University celebrates sporting achievements

Windsurfer Izzy Hamilton, a 1st year Geography student, was named Sports Woman of the Year. Izzy is the current Youth World Champion, having won the Youth World Championships in Bodrum, Turkey. Earlier this year, Izzy was also awarded the prestigious title of Pantanius Young Sailor of the Year.
 
Sportsman of the Year was awarded to Chris Reakes of Men's Rugby, a 3rd year Sports Science student. Chris has represented England Students this year and has regularly played for Exeter Chiefs in A-League competition. 

Both Izzy and Chris are current Scholars on the University's renowned Sports Scholarship Scheme. Through this programme they receive a variety of support including strength & conditioning, nutrition guidance and physiotherapy.

Oli Fowke, a 4th year Economics with European Study student, was voted Sports Personality of the Year by his peers. Oli has been proactive in competing for Exeter in sports in which the University has not competed in recent years. This year Oli has represented Exeter in inter-University competition in Ten-Pin Bowling and Orienteering, picking up BUCS ranking points for the latter.

The University also paid tribute to Andrew Vickers, a Sports Science student who tragically passed away earlier this year. Andrew was heavily involved in the University’s Rugby League and Women’s Rugby Clubs in both playing and coaching roles. A new award was created this year in Andrew’s memory; Student Coach of the Year.  The first person to win this award was Joe Sterlini, a third year Sports Science student who has coached the Men’s Hockey 3rd team to a BUCS Trophy Final.

The headline award of the Team of the Year went to the Women’s Rugby 1st team. They battled their way to their BUCS final, held at Twickenham, beating fierce rivals University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC) on the way. The UWIC were a previously unbeaten in Women’s Rugby for 4 years in all competitions prior to their semi-final meeting with their Exeter counterparts.

The University’s Men’s Hockey Club was named as Club of the Year for the second year running. The Club’s 1st, 2nd and 5th teams all won their inter-university leagues. Away from the inter-university scene, the 1st team also secured promotion into the EHL Premier League, the highest level of English Hockey.

AU Vice-President, Luke Holdcroft, was delighted with the success of the event. He said ‘Everybody enjoyed themselves in the picturesque surroundings of Exeter Castle. Sport plays an integral part in the Exeter experience for a great many students; in excess of 5000 students are currently members of a University Sports Club and an additional 2000 take part in intramural sport or sports volunteering in the community.’

He added, ‘At Exeter we are proud to have one of the highest sporting participation rates of all Universities in the UK. The awards evening provided an ideal opportunity to celebrate the successes of sport at Exeter in general, as well as recognising a few notable individual achievements.’