BUCS round-up

UCLan's Golf teams began their BUCS seasons with a mixed bag of results this week.

The 1st team slipped to a 6-0 loss at Loughborough 1st, but our 2nd & 3rd teams enjoyed home wins against Sheffield 1st & Durham 2nd respectively.

UCLan Rugby League drew 24-24 at Sheffield 1st. Men's Rugby Union 1st won 24-8 at Liverpool 2nd and Women's 1st triumphed 36-12 at home to Salford 1st.

Our Men's Football teams were all in knockout action. The 2nd, 4th & 5th teams all progressed to the next round, but our 3rd team slipped to a 4-1 defeat at Manchester Met 3rd.

Men's Basketball 1st lost 72-63 in their league clash at Northumbria 2nd, but the 2nd team won 80-55 in their Conference Cup tie at Leeds 3rd. UCLan Netball 2nd were knocked out of their cup competition by Keele 1st.

Men's Hockey 1st & 2nd and Women's 1st all successfully reached the next round of the Conference Cup, but Women's 2nd narrowly lost at home to Liverpool 3rd.

Men's Tennis 2nd slumped to a 10-2 cup defeat a Liverpool 1st, but the Women’s 1st team drew 6-6 in the league at Liverpool 2nd.

Men's Badminton 1st drew 4-4 with Manchester Met 1st, while Women's 1st won 6-2 at Manchester 1st. Men’s Table Tennis 2nd won 12-5 at home to Durham 3rd.

BUCS round-up

UCLan's Basketball teams enjoyed a trio of victories on the road. Men's 1st team won 83-66 at Manchester 1st, the 2nd team triumphed 147-29 at Bolton 2nd and Women's 1st won 65-53 at Manchester 1st.

UCLan Netball 1st produced a spirited fightback against Edge Hill 1st to snatch a point in their Northern Division 1A clash.

The team trailed for much of the game, but a late rally saw them clinch a 48-48 draw. Our 2nd & 3rd teams both lost.

UCLan Rugby League won 42-6 at Lancaster 1st. Men’s Rugby Union 1st lost 27-22 at Manchester 2nd, but our 2nd team won 39-16 at Manchester Met 3rd.

Men's Football 2nd & 4th teams both slipped to narrow defeats. The 3rd team won 2-1 at Keele 1st, while our Women's 1st team cruised to a 9-0 success at Lancaster 1st.

Men's Hockey 1st & 2nd teams both lost, but Women's 1st team drew 3-3 with MMU Cheshire 1st. Men's Table Tennis 1st won 17-0 at Liverpool 2nd, but the 2nd team, Squash 1st, Men's Lacrosse 1st and Men's Fencing were all defeated.

Men's Tennis 1st won 8-4 at home to Liverpool 1st, while Men's 2nd and Women's 1st teams picked up 6-6 draws with Chester 2nd and Keele 1st respectively. Men’s Badminton 1st drew 4-4 at LJMU 1st and our 2nd team won 5-3 at Liverpool Hope 1st.

BUCS round-up

UCLan Rugby League began their British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) Northern D2 campaign with a convincing 66-6 win against Chester 1st.

Men's Rugby Union 1st lost 20-14 at home to Manchester Met 1st, but our 2nd team won 41-5 at home to Bangor 2nd.

Men's Football 1st claimed a 3-1 home win against Bangor 1st, and there were also wins for our 2nd & 5th teams. The 3rd team lost 4-2 at home to Salford 1st, while our 4th team drew 3-3 at Manchester Met 6th. Women's Football 1st won 8-1 at home to Bangor 1st.

UCLan Netball 1st lost 62-47 at LJMU 1st, the 2nd team were defeated 42-35 at home to MMU Cheshire 4th, but our 3rd team triumphed 51-4 against Cumbria 3rd.

Women's Basketball 1st opened their season with a 45-28 victory at home to Edge Hill 1st. Salford 1st beat our Men's 1st team 94-51, but our 2nd team enjoyed an 89-40 success against Chester 2nd.

Men's Hockey 1st won 5-2 at home to Cumbria 1st, but the 2nd team slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Manchester 5th. Women's 1st drew 1-1 at Manchester Met 2nd and our 2nd team won 1-0 at home to Salford 2nd.

Men's Table Tennis 1st won 14-3 at home to Lancaster 2nd, while Squash 1st lost 5-0 at Manchester 2nd. Men's Lacrosse 1st and Men's Fencing team were both defeated.

