SEAT and Yvan Muller receive their 2008 WTCC trophies in Monaco

The 2008 season drew to a close at the traditional FIA Gala Award ceremony in Monaco, where SEAT stood out and picked up the prizes that distinguish the brand and its representative driver Yvan Muller as World Touring Car champions.

SEAT and official driver Yvan Muller shared the spotlight at the event held in Monte Carlo, where SEAT Sport director Jaime Puig received the trophy proclaiming SEAT World Manufacturers’ Champion and Yvan Muller the World Touring Car Championship trophy. At his side, Gabriele Tarquini was given the runner-up trophy.

The three world champions were joined by their cars on stage at the event. The SEAT Leon TDI WTCC that Muller won the title with at the race held in Macau was one of the highlights, as it is the first Diesel powered car to win a World Championship in motorsport history.

Yvan Muller: “You have to do your best to win a world championship, but at the same time you have to rely on a great team to give you that opportunity. SEAT Sport gave me that opportunity. I also have to thank my mechanics and all my team mates, because we all progressed together and worked hard together during the season.”

SEAT Sport director Jaime Puig: “We are all enormously satisfied because after attending previous FIA award ceremonies we are finally the centre of attention thanks to the titles we’ve won this year. The SEAT Sport team has had an extraordinary season and the trophies we’ve picked up tonight are the recognition of the hard work and efforts of our entire team.”

Trophy News from Malvern, UK

Dyson Perrins Prizewinners

Foundation prizes.

C W Dyson Perrins Prize for Art: Benjamin BrownMrs Dyson Perrins Prize for Textiles: Junior: Hayley Phelps; Senior: Claire James.

Father Cooke Memorial Prize for Religious Education: Callum Jolliffe.

Friends of Dyson Perrins Prize (outstanding contribution to life of the school): Lloyd Merrick, Hannah Ross.

Subject prizes.

Art: Key stage 3 Hannah Barnbrook; Key stage 4 Ewan Cassell.

Business studies/economics: Key stage 4 Thomas Sandry, Rory Clark; Gladys Evans Cup for Business Studies: Zoe Turner, Lloyd Merrick.

Dance: The Junior Dance Trophy: Rhian Alford; The Senior Dance Trophy: Gemma Crowe.

Drama: Key stage 3 Beth Massam, Reuben Mason; Key stage 4 Kimberly Hill, Grace Oliver.

Design and technology: Key stage 3 Hayley Phelps, Jake Smith; The Sadie Copeland Cup for Textiles Technology: Emma Whittle; D & C Trophy for outstanding achievement in design and technology: James Kerr; C & D Trophy for excellence in design and technology: Joseph Wilks; Marion Morris Trophy for food technology: Dominique Boulton. Child Development Cup: Emma Baker.

Health & Social Care Award: Lisa Loveridge.

Steven Taylor Memorial Trophy: Jason Eacock.

English: Key stage 3 Ella Charles, Peter Furze; Key stage 4 Karina Lage, Grace Oliver; Mackinnon Prize for Poetry: Sophie Sheppard.

Geography: Key stage 3 Abigail Neal, Peter Furze; Geography Cup (GCSE): Lisa Loveridge; Geography Cup (A-level): Rebecca Swallow.

History: Key stage 3 Peter Furze, Matthew Evans; Key stage 4 Lisa Loveridge, Tim Green; The History Shield: Lloyd Merrick.

ICT: Key stage 3: Selvan Thanizh Irai; Key stage 4: Emma Baker.

Mathematics: Key stage 3 Matthew Stobbs, Edward Lake; Key stage 4 Sophie Baker, Christian Barker; Mrs Biggs Memorial Cup for Mathematics: Hoang Hai Lam.

Modern Foreign Languages: Key stage 3: Skye Gamble, Adam Marschell; Key stage 4: Katherine Leeming, Sian Pugh; Mayor of Malvern Cup for Languages: Mari Pugh.

Music: Janet Sweeney Cup: Daniel Soley; Margaret Tarr Cup: James Godfrey; Mark Scivier Music Technology Cup: Ross Fraser.

Physical Education: Upson Trophy for Soccer: Samuel Rathbone; Sandra Gregory Shield for PE: Peter Furze; Michael Boswell Memorial Cup for Basketball: Joseph Wilks; Michael Boswell Memorial Cup for Running: Phoebe Gumbley; Burge Trophy for the most outstanding sporting achievement: Fynn Page; Jury Trophy for services to school athletics: Daniel Scully.

Religious Education: Key stage 3 Christina Bligh, Beth Massam; Key stage 4: Andrew Green.

Science: Key stage 3: Matthew Stobbs, Joshua Newman; John Dymock Memorial Rose Bowl for Additional Science: Sophie Baker; Doreen Fray Memorial Trophy for Science: Chloe Walton; Vernon Jones Trophy for Science: Daniel Freeth.

Other cups and trophies.

Father Cooke Memorial Cup for Progress: Lisa Loveridge.

Jeremy Cooper Memorial Cup (pupil who has brought the most distinction to school): Alexandra Rastall, Natalie Boden, Matthew Evans.

