A CHAMPION marathon runner told pupils at her former school to ‘grasp every opportunity in life’ in a motivational speech.

Addressing the annual Windermere School speech day, Dr Rebecca Robinson praised teachers for making her the success she is today.

The 28-year-old guest of honour said Windermere pupils were lucky to have teachers that gave ‘such great encouragement’.

“They were always putting in extra, so that when tasks seemed daunting, there was support to go for it; something that’s hard to replace once you leave, but a springboard into a positive approach to life that is invaluable.”

Dr Robinson attended both Elleray Preparatory and the senior school, leaving in 2001.

Head teacher Ian Lavender also addressed parents and pupils at the event, discussing changes made to the school this year.

A new timetable to include one more lesson a day and revised terms were among some of the biggest changes the head has made during his third year at the school.

“We have introduced a tutoring system and a new academic programme. We have welcomed a number of new staff and we have taken the views of students on board, through question-naires and listening to their own suggestions,” he said.

He also used his address to urge pupils not to be afraid of the future and to take part in ‘active’ rather than defensive learning; ‘learning by doing’.

“We must continue to provide opportunities,” said Mr Lavender.

“But more importantly, we must continue to try to su-pport opportunities, when the students bring them to us.”

He also praised upper sixth students Richard Flint, Poppy Bullard and Pippa Smith for winning a national debating competition.

In a final note he paid tribute to former school head Michael Jenkins, who died in May.

The headmaster’s prize went to German student Anja Ungeheur for ‘always thinking of others, cementing and strengthening a community’.

Other winners included Alexandra Leahy who won the Fox Award for service to the community, Francesca Cutolo for the Round Square Bowl and Richard Flint the High Sheriff’s Prize for work. Dr Robinson gave The Robinson Cup for running to Holly Wybergh.

