England women’s national team midfielder, Tilly Shires, has made it onto the shortlist for Sportswoman of the Year at this year’s British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Awards.
The award “celebrates the domestic or international success of a student studying at a BUCS member institution. The award recognises the highest possible standard of competition achieved by an eligible female identifying student”.
Tilly, who studied at Durham University before her graduation this summer and was an integral part of their lacrosse team during her three years there as well as their captain, also represents England and has made 13 appearances so far for the national side.
She most recently represented her country at the 2019 Women’s European Lacrosse Championship in Netanya, Israel, where she played in all seven games, scoring nine goals, as England stormed their way to victory in the tournament.
Durham finished top of their league last season and were due to battle Exeter in the Cup Championship Final before coronavirus forced sport to be halted and this was thanks in no small part to captain Tilly who drove the team to success.
Her quality and class was clearly on show during last season’s top of the table clash between Tilly’s Durham side and Nottingham, caught by our England Lacrosse cameras for our BUCS Match of the Week.
Upon receiving the news that she’d been shortlisted for the award, Tilly remarked:
“It’s such an honour to be nominated for this award.
“It is a complete testament to the support and expertise of all those at Team Durham who helped shape my three years there into some of the best.
“They have helped me become the player I am today which wouldn't have been possible without their support and I miss playing with all of my team-mates everyday”.
Tilly is nominated for the award alongside Anna Emilie Moller (Athletics, St. Mary’s University) and Esme Burge (Hockey, University of Nottingham).
The winners of all the BUCS Awards 2020 will be chosen by 34 judges from across the sports’ spectrum and announced in a virtual awards ceremony held on 8 December.