Saints’ national service
Six members of St Andrews Men’s Lacrosse recently attended a practice weekend with Scotland’s national lacrosse team. The young St Andrews team has a history of sending players to the national squad; since 2005 nearly a dozen Saints have represented Scotland either in international competition or regional tournaments.
This last training weekend was also the last trial before the European Championships in June. A rolling selection process of practices and tournaments runs during the year lead-up before international competition (or ‘tours’). The roster is limited to 23 spots for the 2012 European Championships in Amsterdam.
The current group from St Andrews – Andrew Shen, Graham Higgins, Angus West, and Peter Muench – entered the program in March 2011, heading to Glasgow for the first trial session held following the World Championships in 2010.
None of these Saints are native to Scotland – and without Scottish passports, they are only eligible to play under their student visas, so long as they keep residence in Scotland. As per Federation of International Lacrosse statute each national team may only keep four non-passport-holding players on their final roster.
The restriction makes heightened competition for those non-passport spaces. But, thankfully, St Andrews looks likely to take all four. The University has become a recognizable brand in Scottish Lacrosse; players from university and club teams across Scotland are well aware of the skill from St Andrews.
Yet lacrosse across Scotland is getting better, quickly. During regular season league play, the Glasgow Lions – a club team, and the first to field a men’s high-school squad in Scotland – won a decisive victory against St Andrews; while more recently the University of Stirling showed that their top players were catching onto the nuances of the game.
Playing in Scottish university league games, some of the better players on either side are likely involved with the national team. After time together at trials, practices and tournaments, international players are introduced to a larger Scottish lacrosse network. It is a small sport in a small country, so it is easy to spread a wide web.
Team Scotland weekend practices are always good: serious competition, better lacrosse, and getting familiar with many Premier Inns. This year, Freshmen Saints Mike Ferrigan, Xandy Walsh, and Freddie Hall made serious impressions in Glasgow at training for the Men’s U19 Team.
Amongst those at trials, there is always a fear of getting cut with a healthy competitive spirit, but now the rosters for the Senior European Championships and U19 World Championships are close to set.
In 2010, Scotland placed seventh out of thirty competing teams for the World Championships. Scotland’s coaching staff and players agree there is a better base now than four years ago, building for the next World games. The team’s talent level has grown at a remarkable pace, and has established Scotland as a serious contender in international competition.
The Scottish organisation is focused on long-term success. Head Coach John Kenney (an imported American with serious experience at high levels in the States) reiterates: Scotland wants to win the European Championships in Amsterdam and the Junior World Championships in Finland this summer, and is looking ahead to the Senior World Championships in 2014.
This May, players from St Andrews will again represent Scotland at the British National Championships in Manchester. The team has made great strides in the past year despite limited time together, thanks to individual efforts from players and the competitive ethos in the programme.
The Saints joining Scotland as it approaches the European Championships in June hope to continue the strong tradition of St Andrews Men’s Lacrosse at the international level and help Scotland get another victory.
Whistleblower
Sport Editor Richard Browne puffs his way into the finishing straight…
After two years in the job, it’s time to hand over the baton and try not to drop it.
I would promise that this won’t turn into a reflection on my personal journey, but that wouldn’t strictly be true.
For every late hour spent in the Saint office and each gnashing of teeth as I tried and failed to come up with a puntastic headline for Water Polo that didn’t involve ‘making a splash’, this position has given me many great opportunities.
I’ve covered some fantastic events and competitions taking place in St Andrews, from the Ultimate Regionals last season to the Rugby Sevens a couple of weeks back.
As I’ve said many times before and will continue to beat down people’s earholes, St Andrews is a sporting hotbed. Considering how small a town we live in, we have more sports events happening than you can shake a golf club at.
And that brings me onto possibly my favourite event that I’ve had the pleasure of reporting on, right here in our little slice of greenery: the Dunhill Links Championships.
It was a wonderful chance to hang out in a purpose-built media centre and chat to folks who do this sporting lark for a living, as well as spot the stars and conduct some A-list interviews.
I did, alas, not uncover any more Hugh Grant gossip, but I did annoy Alan Hansen and get teased by Padraig Harrington, as well as stick a dictaphone into the journalist scrum surrounding Rory McIlroy – who only came second to compatriot Michael Hoey in the end. All in all, a good week’s work .
Before I event-drop you into a comatose state, I have one more to mention. It is of course the BUCS Championships in Sheffield last March. The top event for student sport in the UK, it involved around 20 different disciplines and athletes from universities across the country. There I discovered that volleyball is rather a good sport, and that Sheffield is surprisingly easy to get lost in.
We had medal winners in climbing, fencing, snooker and volleyball, which just made it an even better way to spend a week watching people run around and think ‘I could get used to doing this’.
And that is perhaps what I owe most to Saint Sport – a discovery and rediscovery of my love of sport.
Ulster’s Heineken Cup campaign this year has been cardiac-arrest-worthy, if also brilliant. I do have another example up my sleeve, and it comes from Saints Sport again.
The Women’s Basketball 1sts faced Aberdeen for the fourth time this season in the Scottish Conference Cup final. They had lost each of the past three meetings as Aberdeen breezed to the league title. Time for revenge?
It looked like it, as they moved 12 points
clear. But then Aberdeen mounted the comeback Saints had feared.
Usually that would have been that – Saints disappointed again. But something quite extraordinary happened. The St Andrews girls steeled themselves, upped the tempo and caught their opponents completely off guard.
Responding to the points blitz, the Saints supporters who had travelled through to Dundee – players’ family members and also the Saints Men’s team – roared their approval.
St Andrews won of course, and the game came as a welcome reminder of how sport, at whatever level or discipline, can stir the emotions and draw you in.
Yes, it sounds like emotional bullcrap and I’d be the first to be cynical about that sort of thing, but that was the case.
St Andrews athletes, while I’ve been here, have put on some superb and dramatic displays. If I’ve managed to demonstrate some of their abilities, highlight the odd hero or heroine and add a bit more (usually via that old favourite, the pun), then I’ve done my job.
And there’s the final whistle!
Cricket Club suffers false start to season
Cancelled fixtures puts league completion in doubt - Lack of warm up matches affects team performances
For Men’s Cricketers in St Andrews, the season is short and intense. Months and months of indoor nets boil down to just six fixtures per team in three short weeks. When warm-up matches are factored in, all three teams may have only twenty or twenty-one games between them.
For the three captains, trying to get enough players to fill each team can be a challenge. Since the beginning of the academic term, dozens of potential players have attended net sessions and dozens more have expressed an interest in playing.
Despite this, with deadlines rushing by and exams looming, many students find themselves unable to set aside two entire days a week. The three captains must between them find 33 people willing to do this twice a week.
Fortunately, St Andrews has a very active sporting population and, with a little gentle arm-twisting and persuasion, three sets of eleven players wake up every game day ready to play, something not many other universities can boast. This season, their hopes have all too often been dashed.
After the first warm-up match for the 2nd team went ahead in cold conditions, two further warm-up games were cancelled due to the weather.
The first round of league games was rained off, and so was the second. The 2nd team were due to play the University of the Highlands and Islands who had to cancel thanks to puddles on the pitch. This in April.
To say the weather has not been conducive to playing cricket is something of an understatement.
This weekend, the Cricket Club’s luck got even worse. After another warm-up game (this time for the 3rd team) managed to squeak in under the weather radar on Friday night, two out of the three league games were cancelled on Sunday.
Edinburgh Napier (due to play the club’s 3rd team) have had to withdraw from BUCS while the Dundee 2nd team called off their game with the St Andrews 2nd team on the grounds that their pitch was unsuitable. The blazing sun that shone all weekend made something of a mockery of the decision.
Fortunately the St Andrews 1st team did manage to get their season underway, but were clearly suffering from a lack of match practice.
The Edinburgh 1st team racked up 235 despite excellent bowling performances from both Ben Hildred and Ali Stokes, who each took three wickets. In reply, Thomas Beattie and Stephen Ditchfield put on thirty for the first wicket, but the rest of the batting line-up couldn’t capitalise on this start and they folded for just 92.
With a season this short, it is crucial to hit the ground running in order to maximise results. When warm-up games get washed out, it can be hard to make the transition from indoor training to outdoor reality. Sunday’s game is proof of this.
Furthermore, potential players dislike being pulled from pillar to post as a result of cancelled games.
A student who arranges his week around playing on a Wednesday only to be told in the morning that the game is off due to weather is understanding, and still willing to be selected for the following game.
When it happens three games in a row, and when that third time seems to be for dubious reasons, patience starts to wear thin, making the job of the captains even harder. University cricket may not require much pumping up, but it is still hard to know where to channel all that expected physical output.
As the season wears on, and work begins to pinch ever tighter, willing players become ever more difficult to find. When games become postponed, they begin to eat even further into the exam period, making the teams even harder to put together.
