UCLan Cycling join the Revolution

UCLan Cycling will take part in the opening event of the prestigious Revolution Series 2014/15.

Our men's team will join Loughborough, Southampton and Glasgow in a head-to-head Team Pursuit contest to decide the UK's University Champions.

Hosted at the iconic Lee Valley VeloPark, the event forms part of a weekend of elite track cycling which is expected to draw a bumper crowd.

The Revolution Series has established itself as the UK's premier track cycling series and is the next big event in the elite track cycling calendar following the recent Commonwealth Games.

The Varsity race will build on the legacy of Glasgow 2014 and the London 2012 Olympics which aims to promote and encourage cycling amongst school and university students.

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. Loughborough lowered the time at this year's Championships and UCLan will be keen to gain revenge.

FACE Partnership MD James Pope said: "We're delighted to be introducing a Varsity race into the Revolution programme this season. As always, we want to ensure that the racing we put on is as exciting as possible and I can't think of a more intense rivalry in sport than between British Universities.

"Olympic Champions Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton were both BUCS track cycling record-holders, so we're expecting high-quality performances from these teams. It's great to be able to expand on our support of the future stars of British cycling by inviting these students to demonstrate their talent and race alongside such prestigious names in UK sport."

The race will take place on Friday, 24th October. For ticket information please click here.

England defeat Aussies at UCLan

England's Table Tennis stars secured a 7-3 win over Australia in their final international before the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

In front of a big crowd at UCLan's Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, Paul Drinkhall, Liam Pitchford and Andrew Baggaley won their Men's singles matches, with Drinkhall & Baggaley teaming up to win a thrilling doubles encounter. Danny Reed & Sam Walker put the icing on the cake in the final doubles match to seal an impressive 5-0 victory.

The Women's team found their Australian counterparts a tougher nut to crack, but a singles win for Joanna Parker and doubles success for Kelly Sibley & Tin-Tin Ho added another two points to the overall total.

UCLan's Academic Director of Sport Dr Adrian Ibbetson said he was delighted to welcome the teams to Preston: "It was another fantastic event that builds on the very strong partnerships we have locally with Preston Table Tennis Club and nationally with Table Tennis England.

"Table Tennis is a focal sport at UCLan and is important to the sporting 'fabric' within the City. It was a pleasure to welcome the Australian team back to Preston and UCLan again for another Ashes showdown with England. It was both teams last competitive 'hit' before they compete at the Commonwealth Games; we wish them all well."

David Grecic graduation message

Student's Palmer Cup delight

UCLanSport golfer Louis Tomlinson helped Europe win the college version of the Ryder Cup against the USA.

Louis and Team Europe competed in the recent Palmer Cup event at Walton Heath, with the hosts securing a comfortable 18.5 – 11.5 success.

Since its inception in 1997, the tournament has become the biggest event of its type in the world. Named after the legendary Arnold Palmer, it brings together top college players from both sides of the Atlantic.

Alongside the Ryder Cup and Walker Cup, it’s one of only three golf events where Europe compete against the USA.

Louis played a huge role in Team Europe's success, earning 2.5 points, including a half in the foursomes and a one-hole win in the fourballs, before going on to register a 5&4 victory in one of his singles matches.

The 20-year-old, who has just completed a Foundation Degree in Golf Performance, qualified for Team Europe after winning the annual R&A Foundation Scholars Tournament at St Andrews earlier this year.

He said: "I went into the event not really expecting much and walked away as a champion. It turned into one of the best weeks of my life. I'm very honoured to have been asked to play. Not many people get the chance to play at this level.

"In the first two rounds I played alongside Spaniard, Pep Angles, and we came through our games undefeated. The singles was tougher as I was up against the number one amateur player in the world, Ollie Schniederjans. He's world class and got eight birdies in 15 holes during his round, but I'm proud I still pushed him all the way.

"The whole event was really well organised. I fitted in straight away and everyone made me feel very welcome. The players were catered for perfectly."

