Awards

RAFSAA AWARDS 2011

RAFS-AA presents awards to RAF divers and clubs annually at the AGM. The submission window for entries for the calendar year 2011, covering the period 1 Jan - 31 Dec 11, has now closed. The results will be announced and trophies presented at the RAFSAA AGM 2012, planned for Sat 23 Jun as part of the RAFSAA Dive-In 2012 at Stoney Cove.

Details on how to present entries for the awards and how they are all judged are shown below:

Guidance for Judges

Award Details and Submission Guidelines

STINTON TROPHY FOR BEST ALL ROUND CLUB

Darrol Stinton Trophy Sqn Ldr Darrol Stinton was the founding Secretary of RAFS-AA 1967-1969, when the Association was formed. On his retirement from the RAF he presented the Association with a trophy that was to be used to promote sub-aqua within the RAF. It was decided that clubs would compete for this trophy by submitting a written profile of their Club and its achievements. Sadly Darrol Stinton died on 6 Jan 2012 but we hope that his memory will live on through this award.

Stinton Trophy Award Rules

The Darrol Stinton Trophy Award is open to all RAFS-AA Clubs. RAF Clubs of all sizes and capabilities can compete for the trophy by submitting a written profile of their Club detailing it's achievements throughout the period for which the Award is made; the trophy is awarded to the Club which is judged to have demonstrated the most outstanding performance. Entries should take the form of a written and illustrated submission and be received by the RAFS-AA Awards Officer by the date promulgated each year.

This Award has a deliberately flexible submission format to allow members to produce a presentation which sells their Club and demonstrates their particular strengths and achievements. The Darrol Stinton Trophy is retained by the winning Club for a year. A RAFS-AA Plaque is awarded to a selected runner-up. The Award is judged against these main criteria:

The submission must not exceed 3000 words (approximately 5 typewritten sides of A4), however, the word count does not include magazine articles, letters from other parties outside the Club, or expedition reports included in support of the submission, although they should be viewed in that supporting context and not overshadow the submission itself. The words used may be spread throughout the submission in the form of reports, captions and notes. The submission should show the word count at the end of the document.

The submission should include an introduction by the Club OIC which gives a broad overview of the club and highlights any significant issues it has encountered and overcome. In order to retain the flexible approach, there are no other mandatory topics.

However, to give an idea of topics it may be helpful to include, the following areas may be covered:

Membership. Is the membership fairly static or has there been a change during the year? Has the Club had to train a lot of novices without many experienced divers? What qualifications have been gained?
Diving - What sort of diving has been carried out and how often? How many divers take part in Club diving activities and what percentage of the total membership is this? Where does the Club normally dive and why?
Expeditions - Does the Club organise regular weekend or longer expeditions and how does the level of adventure compare with the size of the Club?
Equipment - What equipment has been recently acquired and by what means? Was it self-financed or purchased with the aid of grants or loans?
Outside Assistance - Has the Club given any assistance to outside agencies?
Pictures - Submissions may be improved with the addition of a few photographs, drawings, graphics, etc.

In summary, the submission will be judged on the quality of a Club's overall achievement during the given period, not just the number of dives or a professionally designed masterpiece. Even if a Club only has a few members, it still stands an equal chance of winning.

DIVER OF THE YEAR

Diver of Year The Diver of the Year Award was introduced in the early/mid 1990s by RAFS-AA and the trophy is presented to the diver who is deemed to have demonstrated the most outstanding performance and dedication to RAF sport diving during the period for which the award is made. Thus it is potentially achievable by any RAFS-AA diver, including those new to the sport. The Diver of the Year Trophy is retained by the winner for a year; they will also receive a small trophy to keep.

Diver of the Year Award Rules

Nominations must be received by the RAFS-AA Awards Officer by the date promulgated each year and should follow the general format below:

Surname: Initials: Rank: Known as:

Club: Date started diving:

Diving qualifications with dates:

Additional qualifications with dates:

Former clubs inc positions held with dates (if known):

Expeditions undertaken and/or led with dates:

RAFS-AA posts held (if any) with dates:

Narrative:

Signature, name, rank and Club of the person submitting the nomination.

