Welcome to the 2022 BUCS Awards. It has been a privilege to witness sport come back to life and the return of competition. For this, we must thank the staff, volunteers, NGBs and partners, but most of all, our students, who, from the very first pass to the final whistle, played with confidence, heart and passion, both on and off the pitch.

It’s clear that the university sport spirit is burning brighter than ever, and these awards will celebrate the incredible achievements, contributions and effort of the entire higher education sport sector.

We hope you’ve enjoyed the biggest and best BUCS season there’s ever been, and I look forward to sharing in these celebrations at our annual Awards.

 

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Vince Mayne
BUCS Chief Executive Officer

Digital Engagement Award, sponsored by Playwaze

This award recognises a sports department or institution who have been creative in their digital engagement; whether that be a digital event, running virtual challenges, or other innovative ways they've supported students and staff digitally. It celebrates the improvement of awareness, engagement or participants using digital marketing.

Nominees

University of Nottingham

The digital campaign ‘The Headliner’ aims to replicate high-level match day environments for Nottingham athletes - each event focuses on a specific BUCS fixture, creating the very best in-person and digital spectator experience, showcasing University of Nottingham Sport to a wider audience. The campaign included digital promotion, professional live streaming, pre and post-match interviews and engaging social reactions. The headliner events have proven to be a catalyst for increased student engagement with wider University of Nottingham Sport fixtures.

Loughborough University

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Special Recognition Award, sponsored by Outgoing

This award recognises an individual’s commitment to their club or sports department over their time at university, be it as a player, as a committee member or a volunteer. It is awarded to a final year student who have shown an outstanding contribution either through performance or participation.

Nominees

James Coffin, University of Exeter

As Club Captain, James has efficiently run the coaching program, acted as welfare officer supporting over 1200 members, competed in Development/BUCS matches, helped secure LTA Southwest Club of the Year, all alongside coaching on average over 20 hours a week, to 1200 members. His dedication to the Tennis Club, and inclusivity within it, is unmatched.

Mia Elias, University of Portsmouth

Abd Al-Rahman Al-Remal, University of Edinburgh

Peter Boyes, University of Nottingham

Stewart Humble, University of Oxford

Coach of the Year, sponsored by Catapult

This award recognises the outstanding contribution of a coach who has ensured that players’ mental and physical health remained a priority over the last year. It recognises everyone who has a coaching role; whether they be students, volunteers or paid coaching staff.

Nominees

John Armstrong, Queen's University Belfast

John has devoted endless hours to QUB Rowing and brought them from 17th at BUCS Regatta 2021 to 5th at BUCS Head and 3rd at BUCS Regatta 2022. From his 60+ hour weeks as Head Coach of Queen's, to travelling the 10 hour round trip to Cork to support Rowing Ireland almost every other weekend, to using his (minimal!) spare time repairing boats, he is an incredible member of the team.

Chris Geddes, University of Stirling

Andi Manley, Loughborough University

Natasha Hunt, Hartpury University

Jon Tate, University of Birmingham

Unsung Hero

Celebrates a member of staff at a BUCS member institution who has worked tirelessly to support student sport at any level in the last year.

Nominees

Paul Johnson, Leeds Beckett University

In his 10th year at Leeds Beckett, due to the head coach at Leeds Beckett having a sudden heart attack, Paul has taken on the role alongside other full-time roles as Head Coach at Roundhay tennis club, and junior tennis coordinator for the programme at Beckett. The volume of work that Paul has undertaken is second to none and yet he still manages to do it with such efficiency, effort, and ease – he is the heart and soul of the club.

Hannah Campbell, University of Edinburgh

Daniel Cox, University of Worcester

Maddy Young, Canterbury Christ Church University

John McKirdy, University of Nottingham

Diversity and Inclusion Award, sponsored by Beyond Equality

This award celebrates a BUCS member institution or individual club that has run a successful campaign that highlights their activities, programmes and opportunities are inclusive and accessible to all students.

Nominees

Team UCL

At Team UCL, they aim to embed diversity and inclusion in everything they do. Over the course of this season, the key areas that have been improved are; Sport England funding to deliver sessions across disability sport, the launch of a men’s mental health group and the launch of a participation fund designed to break down barriers.

University of Nottingham Sport

University of Leeds Boat Club

University of Oxford Swimming

Nottingham Trent University Sport

A.D. Munrow Award

Celebrates a remarkable individual who has made a significant contribution to BUCS and/or university sport and has been instrumental in supporting, growing and developing university sport and physical activity over a sustained period.

