Success at BUCS Nationals

This weekend saw 6000 students descend on Sheffield for BUCS Nationals, the UK’s largest multi-sport event, with sporting competition across eight different sports. BUCS Nationals is the main individual championship event of the academic year for university students, with the very best athletes from various UK institutions in action.

There were a number of Cardiff University students competing across six of the eight sports. Cardiff University rifle club finished a fine fourth in the team event on Saturday, and had further success the following day in the individual event, where HPP athletes Dean Bale and Jessica Powell picked up a gold and silver medal respectively.

In the women’s fencing, first year student Heulwen Hill, progressed through the foil qualifying pools and varying knockout rounds to get the bronze medal. Whilst former Italian junior international, Costanza Peretti, finished fifth after being defeated by eventual silver medalist Desree Ortega-Furgeson of Durham University.

Swimming at BUCS Nationals is one of the strongest competitions, with over 2000 entries across 36 events. Cardiff University swimming and water polo club had a number of athletes competing over the weekend. Henry Bland reached the 50 m butterfly final out of over 100 competitors and Daniel Davies finished eighth in the 200 m Individual Medley final. In addition, the women’s 4 x 100 m Medley Relay team reached the B Final.

Cardiff University athletics club took a number of track and field athletes to Sheffield for the Indoor Athletics competition, held at the English Institute of Sport. There were a number of finalists and personal bests during the weekend and Nathan Gardner narrowly missed the bronze medal finishing fourth in the men’s pole vault competition.

Students also competed in the BUCS Climbing competition, held at The Climbing Works, and BUCS Badminton taking place at the English Institute of Sport.