Prize winners External awards. National Rotary Youth Speaks Competition: Poppy Bullard, Richard Flint, Philippa Smith. Intermediate Mathematics Olympiad: Emma Russell. Mary Wakefield Festival. Piano Solo: Sara Hedvicakova. Mary Gass Rose Bowl: Sara Hedvicakova. Staveley Cup: Matthew Jarvis, Ryan Matthews (on behalf of Windermere School Madrigal Group). String Solo (Years 9-10): Helena Farrell. Mabel H Pierce Cup: Helena Farrell. Songs from the Shows (Years 7-9) Helena Farrell. John Sydall Cup: Helena Farrell. External Individual Trophie. Senior-Girls Combined Events Cumbria Winner: Holly Nelson. External Team Trophies: U12 South Cumbria Gilrs Mini Hockey Winners Trophy Lucy Plumb; U13 North Cumbria Girls Hockey Winners Trophy collected by Lucy Brierley: U14 North Cumbria Girls Hockey Winners Trophy collected by Emma-Leigh Cooksey; U14 Boys Hockey County Runners up Trophy collected by Ben Carradus; U16 Boys Hockey County Runners-up Trophy collected by James Kirkpatrick; U18 Boys Hockey County Runners-up Trophy collected by Richard Flint; Junior-Girls Combined Events Cumbria Champions Trophy collected by Lucy Yearsley; U12 South Lakes Netball Winners Trophy collected by Lucy Gale; U13 South Lakes Netball Winners Trophy collected by Holly Hesford; U15 South Lakes Netball Winners Trophy collected by Georgina Rose. Friends of Windermere School Prizes (awarded for sustained effort throughout the year).Year 7: Lucy Gale; Rachel Marriott; Lucy Plumb; Zena Rodriguez. Year 8: Miles Blanch; Lucy Brierley; Robyn Caldwell; Elizabeth Holliday. Year 9: Isobel Barton; Bethan Cogger; Megan Rea; Emily Servante; Lucy Yearsley. Year 10: Mary Garrett; Laura Haynes; Ana Perez; Elias Schmoelz. Year 11: Charlotte Doerken, Jacky Keung; Evie Plumb; Moritz Wiedemann. Tutor Group Academic Prizes (awarded for high academic achievement throughout the year (Years 7-11). Year 7: Abigail Dickson; Fergus Jackson; Elizabeth Linnane; Megan Redhead. Year 8: William Chamberlain; Florence Peyton-Jones; Alexandra Redhead; Alexander Rose; Isabelle Svatins. Year9: Grania Cookson; Daniel Hird; Charlotte Servante; Chiara Toffolo; Year10: Antonia Feilden; Edward Lavender; Freya Horsley; Georgina Rose; Year 11: Bethany Armstrong; Jenny Broomby; Alice Chadwick; Emma Russell. Open Prizes - Lower and Middle School (Years 7-11): Art Alice Chadwick; The Banner Cup for Athletics Jacky Keung; Business Studies Elias Schmoelz; Dance Candice Dobson, Lucy Gale; Drama Antonia Feilden, Amelia Joy; Talent in English (years 7-9) Emilie Waterworth; English (Years 10-11) Evie Plumb; Food and Nutrition Robert Chen; Geography Fieldwork Prize Abigail Fry; History Tansy Parkinson; Mathematics Arran Cooper-Davis; UK Intermediate Mathematical Challenge 2011 - Bronze Certificate Antonia Feilden; Jakob Protschakow; UK Intermediate Mathematical Challenge 2011 - Silver Certificate Arran Cooper-Davis; Jacky Keung; Evie Plumb; Georgina Rose; UK Intermediate Mathematical Challenge 2011 - Gold Certificate Jacob Moses;Emma Russell; Moritz Wiedemann. Languages. The Tonnet Cup for Progress in French Alice Chadwick, Moritz Wiedemann - Gernan Grace Pattinson - Spanish Evie Plumb; Emma Russell. Music Evie Plumb; Benjamin Stone. Outdoor Education Thomas Simpson. Open Prizes - Lower and Middle School (Years 7-11) continued: Science. Biology Alexander Bell; Chemistry Alice Chadwick, Moritz Wiedemann; Physics Edward Lavender; Round Square Charlotte Doerken; Sport Jenny Broomby, James Kirkpatrick. Sixth Form Academic Prizes: Lower Sixth Alexandra Costea-Ifrim; Charity Cookson; Amanda Marriott. Upper Sixth Poppy Bullard; Richard Flint; Philippa Smith; Mathematics Dennis Lai. Sixth Form Open (continued): Languages. French Richard Flint; German Hanna Junti; German Literature (A1) Sophia Ehmke; Italian Anastasia Pojiltov; Spanish Richard Flint, Philippa Smith; Music Leonard Kessler; Adam Clark Prize for Rock Music Edward Majdalany; Outdoor Education Adam Cunningham-Cox. Sciences. Biology Sarah Butterworth; Caroline Wiedemann; Chemistry Hanna Junti; Physics Richard Flint. Open Sport. The Martin/Martindale Cup for Athletics: Holly Nelson. Peter Dyson Cup for Junior Cricket: Ben Carradus. The Susan Barker Unsworth Cup for Senior Cricket: Scott Brook. The Tweedale Cup for Excellence in Games: Richard Flint. Parents/Teachers Football Club Achievement Trophy: Alberto Lucas.Open Sport (continued) The Holgate Trophy for Progress in Sailing: Claire Fletcher. The Hodge Howe Trophy for Kayaking: Ben Sharp. The Individual All-Round Sports Cup: Poppy Bullard. The Pickering Cup for Individual Tennis: James Kirkpatrick. The Robinson Cup for Cross-Country Running: Holly Wybergh. Open Prizes. Rebecca Bailey Endeavour Cup: Matthew Jarvis. Avril Ramsay Cup for Dance: Amelia Joy, Natalie McGone. Fox Award for Outstanding Service to the Community: Alexandra Leahy. Ingham Trophty - (for extensive contribution to the school without gaining formal recognition) Sofia Folger, Lena Ungeheuer. International Prize: Hannah Junti. Round Square Bowl: Francesca Cutolo. The Nicholson Shield - (for extensive contribution to the School community, especially in a team enviroment): Poppy Bullard. Roger Stock Prize for Enthusiasm in Mathematics: Torben Schulthoff. Ryans Quaich - (for commitment in the Performing Arts especially musical potential): Claire Constance. The Derek Scott Cup - (meeting every challenge with courage and good humour) Ryan Matthews. Open Prizes (continued). The High Sheriff’s Cup for Work: Richard Flint. The Marga Stofberg Prize - Student Nomination: To be announced. Head of Lower School: Carol Chi. Head of Middle School Award: Jakob Protschakow. Head of Sixth Form Award: Sara Hedvicakova. The Headmasters Prize: To be announced. The Head Boys and Head Girls Prize: Poppy Bullard, Richard Flint.