Attention: You are using an outdated browser, device or you do not have the latest version of JavaScript downloaded and so this website may not work as expected. Please download the latest software or switch device to avoid further issues.
As we start Michaelmas Term and a new academic year, we are delighted to announce this year’s Vincent’s Awards winners.
Vincent’s Awards support outstanding scholar-athletes across the University who have shown to the Vincent’s Awards Panel not only their high level of sporting and academic achievement but also an underlying dedication to engaging sport to inspire the community around them and make a significant contribution through their enthusiasm, example and efforts.
They are not only capable of inspirational sporting achievement in their chosen field, but go beyond sport to make an inspired contribution to the University, their colleges and broader community.
Supporting these inspirational scholar-athletes is made possible by the support of our Alumni, with special thanks to the many who have bequeathed named scholarships.
As ever, the list of candidates is a remarkable testament to the talent at Oxford and this year’s winners, which we will profile weekly in the coming term, are a truly outstanding group with international and national sporting backgrounds and aspirations and a future where they will no doubt make a major positive contribution to their chosen paths.
Our thanks to everyone who applied and warmest congratulations to this year’s recipients.
The Vincent's Sir Roger Bannister Scholarship
Maranga Mokaya, Keble, Athletics
The Vincent's William S. Broadbent Jnr. Scholarship
Alexandra Shipley, Green Templeton, Athletics
Andrew Hong, Christ Church, Swimming
The Vincent's Ryan Millsap Scholarship for American Football
Davis Kline, Somerville, American Football
The Vincent’s Adrian Mee Scholarship for Team Sports
Alex Koukouravas, Wolfson, Basketball
The Vincent’s Fernside Scholarship
Michael Allison, St Anne’s, Athletics
Roberto Lacourt, University, Boxing
The Vincent’s Avery W. Broadbent Scholarship
Tom Wood, St Anne's, Athletics
Ella Fryer, St Catherine’s, Athletics
The Vincent’s Geoff Riddell Scholarship for Team Sports
Hillary Scanlon, St Anne’s, Ice Hockey, Football
The Vincent's Mark Lawrence Scholarship
Ioan Cressey-Rodgers, St Peter’s, Swimming
The Vincent’s Robin Geffen Scholarship for Rowing
Amelia Standing, Wolfson, Rowing
Vincent's Awards
Jonathan Rutter, St Hilda’s, Swimming
Anna Sharp, St Anthony’s, Rowing
Sophia Lubiecki, St John’s, Modern Pentathlon
Connie Dean, St Hugh’s, Swimming
Joe Morrow, Queen’s, Athletics
Anna Duncan, University, Dancesport
Joel Chesters, St Catherine’s, American Football
Kareem Mercier, Lady Margaret Hall, Basketball
Tarka Abraham, Somerville, Eventing
James Doran, Oriel, Rowing
A remarkable scholar-athlete, Hillary defies boundaries to define what it is to be a Vincent’s Awards Winner and a sporting inspiration.
Winner of this year’s BUCS Dan Porter Award that “celebrates an individual or group who have faced and overcome adversity or disadvantage to positively impact others within university sport and physical activity” as well as Oxford Sport’s Moment of the Year for her Game-Winning Penalty Shot for Ice Hockey Varsity Blues, it is difficult to fit in the remarkable achievements of Hillary Scanlon, this year’s Vincent’s Geoff Riddell Scholarship for Team Sports Award Winner.
Her sporting achievements are made all the more remarkable in that Hillary is a blind athlete. A blind athlete who plays for the Oxford University Ice Hockey Blues Team, and scored the winning penalty shoot-out at this year’s Varsity Match.
Hailing from Canada, Hillary is studying for a Masters in Philosophy, Modern Middle Eastern Studies, at St Anne’s and is a recipient of multiple academic scholarships at Wilfrid Laurier University, including the Laurier Graduate Prestige Scholarship and Lenia Chamberlain Memorial Scholarship and is a published researcher and international panel speaker.
In sport, she has played for both the Men’s and Women’s National Blind Soccer Teams, consults to the NHL and is a Trustee of Blind Ice Hockey UK.
In her application to the Vincent’s Awards Panel, her Blues’ captains described her thus,
“Hillary led the Women’s Blues to winning the first Ice Hockey Women’s Blues Varsity win for Oxford since 2017. Her performance at the 2023 Women’s Blues Varsity Match was indeed a highlight of the sporting careers for not only Hillary, but moreover our team, club, coaches, and spectators …Hillary has not only made huge contributions to the development of women in sport, but she has also been a trailblazer for accessibility for disabled and impaired athletes.
Hillary’s personal attributes and the positive energy and support she brings to our team and club have proved to be the highlight, and indeed inspiration, of many of our members’ sporting experience at the University of Oxford.”
Alexandra Shipley in her own words: "I am a middle distance runner, fifth year medical student and grateful recipient of the Vincent’s William S. Broadbent Jnr. Scholarship. Sport has, undoubtedly, been the highlight of my time at Oxford so I am incredibly appreciative of the opportunities afforded by this award.
This year, the financial support enabled me to purchase and run an altitude tent, facilitating the physiological benefits of altitude without disrupting my clinical training. Over the past twelve months, I have placed 4th in the 1500m at the Senior England Athletics Championships and won silver in the 1500m at the British Universities Championships (BUCS) Indoor Championships.
At the Field Events and Relays, it was exciting to anchor the quartet, which broke the distance medley relay (1200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m) championship record by 20 seconds.
Following encouragement from the OUAC jumps coach, I recently started training for the steeplechase and broke the university record in my first race. A few weeks later, I improved on this record by 12 seconds to take silver at the BUCS Outdoor Championships.
The scholarship also enabled me to join the combined Oxford and Cambridge team on a tour to Harvard, Yale, Penn and Cornell as part of the historic ‘Transatlantic Series’ of biennial races, which pre-date the modern Olympics.
In the fixture against Harvard and Yale, I was delighted to break the 5,000m match record by seven seconds (16.22), which is almost a minute and a half faster than when I raced in the home leg of the series in 2019. This progress is testament to the training and competition opportunities afforded by my scholarship. Against the combined Penn and Cornell team, I doubled in the 1500m and 5,000m, securing the win in both.
The opportunity to bond with Cambridge teammates and our welcoming American hosts epitomises what I love about university sport. During our tour of Harvard’s sports facilities, I was moved to notice a plaque, expressing gratitude for the Broadbent family’s generosity; I share whole-heartedly in appreciation."
