dold, managing director of PG Glass; and Schalk van der Merwe, manager of the Rat & Parrot.
After a five-minute interview with each judge, the applicants are scored and two winners are selected. Their names will be announced at the PG Glass Sports Personality of the Year evening, held in the Old Mutual Pavilion (OMP) Lounge at Sports Admin on 12 August.
Winners receive a sculpted glass trophy, sponsored by PG Glass. Last year’s winners were Tessa Poulos for aquatics and James Dillon for canoeing.
Each year’s dress-up theme provides just about as much entertainment as the announcement of the actual award. Last year’s theme was IPL and candidates dressed to-a-tee.
This year’s theme is Proudly South African, in the spirit of the World Cup. Starting today, Grocott’s Mail will feature each nominee over the next few weeks.
This week’s nominee is Claire Braithwaite. Braithwaite has been a committed member of the Rhodes Canoe Club for three years and is said to be a welcome and fun companion on the water.
Rhodes Canoe Club members say, “The long drives to canoe races are often spent listening to Braith regale us with funny stories and anecdotes.
I cannot imagine a better candidate for Rhodes Sports Personality 2010 than our very own Claire Braithwaite.”
