2024 UKAF Sports Awards: Top military athletes celebrated in ceremony in London

Royal Navy rifle shooter Sub Lieutenant Theo Dodds and Army pentathlete Second Lieutenant Kerenza Bryson took home the top honours at the UK Armed Forces Sports Awards which have taken place at the RAF Club in London.

Sub Lt Dodds took home UKAF Sportsman of the Year after a successful year in full-bore and small-bore shooting, with the highlight being competing at the highest level for Great Britain in South Africa.

He was awarded ahead of Army rugby player Cam McDonald and Royal Air Force water polo player Simon Almond.

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He said: "I started this sport now 16 years ago and you plink along as long as you can and you do your best, and you see these absolute gods up at the top of the sport.

"I just got back from the World Championships in South Africa competing with them and it's amazing to not quite be on their level but getting there.

"They're amazing people to compete alongside and it's a huge amount of fun to be where I am and hopefully passing it on to the Navy team as much as I can as well."

Pentathlete 2Lt Bryson was awarded UKAF Sportswoman of the Year after winning bronze at last year's World Pentathlon Championships in Bath, where she also secured Great Britain a quota place for this year's Olympics in Paris.

She is now on course to be selected for Team GB for this summer's games.

2Lt Bryson, who is currently competing at a World Cup event in Turkey and was therefore unable to attend the ceremony, was awarded ahead of RAF rugby player Carys Williams-Morris and Navy boxer Sophie Colebourn.

In a video message, she said: "To even be nominated for the UK Armed Forces Sports Award is amazing so, to be chosen to be the winner, I feel truly honoured.

"I'd like to thank Army Sport and my regiment 165 Port & Maritime RLC Reserves, who have wholeheartedly supported me over the last few years.

"They have allowed me to juggle my reserve career with pursuing my Olympic dream and my medical career, which has not been easy, so for that I am extremely grateful."

The Team of the Year award was announced ahead of the ceremony, and that went to the Army women's Tug of War team, who successfully competed for England at the World Championships in Switzerland, and Official of the Year went to RAF and GB Bobsleigh manager Mark Silva.