Men's Tennis 1st drew 6-6 with LJMU 1st, while our 2nd team won 12-0 at home to Keele 2nd. Men's Badminton 1st drew 4-4 with Lancaster 1st, the 2nd team beat MMU Cheshire 2nd 8-0 and Women's 1st won 6-2 at Lancaster 1st.

(Image permission: Laura Shepherd)

Arena hosts Breeze Cycling Challenge

UCLan Sports Arena welcomed hundreds of female cyclists as the first Breeze Challenge event came to the North West.

The British Cycling/Sky Ride initiative celebrates the success of the Breeze network and women's cycling, and formed part of a Family Fun Day hosted by Preston City Council.

Olympic Cyclist Emma Pooley was a special VIP guest at the event, which offered a choice of two gorgeous routes – 50km or 100km long. Riders were supported with feed stations, spectator hot spots and many other surprises along the way.

The ride began at the Arena, with the routes taking in some spectacular views. Heading towards Kirkham, riders were able to stretch their legs in pristine Lancashire surroundings before moving north towards Cockerham.

The 50km route cut across Bilsborrow, before heading back to the Arena, whilst the longer route headed deeper into the Lancashire countryside, before heading home past Barnacre and Whittingham.

Breeze Project Manager Sarah Bennett said: "We're just so pleased that everyone has had a great day, and to speak to so many women who have enjoyed themselves has been a real highlight. I'd like to thank everyone who made today so special, especially the volunteers involved, as we really couldn't do this without your help."

Emma Pooley commented: "I feel privileged to have been part of the Breeze Challenge Event today, joining hundreds of women taking part in the 50km or 100km rides. It was such a fantastic atmosphere, smiling faces all round!

"It was really fun for me to meet and support riders along the route, and hear about their cycling experiences and rides with Breeze. For many of the riders, today was their longest ride ever, and I'd like to congratulate them.

"Breeze is a great initiative for women's cycling, a really positive way to encourage women to participate. I hope everyone who did the Breeze Challenge Ride today enjoyed it and will be motivated to ride their bikes even more. I'm really pleased to see this wonderful growth in women's grassroots cycling."

For more information about Breeze Challenge events please click here.

Promising athletes receive funding boost

Young sporting prospects from across Lancashire have been awarded a cash boost to help them achieve their sporting goals.

The promising athletes were awarded a £500 bursary from the Lancashire Rising Star fund to support them in their chosen sports at a presentation ceremony hosted at UCLan.

The project, a collaboration between UCLan Sport, Lancashire Sport Partnership and Lancashire County Council, awards the grants to individuals to cover costs such as travel, training, accommodation, competition fees, and equipment.

In addition, each recipient will receive a package of support from UCLan that includes strength and conditioning services, nutritional advice and support and access to UCLan sports and training facilities.

Adrian Leather, Chief Executive at Lancashire Sport Partnership said: "On behalf of the Lancashire Rising Star Fund I want to congratulate the young athletes on their achievements so far.

"We know that young athletes' families spend a lot of time and money to support their dreams and we hope that we can offer some support along the way.

"We look forward to watching these young athletes achieve their dream of representing their county and country in some of the nation’s biggest sporting competitions."

For more information about the Lancashire Rising Star Fund please click here.

UCLan Cycling on a mission

UCLan Cycling have one big aim for 2014/15 – to regain a coveted track record and title they lost last season.

In 2013, UCLan smashed a long-standing British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Track Cycling Championship record set by Olympian Sir Chris Hoy and his Heriot-Watt University team, but saw Loughborough lower the time at this year's Championships.

Club Chairman James Claydon commented: "This year we’ll be competing in Road Races, Criterium Races, Hill Climbs, the Track Championships and hopefully off the road too.

"The big targets are once again primarily on the velodrome and the road, but the really big hope is to get back the Team Pursuit title and record we lost last year. With new blood in the squad this might be possible.

"Last year we also took home bronze in the Team Sprint, silver in the Points Race and a joint gold and silver in the Devil. Our Sprint Team are aiming to push themselves a few more places in the standings. Now our silver medal Points and Devil rider, Martin Woffindin, isn't at UCLan anymore it just leaves me to defend my Devil title.

"As for the Road Race, the big crash we had in the opening miles set us down two riders last year. This year we've got a strong team, so we hope to bounce back. Our bronze medal placed rider in the Criterium Race, Chris Nicholson, is still with us so maybe with some teamwork a few more medals might be up for grabs in that event.

"Away from the racing side of things the club is hoping to run more group rides than ever before and provide some great opportunities such as a taster session of the velodrome for those who haven't had a go before.

"For more information about how to get involved with the club, please check out the UCLan Cycling Facebook group or email James.