Leeds Rhinos Foundation presented a signed ball to the winner of this year’s Children’s Day logo competition last week after her design was chosen ahead of over 60 other entrants from Primary Schools in Leeds
Year 5 pupil Eliza Thewlis from Morley Newlands Academy had her logo chosen after she thoughtfully incorporated all of the Children’s Day themes into her design to win the competition and see her work featured in on all promotional material for the event.
Children’s Day organised by Yorkshire Cricket Foundation and Leeds Rhinos Foundation saw over 4,000 people attend the stadium on 16th July for a full day of child friendly activities, stage performances, rugby and cricket tournaments along with a chance to meet players from the Leeds Rhinos squad.
Eliza, who enjoys art as one of her favourite subjects at school beat off competition from fellow pupils at her school as well as entrants from other primary schools in the city.
“I was so happy and couldn’t really believe it, at my school there’s lots of other artists, some of my friends are very good and I’m sure there will be other good artists at the other schools who entered as well,” said Eliza.
The final design was displayed in the weeks leading up to the event outside Headingley Carnegie Stadium with a large advert on Saint Michael’s Lane, seen regularly by thousands of visitors to the stadium as well as posted frequently on social media and on Children’s Day promotional videos as well.
“I can’t believe how many people have seen it because I didn’t know how big it was and where it was going to go but we saw it on Children’s Day outside the ground and on social media, so I was a bit surprised,” said Eliza.
Eliza’s parents were also pleased to see their daughter receive recognition for the subject she really enjoys in school.
“I was really proud of Eliza when we found out and her Dad as well, we were just really really proud of her, she loves her art and it’s something she wants to keep doing at high school,” said Mrs Thewlis.
Eliza and her mother visited the event to see the banner up close while also getting to meet some of the Leeds Rhinos players and appear on stage.
“I thought Children’s Day was really good, we got some unicorn glitter at one of the activities and went on stage and did some talking and met some of the players and had a good look around,” said Eliza.
After enjoying the event at Headingley Carnegie, Eliza was also recognised in her school awards assembly where she was presented with the banner and a signed Leeds Rhinos ball in front of the entire school by Leeds Rhinos Foundation Community Manager Gareth Cook.
Cook commented:
“We thought it would be a nice change to this year have a child design the Children’s day logo and we were blown away with Eliza’s design which included a lot of the themes and characteristics of the day."