Top 10 again for University Sport

It is the fifth time in as many years that Exeter has broken the top 10 in BUCS which sees over 150 UK institutions compete across over fifty sports throughout the academic year.

The BUCS season comprises over 4800 league teams and over 100 championships. 2013/2014 saw Exeter field 94 BUCS teams who competed across a comprehensive range of sports.

Standout results this year included the Women’s Rugby Club winning the BUCS national rugby sevens championships, the Men’s First Year Rugby Team winning the BUCS Trophy, the Men’s Cricket Club winning the indoor national championship, the Men’s and Women’s Cricket Clubs both reaching the outdoor national championship finals, and the Snooker and Pool Club winning every major event they entered. The final rankings were announced at the BUCS Awards on 14 July.

Exeter’s sporting history dates back to the dawn of the 20^th century and continues to form a pivotal part of life for many students. The Athlete Union (AU), oversees the management of the University’s 49 student sports clubs which offer opportunities in sports including Tennis, Rugby, Cricket, Hockey, Football, Badminton, Watersports, Martial Arts, Equestrian, Shooting, Climbing and many more.

To date Athletic Union membership stands at over 6300 whilst an additional intramural programme provides a further capacity for over 2600 students to compete at a more social level on a weekly basis. The University works alongside a number of National Governing Bodies of Sport to provide the best possible opportunities for students at all levels to get involved and improve their prowess.

Newly appointed Athletic Union President, and former Tennis Club Captain Andy Higham praised the work of all the clubs, he said: “I’m thrilled with this result. It’s been really close at the top this year and I know first-hand the hard work that the every club has put into this season. We’ve seen some outstanding performances across the board.

“BUCS is a real team effort, every team competing at every level has an impact on the final result and this dedication throughout the ranks is what sets Exeter apart.”

Over the last two years sport at the University of Exeter has benefitted from significant investment. An £8.5million development at the Sports Park on Streatham Campus saw the introduction of a new purpose built fitness centre, a relayed water-based hockey pitch, and the covering of six outdoor tennis courts in 2013. Since then a new Athlete Development Centre has been created for performance athletes along with an all-weather golf centre, and new rubber-crumb pitch surface.

Acting Director of Sport Nick Beasant commented: “I’m delighted with how this season has turned out. It has been very close with fourth and eighth position separated by only a few hundred points, so every point has mattered.

“The sporting landscape at Exeter has dramatically changed over the last two years and maintaining top results like this are essential in securing not only a positive legacy for graduating athletes, but to also provide further developments for the new generation of Exeter’s sporting elite. We have certainly achieved this this season.”