IVAN CHUNNETT IS FARNHAM SPORTS PERSONALITY
The annual sporting showcase for the town – the Farnham Sports Awards – took place last week at a packed Farnham Rugby clubhouse.
Farnham Runners’ Ivan Chunnett was crowned the Sports Personality of the Year though there were many other impressive individuals, teams and clubs receiving awards for achievements during the 2025 year.
Weydon School’s Director of Sport kicked-started the awards evening by winning the Farnham Herald Award and his citation stated that in Farnham Karl is synonymous with local sport and physical education. In a Q&A session that followed he asserted that all schools ought to have the standard of facilities enjoyed by those at Weydon School.
There was also a special mention for the 2025 achievements of golfer, Lottie Woad, who had turned professional, and a thank you acknowledgment to Robert Clayson for his work supporting the sports council. And the Farnham Swimability club were recognised with the Community Sports Award, providing swimming opportunities for people with disabilities thanks to their dedicated volunteers over 45 years.
Also midway through the evening, it was announced that Churt Football Club’s exceptional volunteer, Darren Ireland, had won the Mayor of Waverley’s special award and there followed a special tribute read out by Mark Davies of the same club in respect of Luis Gabriel Guembes Quimper. He was a 15 year-old youth player at Churt and a pupil at nearby All Hallows School, sadly killed in January. The entire clubhouse demonstrated their sympathies for his family and friends and all those at his club.
Frensham Pond Sailing Club’s Dominic Stanislaus won the Coach of the Year award and two of his sailors, Mia Stanislaus and Sophie Baer, won the Young Sports Team of the Year and the club’s Judith Riggs deservedly won the Disability Award. A good return for the first-class work that happens at our local sailing club.
There are many impressive sports clubs in the town, but it was Farnham Swimming Club who picked up the prestigious Sports Club of the Year award and several of their swimmers and volunteers were recognised on the evening. One of their swimmers, the talented Thomas Noel, was the runner-up in the Young Sports Personality Award though the winner in that category was Farnham Roller Hockey Club’s Erin Lloyd, a young person who is both a successful player and a qualified coach.
Several outstanding young sporting prospects were also acknowledged. Highfield School’s Thomas Rooney won the Farnham Lions award, and this award was presented to the young trampolinist by the Farnham Lions’ President, Simon Moran-Smith – and Olivia Midworth from Brightwell Tennis Club deservedly won the Mayor of Farnham’s special award.
Farnham School of Tae Kwon Do lead coach Tim Ayres-Townshend won the Outstanding Service to Sport award for his service to the community and for nurturing so many champions and black belts.
Two local schools got special cheers from the audience on the evening, they were the Heath End Under 14 Girls basketball team and the Highfield School years 5&6 netball team.
Good volunteers are critical to the sustainability of sport in Farnham and the award winners in these categories were Douglas Blyth from Farnham Runners, and Henry Elliott from taekwondo and Lizzie Roberts from Stellar Gymnastics. In fact, the Stellar lead coach, Hannah Fox, won the Sports Development award for her impressive work since the club was founded just 10 years ago.
But two of the most prestigious awards went to members of the Farnham Runners. Accomplished runner and long-serving ladies captain, Jane Georghiou, won the Service to Sport award and the inspirational Ivan Chunnett won the evening’s main award, he became the Farnham Sports Personality winner for his incredible running story.
Farnham Sports Council chair, David Gill said ‘we would like to pay tribute to all the winners and those highly commended on the evening, Farnham consistently achieves so much in the world of local sport. A special well done to Ivan, he is a real inspiration and a role model for what can be achieved through sheer character, dedication and will power’.