Library Shield: Sam Powell.

Work Experience Shield: Adam Roberts.

Prizes for sixth form students.

GCSE: Best GCSE results: Grace Oliver; Achievement: Emma Baker, Sophie Baker, Benjamin Brown, Sarah Fraser, Karina Lage, Rachel Lane, Sian Pugh; Progress: Daniel Lowndes, Rebecca Ash; A-level: Callum Jolliffe, Lloyd Merrick, Mari Pugh, Emma Whittle; AS-level: Lucy Bligh, Tony Lake Alexandra Rastall, Francesca Spalding

Trophy News from Chandigarh, India

Mount Carmel School, Sector 47, organized its 17th annual day-cum founder’s function today at Sector 18. Nearly 400 students of class V to X presented an entertainment cultural programme on the occasion.

The programme began with ‘‘Pranjali,’’ a prayer dance, which was followed by the school head girl welcoming the parents and guests. The cultural items comprised of Mount Carle Melodies and Christmas Carol, a play by Charles Dickens. P.I. Sabu, regional officer of CBSE, was the chief guest for the function. Nearly 60 students were awarded for excellence in academics and 20 students were awarded best-all round trophies for the 2002-03 session. Rev Samuel John Memorial Rolling trophy for the best house of the school was awarded to Wordsworth house.

The Rolling trophy for the best house of duty was bagged by Milton house and Surinder Bala memorial rolling trophy for the best student of the school (seniors) in cultural activities was given to Jonathan Ivan Charles of Class VIII.

Poonam Bhatt Rolling trophy for the best all-round student of the school was was awarded to Aneesh Chandran of Class X. Ashok Lakera memorial Rolling Trophy for the highest aggregate marks in science and mathematics was awarded to Nitin Pathania. Arpana Chakravorthy Rolling trophy for the highest marks in science and mathematics in CBSE examination 2003 was bagged by Sonal Kapoor. The best dressed class Rolling trophy was bagged by VII-C.

A workshop on time management was organised in Satluj Public School, Sector 4, Panchkula, by wing commander Sabharwal, director of Aero Quiz Academy. The students were guided on the importance of time and were given tips on how to make the best of their time by effective planning. Sabharwal’s main emphasis was on making students realise that ‘‘time is precious and it cannot be restored.’’

Students bring home medals

Students of Delhi Public School, Himshikha Pinjore, have won medals at sports events organised at Yamunanagar and Panchkula. Medals were won by DPS Pinjore at the state-level roller skating championship, 2003, held at Yamunanagar. Mudit Gupta, Anshul Sharma, Sanchi Ahuja and Garima Gupta were the medal winners. Mudit Gupta has been selected for National Skating Championship 2003 schedules for January 2004. Congratulating the students, principal Seema Malik encouraged them to face any challenge in life head on.

Declamation contest held

A declamation contest was organised by the Satya Sai Seva Organisation in Sector 8 DAV Senior Secondary School, Panchkula. The students spoke on topics that concern the society. B.B Gupta, principal of DC Model School Sector 7, Panchkula, Dr Rajinder Kaur, the state convenor of Bal Vikas Wing, were the guest of honour on the occasion. The contest was held in both Hindi and English. Results: I.Sanju class IV.Topic: Unity of all Faiths. II. Ritu class IX.Topic: I can do better. III. Shilpi class XI.Topic: Keep surrounding clean. IV. Megha class IX.Topic: Unity of all faiths.

Trophy News from Blacktown, Austrailia

Will Wins the Scott Kalitta Trophy in Sydney

It took an extra day due to Saturday rain showers, but Kalitta Motorsports Top Fuel star Hillary Will managed to win the inaugural Scott Kalitta Memorial Trophy Sunday by winning the Shannons USA versus Australia Top Fuel Showdown at Western Sydney Int’l Dragway in Sydney, Australia.

Crew chief Jim Oberhofer tuned Will to the best pass of the event in the final round Sunday afternoon when she roared to a 4.743 at 303.16 mph against runner-up Terry Sainty, who posted a 5.284 at 260.51 mph.

“This means so much to me and this team,” said Will, who has now claimed Top Fuel titles in three different sanctioning bodies (ANDRA, NHRA, and IHRA). “To get this trophy and take it back to the States is such an honor for us. Scott was my mentor, and he was like a brother to me. We miss him so much, but we are so happy to win this trophy for Connie, Doug, Scott’s wife Kathy, and his boys, Corey

A promising young actor from Bourne, England scooped up five trophies at the Peterborough Drama Festival. Andrew Rakowski, who is 18, was thrilled to win these trophy cups for drama.

He has been involved in the festival in previous years and said: “It feels good to win these awards but I don’t do this for the trophies.”

Andrew won in the categories for solo acting, dialogue, verse speaking, Shakespeare and best overall performance.

He said: “I came joint first with someone else for the solo acting and we are sharing the trophy.”

Andrew still attends youth drama at Tolethorpe and is working towards achieving a gold drama award from LAMDA.

Trophies for drama, music, and all activities