JAMIE CHOULES TROPHY

Flt Lt Jamies Choules was a larger than life (in more ways than one) RAF Regiment Officer, who sadly died prematurely while serving at RAF Waddington. He had been a SADS, qualifying in March 1984, and had served on the RAFSAA Committee while also being a leading light at club level. To maintain his memory, Jamie's Parents presented a trophy to RAFSAA. The Jamie Choules Trophy is awarded to a diver who is a member of a RAFS-AA Club and is judged to have attained outstanding performance in and/or dedication to the promotion of Sport Diving in the RAF, possibly over a protracted period. A diver may be nominated by any other Club member. A written nomination must be received by the RAFS-AA Awards Officer no later than closing date shown above. The Jamie Choules Trophy is retained by the winner for a year; they will also receive a small trophy to keep.

Jamie Choules Trophy Rules

Nominations should include any of the following information that is applicable:

Surname: Initials: Rank: Known as:

Club: Date started diving:

Diving qualifications with dates:

Additional qualifications with dates:

Former clubs inc positions held with dates (if known):

Expeditions undertaken and/or led with dates:

RAFS-AA posts held (if any) with dates:

Narrative:

Signature, name, rank and Club of the person submitting the nomination.

PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD

Photography Award The Photographic Award is open to all members of RAFS-AA clubs. Submissions are to consist of a portfolio containing 6 underwaterphotographs as either, slides, prints or digital images. Postproduction manipulation of images is permitted.

Photgraphy Award Rules

Submissions must comply with the following:

All photographs must have been taken during the competition year (1 Jan - 31 Dec).
Each photograph must have a caption or description of the photo, the location and the approximate date which the photo was taken.
The portfolio must reach the Awards Officer no later than the date shown above.
All entries must be clearly marked with the entrant's name and club.
All images within a portfolio must be of the same type, as follows:

Slides - 35mm (not glass mounted).
Prints - Colour (7" x 5"minimum).
Prints - Black and white (7" x 5"minimum)
Digital Photographs.

There is no limit to the number or type of portfolios each entrant may submit. However, in past years, potential winners have been unsuccessful because they diluted 6 really good shots across 2 or 3 portfolios.

The photographs can have been taken in either British or foreign waters and local photographs are encouraged. There is a first and second prize for the best photographic portfolio. The winner will hold the trophy for a year and will be presented with a memento to keep. The runner-up will be presented with a RAFS-AA Plaque to keep.

VIDEOGRAPHY AWARD

Video Award With underwater videography and digital editing becoming more readily accessible to all, RAFSAA decided to introduce an award for prowess in this arena in the early 2000s.

Videography Award Rules

A submission for the Videography Award should comprise of a video with a running time of no more than 5 minutes and it will be judged on its impact, story, video technique, editing, narration and music.

The video footage must have been shot during the period for the Award and must reach the Awards Officer no later than the date promulgated. The winner will hold the trophy for a year and will also be presented with a memento to keep.

POST EXPEDITION REPORT

This prize was introduced by RAFS-AA in the mid 1990s recognise the high standard of Post Expedition Reports that were being produced after diving expeditions.

Post Expedition Report Award Rules

A Post Expedition Report should reflect the needs of a PXR for WO FD AT by showing how the expedition has achieved its aims and overcame particular issues, and will also be judged on the impact and overall presentation of the report.

The Expedition must have finished during the Award period and entries must be received by the RAFS-AA Competitions Officer no later than the date promulgated above.

ASCENSION ISLAND CONSERVATION AWARD

The Ascension Island Conservation Award was introduced in 2004 by RAFS-AA and is awarded to the RAFS-AA Expedition which has contributed the most to the work of The Ascension Island Conservation Group during the period for which the Award is made. The competition is judged by the Ascension Island Conservation Officer.