|
|
| Graham Chase, RICS President 2006/2007 was joined by RICS members and staff on the evening of 28 June to celebrate sporting achievements amongst those in the property profession. |
The President said:
"My concept for this event was quite simply to recognise and celebrate the different ways in which RICS members get involved in sports, as this is such a strong theme in our profession.
"The response was incredible.
"The list of sports ranged from the mainstream such as rugby, football, cricket, hockey, squash, sailing, rowing, athletics, etc, - to the unusual, including aerobatics, and golf croquet!
"What they all have in common is that they unite people in that unique spirit that sporting activities inspire. People get a lot out of competing, organising, coaching and fundraising.
"We are a profession that works hard and plays hard.
"With this event, towards the end of my Presidential year, I am, I hope, kicking off an idea which will catch on and grow, so that, if it fires the imagination of the profession and the wider industry, we might see a major RICS Sports Awards scheme emerging next year".
|
The President was joined on stage by special guest Michael Lynagh, Australian rugby legend. Michael presented awards which are detailed on the next few pages. |
RICS Sportsman of the Year 2007 – Tony Hunter
|
Tony received this award for his achievements in diving (as in leaping off boards high above swimming pools) and he competes at Masters level, which is for the age group 45-49. |
Tony was UK national Champion at 1m and 3m springboard and platform last year and third in the World Masters Platform last year in San Francisco.
He is currently European Masters Champion in Platform, and so far this year he has won the UK Championship for 3 metre springboard and the platform; and came second in the 1 metre springboard.
Equally exciting is his day job, as an Associate Director with Savills, based in Southampton and dealing with licensed property.
RICS Sportswoman of the year 2007 – Kate Jenkins
|
Kate works in property development in Edinburgh and in her spare time, she participates in ultra-distance running. |
She has represented Scotland several times in international events, and she also regularly takes part in the West Highland Way race, which goes from Glasgow, to Fort William in the Highlands.
In case you do not have a map handy, that is a distance of 95 miles!
She broke the female record one year and returned the next to break her own record, with a time of 17.5 hours. This means that only 6 men have ever run faster in that race. And she has completed the race six times!
Last month she ran the Edinburgh marathon, and two weeks ago she ran the Calledonian Challenge charity race – a mere 54 miles.
She is now in training for the Moray Marathon, which she won with a sub-3 hour time last year – the eighth consecutive year that she has won that race.
RICS Lifetime Achievement – Dr. Robert Steel
|
Dr. Robert Steel is another high achiever in the endurance stakes, over a lifetime of charity fundraising. |
He first started
long distance walking in 1954 and trekked through various countries including Norway, New Zealand and Bulgaria, where he got involved in a mountain rescue and was subsequently enrolled as an Honorary Comrade in the Bulgarian Mountain Rescue Service.
Robert, who has also trekked to Everest base camp, undertook his first sponsored walk in 1967 – 444 miles from Kirk Yetholm in Scotland, to Basingstoke, to raise money for the Basingstoke Sports Trust to build a sports centre, which was opened in 1970.
Since then he has taken part in major sponsored walks totalling 12 500 miles – equal to the meridian arc between the North and South Poles - and has raised nearly £600 000 for various charities.
One of these, back in 1979, was a 1 000-mile walk which raised £71 000 for the RICS Benevolent Fund (now LionHeart) – a huge sum in 1979.
Now 87, after a year of serious bouts of ill health, and having sadly lost his wife earlier this year, he is determined to press ahead with his next project, the Ten Peaks Walk.
The walk begins at Balmoral and covers 650 miles to Snowdon, taking in Lochnager and three other 'munroes', plus the three highest peaks in England and the three highest in Wales.
He has a long association with the RICS, of which he is an Honorary Member, and he was Secretary-General of the Institution from 1968 to 1985.
RICS Sports Team of the year 2007 – Plowman Craven Evans Cycle Racing Team
|
This team currently lead the UK rankings for their sport, cycle racing, and one of the outfit, Gordon McCaulay, also leads the individual UK rankings. |
With cycling such a popular sport, these are huge achievements. In March they took part in the Calais to Cannes race which raised the grand sum of £300 000 for charity, proudly wearing the RICS logo.
Team member Simon Barnes, collected the award on behalf of the team.
RICS President’s special award for outstanding contribution – James Marshall
James Marshall has always been keen on rugby. About 15 years ago he was playing for his firm, Jones Lang Wootton as they were then, against another firm, and tragically broke his neck.
He has been in a wheelchair ever since. This has not broken his spirit or dimmed his enthusiasm for rugby.
For most of the years since then he has been the RICS Rugby Club Secretary. He goes on all the tours, attends all the meetings and is responsible for the Club Awards at the Annual Dinner.
The Dinner has raised well over £100 000 for Stoke Mandeville Hospital, which looked after him following his accident; and Club members have given substantial personal donations on top of this, to people who have suffered similar injuries, and our winner visits them regularly.
James also personally underwrote the first year of a charity golf event which has raised £120 000 in the last three years.
He has never once complained about his condition, and has been hugely successful in growing his family property business. He also races in the GB Disabled Carriage Driving Team.
His courage, determination and contribution to his sport is legendary in the profession.
Guy Gregory, RICS Rugby Club, collected the award on behalf of James Marshall.
President’s Commendation – The Chartered Surveyors Golfing Society
|
This year, the Chartered Surveyors’ Golfing Society celebrates its centenary. The idea was born in the RICS Lecture Hall one night in November 1906. |
That night, one Sydney James Chesterton arrived late for a sold-out lecture on Drainage and Sanitation, and went instead to the Members’ Room where, with a colleague, they resolved to form the Society.
The Chartered Surveyors’ Golfing Society was one of the first titles to use the term Chartered Surveyor, which the founders were keen to popularise.
Today the Society is extremely active both in the UK and internationally.
Nigel Jupp, the Centenary Captain, received the President’s Commendation on behalf of the Society.
