Brookes alumna celebrated in The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards
Oxford Brookes alumna and sailor Jayne Morris has been shortlisted for The Sunday Times Sure Grassroots Sportswoman of the Year Award, which recognises individuals who have actively engaged with people in their community through sport.
The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards are now in their 37th year and have led the way in recognising and celebrating the outstanding contribution made to sport by women at all levels, from grassroots to elite. Previous winners of the main award include Dame Ellen MacArthur DBE, Paula Radcliffe MBE, Zara Phillips and Dame Laura Kenny DBE.
Jayne’s sailing journey started when she was 10 years old with the Girl Guides, and she began dingy racing during her school years. In 1982, she enrolled at Oxford Polytechnic (as Oxford Brookes University was then known) to study Estate Management. At the Freshers’ Fair, she joined the Sailing Club. In her final year, she became the first woman to be Commodore of the Sailing Club and won a Cup as the first woman in the Laser Class at the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Fleet Racing Championships in Plymouth.
Jayne said: “Thank you to the Oxford Brookes community for the friendships and opportunities that it has given me in life. I fondly remember the minibus trips to Farmoor Reservoir for our sailing sessions, further afield for Fleet racing, and the immense camaraderie that we shared. I would encourage Oxford Brookes students to take a step to try a sport, as you never know where it will take you. And to those already enjoying the student years of sport, you are so fortunate, do welcome newcomers to your sport, and enjoy! In the words of a very good song, ‘Climb every mountain…’.”
After studying in Oxford, Jayne worked as a Chartered Surveyor in London, Paris and Bristol before moving to South Devon with her family. It was through sailing that Jayne was offered her first job with property consultancy Weatherall Green & Smith. Now the Sailing Coordinator at Salcombe Yacht Club, Jayne inspires people of all ages to sail. She is passionate about the club's cadet schemes, expanding boat availability and sessions, and helping to run the extensive sailing programme at the club. She also launched the successful Ladies that Launch for women who are new or returning to sailing, and the Buoys Aloud initiative for men.
In November, Jayne helped on the Committee Boats at the BUCS Championships in Torbay and met a few of Oxford Brookes University Yacht Club student-athletes.
The Sunday Times Sure Grassroots Sportswoman of the Year Award is one of seven awards to be presented early next year. On the shortlist for other awards include Keely Hodgkinson, who won 800m gold in Paris, the Paralympic cyclist and swimmer Dame Sarah Storey DBE and teenage skateboarder Sky Brown. Following public nominations of sportswomen in all categories, a panel of expert judges - including Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill DBE, Rebecca Adlington OBE, Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE and Gabby Logan MBE - helped select the final shortlists.
Winners across all award categories will be announced at a ceremony on Thursday 23 January 2025.