The Warden has presented the 2025 Gloucestershire Playing Fields Association Awards. These Awards have been supported by the Honourable Company for some years and the Charitable Trust this year entered into a new 3-year agreement, under which four winners would receive £500 each. They were:
Esme Kelly (aged 16, Stroud) – Handball, McKenzie O’Reilly (aged 16, Brockworth) – Para-swimming, Charlie Mason (aged 17, Leckhampton) – Athletics (Javelin) and Isla Pain (aged 17, Cheltenham) – Athletics (Heptathlon and High Jump).
The GPFA Committee, which decides the winners, received 22 nominations and reported that once again the talent and dedication of all those nominated was evident, across a wide variety of sports. The Trustees were given details of all the nominations and could appreciate how difficult it had been to choose the Awardees.
Amongst their many achievements Esme captained the Great Britain Women’s U17 team at the European Championships in Kosovo this year; McKenzie took part in the Swim Wales Summer Nationals in August; Isla represented the South West at the English Schools National Combined events Championships in September and in 2026 will compete in the England athletics national championships for High Jump and Pentathlon; Charlie achieved fourth place in the 2025 English Schools U21 championships and is Gloucestershire County Champion.
Esme was unable to be present so her award was accepted by her mother. The photograph shows (l to r) Esme’s mother, McKenzie O’Reilly, Michael Jones (HCG Warden), Charlie Mason and Isla Pain.
