Entries are now invited for the Rotary Club of Caterham 2012 Sporting Excellence Award. Instituted by the club in 2008, the award is now in its fifth year and is open to all students age 11 to 18, who either live locally or attend a local school. Each year local secondary schools are asked to nominate entrants who submit an application form with a supporting testimonial from their Head of PE or club coach. The Rotary Club sets up a small panel to review the applications and then shortlists the best candidates to attend an informal interview.

Entry forms are available in local secondary schools, or they can be obtained directly from the Rotary Club by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The winner of the 2012 award will be presented with a cheque for £250 at a Rotary lunch at the Surrey National Golf Club. The first runner up will receive a cheque for £150 and the second runner up will receive a cheque for £100.

Previous winners have been as follows:

2011 – Rose Cardoe. Rose is a diver who attends Woldingham School and lives in Wandsworth, South West London. Aged 14, she is now studying for her GCSEs. Rosie has been diving for three years and competes on 1 metre, 3 metre and high board platform, training at Crystal Palace National Sports Stadium. Amongst many recent successes, she came second in the London Youth Games, diving for Wandsworth. In the ASA National finals held in Sheffield in July, she came first in the platform competition at 5m and 7.5m winning a gold medal and being declared national champion. Not content with that, she also took a silver medal in the synchronised diving and a bronze in the 3m event.

The panel were very impressed with the commitment and dedication shown by Rosie in her chosen sport of diving. She clearly has already had a very successful career in the sport and her aspirations for the future are ambitious. The Rotary Club of Caterham is delighted to make this award to Rosie and wishes her every success in the future.

2010 – Kay Wilson. Kay is a rugby player living in Caterham, and was a student at St Bede's School, Redhill. She has played girls rugby at county and national level and last year won her first cap for the England Under 20s team. Her ambition is to play for the England seniors and she has the 2016 Olympics, when girls rugby will be included for the first time, in her sights.

During the half-time break in the Six Nations Rugby match on Sunday 11th March, TV viewers could see Kay scoring a try for England in their win over France. It was her second try, the first was in the match against Wales. She is now a regular member of the 1st team.

2009 – Clare Stodart. Clare is a badminton player living in Caterham and was a student at Oxted School. She has played at county and national level and is very determined to represent England as a senior player.

2008 – Hannah Brooks. Hannah is a middle distance runner and Olympics 2012 hopeful. She is in the "On Camp with Kelly" squad run by Dame Kelly Holmes. She lives in Caterham, was a student at Oxted School and is now studying at Birmingham University.