Louis undertook his degree at the International Institute for Golf Education (IIGE) at Myerscough College. IIGE is a unique partnership between UCLan and Myerscough College, blending academic and research expertise with an established centre of golf education set in its own beautiful grounds, with a golf course and high quality playing and coaching staff.

Louis has no plans to turn pro just yet, but is continuing his education in the USA after gaining a three year placement to play and study in Arkansas.

He added: "IIGE helped me so much. I've learned a lot from my tutor, Adam Smith, in areas such as performance, nutrition and biomechanics, which are all crucial to the modern golfer. I feel I've really progressed since I've been here and the college gives players the chance to improve and incorporate these elements into their game.

"I want to improve my handicap to enable me to compete at the top of amateur game before I take the next step. Of course the ultimate dream is to be a top professional and win majors. I'm looking forward to the future."

UCLan claims impressive Games result

UCLan staff produced some excellent performances at the World Corporate Games 2014 event held in Liverpool at the end of June.

Our Women's 5-a-side football team (left) retained their title, Steve Abbott (Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre) also bagged gold in the Men's Open Cycling Road Race and Paul Lightfoot (Marketing) won the 5K (30-39) race.

The UCLan Dragonboat team secured bronze in the long race, going on to claim 6th place in the overall championship table (out of 54 entrants).

Wendy Skerritt (Mailroom) finished 7th in Round 1 of the Women's Golf competition, with Jan Peace (Sports Arena) grabbing 6th place in Round 2.

The results helped UCLan secure 2nd place in Division 4 (21-50 athletes) behind global consultancy company Turner & Townsend.

UCLan to host International Table Tennis

England's top table tennis players will be on show at UCLan during July, as they face Australia in their final match before the Commonwealth Games.

The England team has been busy preparing for the event, with the likes of Liam Pitchford and Paul Drinkhall producing some excellent performances across Europe during the past few months.

The team will experience the Commonwealth Games Village in Glasgow for the first time on Sunday 13th July, before travelling to Preston to face the Aussies a week later.

The Sir Tom Finney Centre hosted the same fixture just before London 2012, with the teams producing a fantastic advertisement for the sport.

The match takes place on Sunday, 20th July, 2.00 pm, with admission just £3 per person. UCLanSport is delighted to support this event and we hope you'll come and join us.

Funding boost for Sport at UCLan

UCLan students will have more chances to play sport after the University secured a significant slice of National Lottery funding.

Following the award of £97,000 from Sport England’s University Sport Activation Fund, UCLan Students' Union is setting up the 'Get in2' project which will build upon the strong foundations laid down by the University’s successful Sport 4 U scheme.

Get in2 aims to create more sporting opportunities by offering new 'pop up' sessions around campus and within the halls of residence to help overcome different barriers to participation that students face. The project will deliver a diverse, accessible and affordable sporting programme, as well as offering volunteering opportunities for students.

The Union have also teamed up with Preston City Council's Sport and Health Development team to provide affordable swimming opportunities at both Fulwood and West View Leisure Centres.

UCLan is one of 54 universities to benefit from nearly £10 million of funding to help get almost 180,000 new students playing sport. Sam Bloomfield, the Union's Activities and Participation Officer said: "I'm delighted we've received funding from Sport England's University Activation fund for our Get In2 programme.

"We're always looking for ways to improve the student experience and with the support of the Get In2 initiative we'll be able to provide new and exciting projects that should see student involvement in physical activity increase rapidly. This funding will really enable Sport and Activities at UCLan Students' Union go far beyond where they have in the past."

Currently just over half of higher education students take part in sport at least once a week. The funding will support projects to not only maintain this level of participation, but also increase it by trialling new methods of getting students into sport and offering a wider variety of opportunities to keep them playing sport during their time at university.

The projects will particularly concentrate on those that do not currently play. It will also help tackle the issue of many young people giving up sport in their late teens and early twenties.

Sport England Director of Community Sport, Mike Diaper, said: “We know universities play a vital role in maintaining and growing a student's love of sport. They can encourage them to continue playing once they've left school or help those less sporty discover a new sport. By investing in UCLan Students' Union we're helping students develop a lifelong sporting habit while they study."