News
Wednesday 30 January 2008
University paddlers blow competition out the water
An emphatic championship victory cemented Nottingham Trent University’s place as the country’s premier canoeing university at the weekend. Students paddled their way to three gold, two silver and two bronze medals to win the overall title at the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) Canoe Slalom Championships in Teesside.
The university’s canoe club, represented by 22 students, scooped gold in the single canoe, double canoe and men’s team categories; silver in double canoe and men’s kayaking; and bronze in men’s kayaking and the men’s team event. The medal haul helped them overcome last year’s winner, Newcastle University, who finished the competition in second place.
There are six events in the canoe slalom championship, with competitors using paddles to navigate along a river course, passing through a series of gates in the quickest time possible.
Paddler Ben Lane, who won a bronze medal in the men’s team event, said: “We were quietly confident going into the championship but never expected to do this well; it was a fantastic result. We were all exhausted at the end of the day but delighted that everyone who paddled had contributed to such a memorable victory.”
Six of the medal-winning paddlers are members of Nottingham Trent University’s Student Talented Athlete Recognition Scheme (STARS) which provides support to individuals, enabling them to excel in both their academic and sporting careers.
The scheme assists students in achieving their full potential by providing an athlete-centred programme, a range of high-quality support services and work with internal and external partners to provide the best-possible support and training environment.
Nottingham Trent University’s Director of Sport and Lifestyle, James Hayter, said: “This is a superb result for the university and a great early boost for our Student Talented Athlete Recognition Scheme in its inaugural year. The canoe slalom team members and the university canoe club as a whole have really done themselves proud; this is rich reward for hours of training in all weathers and at various times of day.”
He added: “We’re now looking ahead to the next BUSA canoe event, the Canoe Polo Championship in April. Hopefully we can build on our recent successes in the canoe white water event and now the canoe slalom. Another championship win would confirm our standing as the top university in the UK for canoeing disciplines.”
ENDS
Notes for editors:BUSA is the governing body of university sport, running national competitions in 50 sports from Athletics to Windsurfing, and co-ordinating the Great Britain representative teams for the World University Games and World University Championships.
Nottingham Trent University’s gold medals were won by Marvin Rounce (Single Canoe) Marvin Rounce and Sam Critchley (Double Canoe) and Dafydd Paxton, James Bailey and Paul Ramsdale (Men’s Team). Silver medals were won by James Bailey (Men’s Kayaking) and Keith Bright and Ash Bullivant (Doubles Canoe). Bronze medals went to Simon Jackson (Men’s Kayaking) and Simon Jackson, Tom Hunter and Ben Lane (Men’s Team).
Press enquiries please contact: Dave Rogers, Press Officer, on Tel: +44 (0)115 848 8782, or via email: dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk
Or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on Tel: +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk
