Olympic Athlete Presents Prizes at Our Lady of Sion Awards Ceremony

Olympic Athlete Ian Richards was the guest of honour at Our Lady of Sion Senior School  for this year's presentation of school prizes, GCSE and A-Level certificates. Ian represented Great Britain in the 50 kilometre walking race in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. He has recently completed the gruelling  ‘Marathon de Sable’ which is a 6 day, 151 mile (243km) endurance race across the Sahara Desert. He had to complete a marathon a day for the six days, including one overnight race. He successfully completed the event and raised over £10,000 for the charity ‘Facing Africa’, which helps provide reconstructive surgery for people in Africa who have been facially disfigured by the effects of malnutrition.

Fifty-four pupils received their GCSE certificates, with 20 pupils receiving special certificates for excellent results at GCSE, having achieved A and A* grades in all their exams. Five pupils shared the Kerry Ayliff Cup for Outstanding Academic Achievement at GCSE, all of them having gained A*grades in all their exams. Twelve cups and shields awarded were awarded to pupils for academic excellence, and for service to the school. Fifteen certificates were awarded for achievement in Rugby and a further seven for achievement in Sport.

Fifteen pupils were awarded their A-Level certificates, with seventeen further awards for excellence in academic subjects also being presented. The shield for service to the school was shared between three pupils, as was the Rogles Shield for School Spirit. Two pupils received special certificates for excellent results at A-Level, and three pupils shared the cup for the highest academic achievement, having all received three A grades in their A-Levels. The Sister Una Cup, which is the highest award bestowed by the school, for consideration, was awarded to Rishi Lall, who was last year's head Boy, who also achieved three  A grades in his A-Levels.

Mr. Richards told the pupils that he had achieved his goals in sport and in his business life through determination, through belief in his own abilities, and by never giving up, even when things got tough. He encouraged them to always try their very best and to believe that they could do anything if they were determined enough to succeed. He had started his sporting career in his twenties, having never been particularly 'sporty' at school, but through the encouragement of other athletes, and through his own self-belief, he had risen to the top of his field. He told the pupils that they too had the ability to achieve greatness; they just had to believe in themselves.