Twelve exceptional female sports administrators, including the late former Bermuda Olympic Association president Judy Simons, were honoured at the BOA’s Women in Sports Leadership Awards on Sunday.

Simons, who died in January this year at the age of 71, was posthumously recognised at a ceremony organised by the BOA’s Gender Diversity & Inclusion Committee at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. Her award was received by Cathryn Siddle.

Simons was one of six women nominated by the BOA’s Gender Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Former Bermuda National Athletics Association president Donna Raynor, who became the first Bermudian to be elected to the World Athletics Council, received the award for athletics.

Margret Heyliger was the swimming recipient, Katura Horton-Perinchief, the first Black woman to compete in diving at the Olympic Games, received the award for diving.

Heidi Mello, the first Bermudian to lead the Caribbean Equestrian Association, was presented with the award for the horse riding sport.

Branwen Smith-King, the BOA secretary general, a well-known advocate for gender equity during the many years she spent in the United States – first as a student at Springfield College and then as a coach at Tufts University – picked up the award for all sports.

From the six nominations which came from the national sports associations, Latonia Fray picked up the rising star accolade for hockey. In addition to being the national team goalkeeper, the 29-year-old has also served as team manager and is heavily involved in mentoring up-and-coming stars in the sport.

Patty Petty, a founding member of the Bermuda Triathlon Association in 1981, was presented with an award for the multidiscipline sport, while Bermuda Equestrian Federation secretary general Jaime Masters McDowell was recognised for her role in the sport.

Harbour Swim Club head coach Shona Palmer, also a national coach, was acknowledget for her role in swimming and there was recognition for Shequita Parson, a Bermuda Football Association executive committee member who is also a match commissioner.

Leatrice Oatley, a longtime supporter of Fitted Dinghy racing on the island, won the sailing award.

An elated Raynor spoke of the importance of the awards with a decision still to be made on the future of the ceremony.

“We are so delighted to have celebrated these 12 fantastic women,” Raynor said. “We had a successful Girls Symposium on Friday and tonight just capped it off.

“We just wanted to highlight everything that women in sport are doing, not just in Bermuda, but overseas. I think a lot of people were surprised how much of an impact these women are making internationally, in the world of sport.

“There was no way we were going to have this awards ceremony and not honour Judy Simons. We said we’ll see how it goes this year. We’ll sit down with the committee in the next couple of weeks to decide if we do this annually because there are many other women out there we have not celebrated as yet.”

Governor Rena Lalgie applauded the female sports administrators for working tirelessly to uplift sport on the island.

“I’ve got so much thanks and gratitude for the women across Bermuda who are dedicating blood, sweat and tears to facilitate the development of competitive sport in Bermuda,” the Governor said.

“I found the tribute to Judy Simons quite special because I wouldn't be standing in front of you had it not been for her. Judy and I bonded one day because of our love for hockey and sports in general, and I think she was the first person to be able to really welcome me into the sporting community in Bermuda.”

Owen Darrell, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, commended the award winners for their persistence in championing the growth of women’s sports.

“Each of the recipients represents the resilience, leadership and commitment that our ministry is so deeply committed to supporting,” Darrell said.

“We stand with them in their journey recognising not only what they have achieved, but the path they’re forging for future generations of women in sport.”