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‘The power of three’ prizes
Rower, Ashby Neterer (2022, DPhil Theology and Religion) 2023 Ellis White Memorial Trophy winner with the Provost.
Joshua Williams (2020, BA Theology and Religion) winner of the 2023 Michael Johnson Rugby Shield with the Provost.
Eugene Lee-Hamilton Poetry Competition winning entry by Olivia Sandhu (2019, BA Classics and Oriental Studies).
23 June 2023
Trinity term at Oriel ended with collective sighs of relief from students as the exam season drew to a close but also with some celebration, as three important prizes were awarded. The Eugene Lee-Hamilton Poetry prize, the Elis White Memorial Trophy and the Michael Johnson Shield Award recognise outstanding achievements in poetry, rowing and rugby, respectively.
Poetry
The Eugene Lee-Hamilton Poetry Competition invites undergraduate students from Oxford and Cambridge colleges to submit a Petrarchan sonnet on a theme or topic of their choosing. The prize is awarded each year in honour of Eugene Lee-Hamilton, a poet and novelist who studied at Oriel (1864-66) and revived the use of Petrarchan Sonnets in his own work, as well as encouraging it in others. Huge congratulations go to the winner of the Competition this year, Olivia Sandhu, fourth year student in BA Classics and Oriental Studies at Oriel.
Rowing
Ashby Neterer (2022, DPhil Theology and Religion) has been awarded the Elis White Memorial Trophy this year for most improved rower. The award was made at the Bumps Supper at the end of Summer Eights week on the 27th May.
The prize was created in memory of Elis Rhisiart White (1984-2008), who studied PPE at Oriel, graduating in 2005. Following his death in 2008, Mr and Mrs White set up the Elis White Memorial Trophy fund to award the most improved rower each year.
“Ashby has been a great new addition to OCBC this year. Never seen without a smile, he is always keen to sub into outings or do extra ergs, and started following the training plan before he even arrived at Oriel, having never rowed before. He was the only novice this year in M2 for Torpids, and one of only two that kept their seat in M2 for Summer Eights. We’re so excited to see what Ashby will do in future years as his stellar commitment and positive attitude continue to reap rewards on and off the water”.
From outgoing Oriel rowing captains, Amelia Monaghan and Alex Abel, who nominated Ashby.
Rugby
This year’s Oriel Rugby Club’s (OCRFC) captain, Toby Robinson (2021, BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics), has chosen to award the Michael Johnson Shield shield to Joshua Williams (2020, BA Theology and Religion). Joshua was presented with the award by the Provost on Friday 16th June. The shield is in memory of Orielensis Mike Johnson (PPE, 1979), who passed away in March 2017.
“I’d like to nominate Joshua Williams for the prize for his outstanding commitment to college rugby throughout his three years here, and how well he led the team’s resurgence following COVID-19, taking us to the cuppers plate final.”
From Toby Robinson Oriel Rugby Club’s (OCRFC) captain.