Nominees

Pippa Jones, Sheffield Hallam University

Pippa was an international athlete in both Swimming and Water Polo and played an integral role in establishing Water Polo for women in the 1980s until 2022. Since joining Sheffield Hallam in 2009, Pippa was passionate about providing new and exciting experiences for students, in particular anything linked to Water Polo and Swimming! Pippa had a total belief in the power of sport and how important it was for women, her drive and determination was infectious making her a much valued and loved member of the sporting community.

Sadly, Pippa had been ill for a relatively short period of time and fought hard with incredible strength and resilience but was sadly taken from us earlier this year (May 2022.) Her legacy will live on and the AD Munrow Award personifies everything Pippa was about. She was truly remarkable and her contribution to supporting, growing, developing and championing University sport, community sport and physical activity, both in terms of extracurricular activity and academic teaching is of huge significance to students past and present at Sheffield Hallam along with her lifelong passion and commitment to sport.

Dan Porter Award

This award celebrates an individual or group who have faced and overcome adversity or disadvantage to positively impact others within university sport and physical activity. The individual or group will have demonstrated a remarkable sense of character to achieve, motivate and inspire.

Nominees

Emily Bridges, University of Nottingham

Transgender cyclist Emily Bridges has overcome adversity in more ways than one this season. Since transitioning she has faced a lot of media attention both positive and negative, paving the way for herself to continue cycling. Her highlight of the year was competing in at the BUCS Track Cycling Championships where she picked up gold.

Women's Rugby, University of the West of England

Alice Hopkins and Women's Football Club, University of Worcester

Sam Gilbert, Cardiff Metropolitan University

Sportsperson of the Year, sponsored by Outgoing

Celebrates the domestic or international success of a student studying at a BUCS member institution. The award recognises the highest possible standard of competition achieved.

Nominees

Louise Hansson, Loughborough University

Nike Lorenz, University of Nottingham

Grace Harvey, University of Manchester

Melissa Hexter, Imperial College London

Isabel Brider, Brunel University

Club of the Year, sponsored by Take That Photo

Celebrates a club that has demonstrated a commitment to club development, engagement and support of members, that has resulted in improving the university sport experience. This award is a club award focusing on development achievements and not specifically on performance success.

Nominees

University of Oxford Rugby League

This year, Oxford University Rugby League Club focused on increasing female participation. At the start of 2022, the club formally restarted the women’s team from scratch and Oxford now have the only university women's rugby league club in the South of England with 50 members and a full committee now leading the team. They also partnered with Rugby League Federation Ghana and University of Ghana that involves donations, mentor schemes as well as a tour to Ghana.

Keele University KDS Karate

Imperial College Cricket

University of Exeter Tennis

Team of the Year, sponsored by New Balance

Celebrates the competitive achievement of a student team competing in a BUCS or FISU competition that has excelled, been unbeaten, broken records or otherwise achieved ground-breaking success within their sport.

Nominees

Netball 1s, University of Hertfordshire

The 1st team squad won the BUCS and EY Premier South unbeaten, and effectively balanced their degree studies, Vitality Netball Super league franchise commitments and BUCS netball. In addition to this, they went on to secure the BUCS and EY National Championship following a closely fought final against a strong University of Birmingham side at the prestigious BUCS Big Wednesday event.

Men's Rugby Union 1s, Durham University

Performance Cycling, Loughborough University

Men's Waterpolo 1s, University of Edinburgh

Student Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by NSE

Celebrates a student volunteer who has contributed to university and/or community work. This can include working in domestic or international competitions or performance or participation driven projects and programmes.

This is a regional award, with regional winners forming the shortlist for the national award.

Nominees

Jack Lambert, University of Worcester

Jack’s voluntary work has not only contributed to the student community, but he has also volunteered in domestic competitions. He turned the university’s previously poorly attended varsity into a spectacle through his extensive time and work. Jack has also volunteered at over 15 national athletic meets which led to him receiving the Upcoming Official Award for West Midlands.

Participation Programme of the Year, sponsored by Technogym

Celebrates a programme that has actively improved the provision to for their students, staff and community with outstanding new participation opportunities.

Nominees

Let's Do Leicester, University of Leicester

Let's Do Leicester programme is an opportunity for all University of Leicester students to access free social sporting activities on campus. The programme provides students with the opportunity to take part in a range of sports and activities including; indoor cycling, netball, table tennis and Pilates.

NHS Volunteering Project, University of Leeds

UoN Intramural Sport, University of Nottingham

Football Unites, University of Hull