The BUCS Championships is back in Sheffield, this time with even more sports and competitors than before.
The 24-sport event will see 5500 student athletes descend upon Sheffield and Leeds from March 11-15, with each of them hoping to leave with the much coveted BUCS gold medal, and the 2009 ambassador Austin Healey has backed the cities to leave a lasting impression on their new visitors.
“I went to Leeds Metropolitan but was also due to go to Sheffield so I have fond memories of both cities”, said the former British Lion.
“They both have amazing sporting facilities and it goes without saying that the people of Yorkshire will give them all a warm welcome.”
“The great thing about these Championships is that for some athletes it will be the pinnacle of their sporting careers while for others it will be a stepping stone to bigger and better things such as London 2012.”
“More than anything though it epitomises everything that university sport is about. You learn a lot of life’s skills on a pitch, court, track or whatever and I can guarantee a majority of these students will have made friends for life, I know I did.”
On Thursday one of the Championships’ most popular and competitive sports, hockey, will see Leeds Metropolitan take on the University of Birmingham, in the women’s Championship final, and Sheffield’s Naomi Halladay, who plays for Birmingham, expects it to be a tough encounter.
“We’ve lost to Leeds Met twice this season so it’s going to be a tough game, but we will have our three GB girls playing this time”, said the 19-year-old from Beauchief.
“Abbeydale HC was my old hockey club so I’m hoping that going back there will settle my nerves and give me an extra incentive to play well as I will have lots of friends and family there.”
“I’m very excited to be playing in my first BUCS final as it’s something every student wants to be a part of. The coach journey will be pretty nerve wracking but our coach is great at keeping us calm.”
As well as Hallady’s teammates Sarah Page, Susie Gilbert and Sophie Bray other notable names competing at the Championships are Leeds Metropolitan athlete Richard Buck, who won silver in the 4x400m relay at the European Indoor Championships last weekend and fellow GB sprinters Simeon Williamson and Zara Hohn.
In the basketball competition four of the Great Britain women’s team will potentially face each other following the first round of games on Friday while a number of England netballers will open the event tonight at Ponds Forge where Bath play Loughborough at 7pm.
Meanwhile a host of well known university alumni will also be in attendance, including Olympic medallists Kelly Sotherton, Gail Emms and Shelley Rudman, former Commonwealth champion Iwan Thomas and ex Sheffield University student Jessica Ennis.
Channel 4 will be covering the BUCS Championships as part of their Destination 2012 magazine show. The feature is due to be aired on March 29 on Channel 4 at 8am.
Rights-free images are available, please contact Zarah Al-Kudcy (07745723196 or ishelpdesk@fasttrackagency.com) for more information.
Advertising and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information please contact Siôn Williams (020 7633 5088) or for more details go to http://www.thebucschampionships.co.uk
The 2009 BUCS Championships is supported by Yorkshire Forward, Yorkshire South, Sheffield City Centre and Nike.
The BUCS Championships is organised by British Universities & Colleges Sport.
