Female rowers encourage students to be determined and resilient at annual Prize Giving ceremonies

We welcomed two inspirational female rowers to our annual Prize Giving ceremonies, one at the Junior School and one at the Senior School, this week to deliver motivational talks to students from age four to 18 and their parents.

Two times World Champion British rower and Olympic Games bronze medallist, Sarah Winckless, was the guest speaker at the Senior School Prize Giving on Monday 4 July. Sarah delivered a rousing speech about humility, strength and courage. Sarah told the audience that she knew that she didn’t want to be a rower (despite her father and step-father being rowers) but as she got older and the Commonwealth Games became her ultimate goal, a Captain of Boats at University of Cambridge encouraged her to try the sport which would lead her to win gold. Sarah said: “I couldn’t get my blade out of the water the first time I rowed so I was put on a rowing machine to practise and rowed 2000m in 240 strokes. Everyone was looking at me as though I had two heads. Apparently I had beaten the score of every man in the college and every woman in the university.”

The topic of her speech was fitting for the Upper Sixth leavers as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. Sarah concluded: “I was pushed to try something new and I encourage all of you to be optimistic, set goals and be resilient – sometimes there will be times when you think you can’t do it but have the courage to try it in the first place. Step forward, have a go and find out what’s out there.”

This year we introduced a new technology prize at the Senior School, named after Mrs Anna Ladds, our outgoing Head of Technology and Textiles (and alumna), which was presented to Year 9 student Marianne G.O. for her significant contribution to the Technology & Textiles department. The 3D printed prize, designed and produced by nowhere - a company that releases the creative potential of organisations - holds transparent vessels filled with materials that are used in different areas of the department, to remind students that Technology is a diverse and exciting subject, full of creative potential.

Daphne Martschenko, open-weight captain of Cambridge University Women's Boat Club and a PhD student studying Education at Magdalene College, joined Junior School parents and pupils at their Prize Giving ceremony on Tuesday 5 July. Year 5 pupils had already met Daphne last month when they hiked across Cambridge to Midsummer Common, to the historic Goldie Boatshed, to meet Mr Steve Trapmore, Gold medallist from the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, as part of their learning about rivers for Geography. Down in the gym the girls were also able to observe Daphne as she trained.

Daphne told the Prize Giving audience about how she had no idea what to do when she first got on an erg (a rowing machine) and how she wanted to give up on more than one occasion. The pupils heard how the rower coped effectively with failure, having been cut within the first week of trialing for the US national team, and focused on improving and growing. Speaking about rowing with her team mates, Daphne said: “Working towards a collective goal with a group of goal-oriented, exceptional, and unique women is empowering. It is a beautiful thing. It is something I hope each and every one of you gets to experience many times throughout your lives.”

Today we’re here to celebrate all the work you’ve done this year, work you’ve done here at school, work you’ve done helping your friends and families, helping the community. We’re here to celebrate all the work you’ve done to help make this world more sustainable and aware. At St Mary’s School, Cambridge you celebrate inspiring women in history, but you are also inspiring right now. In this moment. Today.”

Our Headmistress, Charlotte Avery, commented: “Cambridge is world famous for rowing and it was an honour to welcome two inspirational female rowers to our school this week to speak to our girls, not only about their sport but about resilience and determination.

These themes ran throughout our Prize Giving events and we wish our Year 6 leavers, who are moving up to the Senior School, and our Upper Sixth leavers ‘bon courage’ for the next chapter of their lives.”