THE talents of gifted young sport stars were recognized at an awards ceremony. Thirty students from Exmouth Community College were honored for their sporting achievements over the last academic year at the event held last Thursday, April 29. The college s

THE talents of gifted young sport stars were recognized at an awards ceremony.

Thirty students from Exmouth Community College were honored for their sporting achievements over the last academic year at the event held last Thursday, April 29.

The college's principal, Tony Alexander, said: "It was an evening which once again made me proud to be the head.

"It was another fabulous ceremony organized by the PE department that Ofsted, quite rightly, designated as 'outstanding."

The school's under-16 badminton squad won the team of the year title following their success at the Center Parcs National Schools Badminton Championship.

The team was made up of Josh Adams, Alex Lane, Jack Langlois, Jordan Camsey and Jack Findel-Hawkins. Alex Lane also scooped the national boy's singles title.

Martha Ellett and Elena-Louise Holmes won the athletics title; Isaac Mourier, basketball, Alex Richardson, cricket, Samuel Wells, football, Laura Allen, hockey, and Emily Steer, netball.

Sarah Collinge was named the winner of the rounders category and was also presented with the young leadership award.

Mark Roach triumphed in the rugby section, Jack Findel-Hawkins, tennis; Ben Cornish won the excellence outside of the curriculum prize, Alice Shoulder, key stage three effort, and Jamie Tapper, key stage four effort.

Laura Allen and William Irving were named the key stage three outstanding performers; Rebecca Barnett, key stage four outstanding performer, and Myles Fletcher was handed the post-16 special college award.

Bassetts Farm and Withycombe Raleigh received the primary school awards.

The event, which takes place annually at the end of each academic year, attracted a number of well-known sports men and women which included players from Exeter Chiefs rugby club.

Year seven gymnasts received a standing ovation after performing in front of the audience during the event.

Mr Alexander said he was grateful to the array of sponsors of the college who presented prizes.

PE teacher Stuart Lowe, who organized the ceremony, added: "It went really well.

"It was great to have the guests we had here from all sport areas and people of such a high standard.

"I think it was good for the students that these people had taken time out to come along."

In an Ofsted inspection of the college's PE department conducted in November 2008, the school was judged to be a place where the 'quality of teaching and learning was outstanding'.

Mr Lowe said the awards ceremony was testament to how the college's sport department keeps moving from strength to strength.