The countdown to this year’s BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year Awards, which features Old Oakhamian Stuart Broad, is now on!
“We are all absolutely delighted that Stuart has been nominated for this prestigious accolade, and we’re looking forward to watching the Award ceremony,” says Oakham’s Director of Sport, Iain Simpson.
The annual ceremony is being held live on Sunday night between 8-10pm on BBC One and will be presented by Gary Lineker, Gabby Logan, Claire Balding and Alex Scott. Stuart will join fellow nominees at the ceremony: Jockey Hollie Doyle, Formula One’s Lewis Hamilton, footballer Jordan Henderson, snooker’s Ronnie O’Sullivan and boxer Tyson Fury.
“The nomination is a great recognition of Stuart’s amazing season and his outstanding cricketing talent,” continues Iain. “It is so very well deserved after the many years of exceptional hard work and effort he has put in on the pitch and in training since the age of 11 when he began his cricketing career at Oakham.”
Given his performance in the Ashes earlier this year taking his 500th Test wicket and becoming England’s second highest wicket-taker of all time, there is no wonder he is, as described by Joe Wicks when announcing the nominations, a ‘record-breaking contender’ for the title of Sports Personality of the Year Award.
Only days ago, our latest copy of our Alumni magazine was published and sent out to parents and former pupils – which featured Stuart as the cover star in recognition of what he had achieved earlier in the year. The magazine includes a fantastic interview with one of his former coaches, the recently retired Frank Hayes – as well words from Stuart himself.
“Everyone at Oakham School will be tuning in to support Stuart on Sunday night,” concludes Iain. “We are confident his former team mates and coaches will be doing the same too – good luck Stuart!” In fact, one of the two coaches who taught him whilst he was at Oakham already holds the title of Sports Personality of the Year. David Steele won the accolade in 1975, following his extraordinary performance in that year’s Ashes. This is another wonderful example of the School’s motto ‘Quasi Cursores’ – ‘passing on the torch’ – or perhaps in this case, the bat.