BUCS round-up

UCLan Rugby League kicked off the new British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) season with a hard fought 16-16 draw at Salford 1st.

Men's Rugby Union 1st won 56-0 at home to Edge Hill 1st, but our 2nd team lost 98-21 at Salford 1st.

There were mixed fortunes for our football teams, with defeats for our Men's 1st & 4th teams and a 2-2 draw for the 2nd team at Cumbria (Carlisle) 1st.

Our 3rd team won 2-1 at Keele 1st, while the 5th team cruised to a 7-1 victory at Chester (Warrington) 2nd.

Women's 1st lost 5-2 at Leeds Beckett 2nd, but the 2nd team secured a 14-1 win at MMU Cheshire 4th.

Women's Hockey 1st enjoyed a 4-1 victory at home to Manchester 3rd, while the 2nd team triumphed 1-0 at Chester 2nd. Men's 1st & 2nd teams lost at Mancsheter Met 1st and Chester (Warrington) 1st respectively. Men's Lacrosse 1st were defeated 9-3 at Northumbria 1st and Women's 1st team crashed 14-2 at Liverpool 2nd.

UCLan Netball 1st (above) started their Northern Division 2A campaign in impressive fashion with a 60-32 win at home to Keele 1st. The 2nd team lost 35-28 against Liverpool 5th, but our 3rd team sealed a 31-9 home victory against Manchester Met 7th.

Men's Basketball 1st lost 99-66 at Northumbria 2nd, but our 2nd team romped to a 102-35 home success against MMU Cheshire 4th. Women's 1st team also enjoyed a comfortable victory, winning 121-7 at home to Liverpool Hope 1st. Men's Volleyball 1st won 3-0 at Leeds 1st.

Men's Tennis 1st & 2nd teams both lost, but Women's 1st drew 6-6 at home to Keele 1st. Men's Table Tennis 1st beat Manchester 2nd 10-7.

Men's Squash 1st won 3-0 at home to Salford 1st, but our 2nd, 3rd & Women's 1st teams all lost. Men's Badminton 1st sealed a comfortable 8-0 win at home to LJMU 1st. The 2nd team fell 7-1 against Manchester Met 1st, but our Women's 1st team battled to a 5-3 victory at home to Leeds Beckett 1st.

The Aerobathon is back!

Do you want to take part in one of Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre's biggest events of the year?

Aerobathon 11 is your opportunity to do just that. The ever popular mix of Zumba, Aerobics, Samba Drumming and a little bit more Zumba returns to STFSC on Tuesday, 20th October, 5-6.30pm.

The dress code for this event is pink and black and there are also 250 limited edition 'T' Shirts available on a first come, first served basis, so get there early to receive yours.

Please email STFSC to book your place.

Meet the Athletes evening

We're looking for final year or postgraduate Sports students to work alongside the coaches and parents of the region's up and coming young talent as part of the Lancashire Rising Star initiative.

This is a great opportunity for you to enhance your CV while gaining insight into athlete development.

The Lancashire Rising Star Fund gives young athletes from across the region the opportunity to receive a grant to cover costs such as travel, training, accommodation, competition fees, and equipment.

Each recipient also receives a package of support from UCLanSport that includes strength and conditioning services, nutritional advice and support and access to UCLan sports and training facilities.

Anyone interested please attend the 'Meet the Athletes' evening at Greenbank Lecture Theatre, Wednesday, 7 October, 6.00pm. Alternatively, please email Keith McGregor for more details.

UCLanSport Rugby Union Floodlit Cup 2015

Rising sports stars receive funding boost

Twelve talented local athletes have been awarded a cash boost to help them achieve their sporting goals.

The Lancashire Rising Star Fund, in association with Lancashire Sport Partnership and UCLanSport, awards grants of £500 to individuals to support the cost of travel, training, accommodation, competition fees and equipment.

In addition to the money each athlete receives a tailored package of support from UCLanSport that includes strength and conditioning services, nutritional advice and support, and access to the university's sports and training facilities.

Up-and-coming skier Bethany Widdup (left) and promising golfer Ryan Anderton are amongst those receiving the award, which has been given to athletes across a variety of sports including football, cycling and swimming.

Adrian Leather, Chief Executive at Lancashire Sport Partnership, said: "Families can spend well in excess of £5,000 a year supporting young athletes' progress in their chosen sport. We want to help them achieve their potential and realise their dreams of competing at the highest level.

"We are looking forward to working with all 12 athletes over the next year and hopefully they might be competing for the country in future Championships and Olympic and Paralympic Games."

To find out more about the latest recipients of the award or for information about supporting Lancashire’s future sporting stars please click here.

Institute golfers win USA battle

Golfers from our partners Myerscough College have retained the Mike O'Keefe Collegiate Ryder Cup after a thrilling contest against Ohio State University.

Ten students and two staff travelled to Columbus to compete in the second playing of the tournament and returned home victorious after a 6.5 – 5.5 win. The event brings together Ohio State University's Professional Golf Management Programme and the UCLanSport/Myerscough International Institute for Golf Education (IIGE) Partnership.

In addition to playing two competitive rounds at the Collegiate home of Jack Nicklaus, the Scarlet Course, the students were treated to watching the final round of The Memorial Tournament, one of The PGA Tour's premier events, held at Murfield Village Golf and Country Club.

They also played a further five rounds of golf, including at prestigious venues such as Scioto Country Club and the Firestone Golf and Country Club. The group also toured the University's 105,000 capacity American Football Stadium, watched a Columbus Clippers baseball game and visited Jack Nicklaus Museum.

A replica of the real Ryder Cup was made for the event and presented to Myerscough at the end of the contest. It's hoped the competition will be held annually, with Myerscough aiming to host Ohio next year to defend their crown.

Stuart Priestley, Course Leader for Golf Management, commented: "We've tried for a number of years to get this event off the ground and we're delighted to have finally now completed two tournaments.

"Ohio have been formally invited to return to UK next year to take on Team Myerscough to defend our title on home soil, and we'll hopefully be making the event an annual fixture in both our academic calendars - a superb addition to our already extensive provision of enrichment activities we already offer."

For more information about The International Institute for Golf Education (IIGE) please click here. To view a selection of pictures from the trip please click here.

UCLan students help England to Four Nations win

UCLanSport students Joe Gilpin and Aaron Hall enjoyed international success as England Universities retained their University Rugby League Four Nations title in emphatic fashion.

England began the tournament with a comfortable victory against Scotland, before coming from behind to defeat hosts Ireland. A final day success against Wales ensured England remained undefeated to secure their second successive title.

Head Coach Colin Baker was delighted to see his first Four Nations end in victory: "Everyone involved with the squad is over the moon to have come away winning the tournament," he said. "A lot of hard work on and off the field went into this and it's been outstanding to see us retain the title.

"It was my first involvement in the student game in an international tournament and I thought the playing standard was great. It was a really competitive tournament over the three days it was played and it was good to be a part of it and to come away as the champions."

Joe Gilpin added: "It was a huge achievement to win the Four Nations against tough opposition with a great bunch of lads and excellent coaching staff, and the experience is something I'll never forget."