Last time we reported on the promotion of the UWE Jets basketball team to the Premier League but it’s been a fantastic year for sport at UWE Bristol in more ways than one. Here’s the round up of this year’s sporting successes, the team’s plans for next year and how the Centre has been working hard to facilitate these opportunities.

Athletics

After contributing substantial funding this year, the Centre for Sport (CFS) are investing a further £1000 into field coaching for the Athletics club next year. This will enable links with the South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (SGS) and their Elite Athletics’ Academy. Andrea Lock, lead Track Coach and Athletics Coordinator at SGS, is confident that the Athletics’ team will be able to retain athletes in jump and throw disciplines with this new provision and establish a full complement when competing in competitions.

Archery

The CFS are currently investigating the opportunities available to work with local clubs to provide a greater challenge for our more experienced archers. Moreover, we are heading into our second year of working with Archery GB for the provision of top class coaching for our students.

American Football

We are entering the second year of our partnership with Bristol Pride based at SGS with more experienced coaches to help drive participation. The Centre for Sport are also offering more performance training time within our Wallscourt Farm Gym facilities to push higher standards.

Badminton

For the first time, our Women’s 1st team have been promoted into Western Division 1 for the coming season. With support from their head coach, James Philips, they go into the next academic year’s season with their heads held high ready to compete against the best in the Western conference.

Cheerleading

With an ever expanding club, the CFS has given UWE’s Cheerleading squad additional facility time to train for their game day events. This means the club are able to support the American Football Team on Sundays as well as other sports to which they are affiliated.

Cricket

As well as earning a spot in the BUCS championships for the first time, the Women’s cricket team will be welcoming Emma Hunter, a UWE graduate, to coach the team. Emma has been an active member of the club for the past 4 years and helped to establish the women’s section of the club. Welcoming a graduate to coach the team is another first for the club and a great step in the right direction to publicise women’s coaching and managerial involvement in sport.

Women’s Rugby

A new partnership with Aretian’s RFC, organised through the Rugby Football Union (RFU), for the 2016/17 year will allow for the provision of facilities at the club with the prospect of Saturday games for the players. Women’s Rugby will receive £1,000 in funding and 30 hours free coaching from the RFU as well as being invited to ‘Rugby Ready’, ‘Scrum Factory’ and ‘Headcase’ training events. Players will also be invited to qualify as referees on behalf of the RFU.

Many teams will be taking a well deserved break over the summer before selection and training recommences in September but good luck to Josh Masters competing in the Squash World Championships representing GB Universities and Bartek Karpisz for the European Universities Swimming Championships taking place in the coming months.