TN’s squad Steeled for BUCS glory bid
NORTHUMBRIA University students are chasing silverware across five sports in Sheffield this weekend as the 2018 BUCS Nationals take centre stage.
The sixth annual celebration of student sport started today with action at six venues within the Steel City.
Northumbria are going for gold in swimming, athletics, fencing, karate and judo as the university bids to consolidate a top-10 finish in the overall BUCS standings.
Director of Sport Colin Stromsoy said: “The BUCS Nationals throw the focus on a number of sports which don’t always receive the regular exposure and coverage they truly deserve.
“It is always a fantastic three days of intense competition and our athletes and coaches headed to Sheffield in great shape and full of confidence.
“When I came into this role one of my promises was to make Northumbria a key player in student sport and it is important we have a strong presence at the BUCS Nationals.
“It is the start of a big month for us.
“The following week we will be looking to clinch a fifth successive Stan Calvert Cup and our sustained success in that competition is another indicator of just how far we have come as a sporting university in a very short time.”
More than 6,000 students will be in action in Sheffield with more than 500 officials and volunteers working behind the scenes.
Jack Kish is a Team Northumbria performance analysis volunteer and will be supporting BUCS across the three days.
At the same time, four members of Northumbria Sport’s media team will be covering the action from every angle.
Northumbria’s sport services assistant Sarah Stephenson said: “Of course, the emphasis is on the student athletes.
“However, this weekend is also a golden opportunity for students who are part of our award-winning volunteer programme to stretch themselves in a new and challenging environment.
“We are committed to preparing them for the workplace and major BUCS events give our volunteers and interns an insider’s view of what it takes to work in sport on a different scale altogether.”
Northumbria will fancy their chances of making a splash in the BUCS Long Course Swimming Championships at Ponds Forge.
The university also hopes to be among the medals at the indoor athletics event across town at the English Institute For Sport.
Northumbria are tipped to pick up points in fencing (Graves Tennis Centre), judo (ICE Sheffield) and karate (Ponds Forge).