Thanks to the number of fixtures that have had to be postponed this year, there is a serious risk that they will carry on right to the end of exams. Should any more games be rained off, the league may become virtually impossible to complete.
All of this adds up to a very frustrating season to date. There is still time to restore it, and play all of the scheduled games. There is even still time for every team to have a successful season.
Unfortunately, despite the wide pool of players available, that will get tougher the longer games are postponed for. Hopefully, rain will stop stopping play soon.
Sweet victory for Cherry Poppers
The 43rd annual St Andrews Rugby Sevens powered by Rampant Sporting was won by Aberdonians Cherry Poppers, who grabbed extra-time victories in their last two matches to claim the trophy.
Loose Cannons in the semi-final and Minerva Builders in the final were on the receiving end of Poppers’ sudden-death scores after playing their part in two thrilling matches.
The second-tier Plate competition was won by Ballhogs, also from Aberdeen, as they saw off St Andrews’ very own Fighting Fish.
The day’s play got underway in the morning despite heavy rain (which probably also explained the relative lack of spectators). Shark Kings, winners of the Cup competition in 2011, were known not to be attending and organisers also had to deal with two further teams expected to be involved simply not turning up.
The pool matches went ahead regardless, with strong starts for Gladiators, Yellow-Bellied Lizards and Minerva Builders. GLBM, who finished as runner-up last year, were not performing to quite the same level this time around and missed out on the last 16 of the Cup, despite a 19-14 win over Ballhogs.
That left Rat Pack, the former team of Prince William who were completing a decade of participation in this tournament, as St Andrews’ best hope of Cup success. They topped Pool D, sealed with a nervy 19-17 win over Yellow-Bellied Lizards.
Cherry Poppers also made the last 16, although they were beaten 26-7 by Minerva Builders and so had to settle for second place in Pool C. They would, of course, gain revenge for that defeat in the final match of the day.
It was Poppers who killed off the hopes of Rat Pack, as they advanced to the semi-finals along with Gladiators, Loose Cannons and Minerva Builders.
In the Plate, Fighting Cocks and GLBM showed promise, but were ultimately frustrated. Instead, it was Fighting Fish – a blend of the current St Andrews Rugby Club members who made up Fighting Cocks and Big Fish – who advanced to the Plate final to face Ballhogs.
Before their chance to shine, the Cup semi-finals had to be decided, in front of a steadily growing crowd of spectators. Both matches were closely-fought and topsy-turvy.
Gladiators built a 17-5 lead over Minerva Builders, only for the Glasgow side to gain momentum at the crucial moment and turn the game on its head to triumph 24-17.
Cherry Poppers then needed a last-minute try and conversion to take their game with Loose Cannons to extra time at 14-14, and it was they who struck the sudden-death blow to progress to the final.
The Plate final was deservedly won by Ballhogs, whose aggression from the start and quality throughout proved too much for Fighting Fish. The final score of 38-5 was perhaps harsh on the St Andrews team, who showed plenty of positive intent, but Ballhogs were worthy victors.
That left the Cup final to be played. Cherry Poppers scored the first try, but Minerva Builders then took control of the match and went 17-5 up.
Poppers started the second half much better and levelled the scores. There was one try left from each side, so the match went to extra time after finishing 24-24.
That sudden-death period allowed opportunities to both sides, but it was Poppers who broke clear of their opponents’ defence to score the try that sparked touchline celebrations and saw them land the Cup in the most thrilling of finales.
Motorsport getaway at the Crail Raceway
Living in St Andrews one may occasionally feel excluded from opportunities and possibilities offered by universities in larger cities. The absence of more than one club (I’m not sure if the Lizard even counts) and two grocery stores can make life here a little mundane.
However, there is one luxury that St Andrews does possess within its vicinity. It’s the Crail Raceway, located a mere bike ride away in the former WWII airfield in Crail.
The Crail Raceway offers the possibility for anyone with access to a car to test their abilities in either the quarter mile drag race or drifting around in a figure of eight-shaped area. Events are held on most weekends and the atmosphere is fantastic.
Last Sunday I visited the raceway and was greeted with a rather sturdy looking race control lady, who made me pay ten pounds to enter (without a car!) just to see the race.
However, if you do possess four wheels or even just two (motorbike), you can enter and race for the whole day for just 25 pounds.
Sunday saw a great selection of cars, ranging from a TVR Tuscan to a Noble M400, from old Ford Escort MkI to numerous Austin Minis, BMW M3s and the odd Caterham resembling kit-cars.
The contemporary spirit of racing was obvious from the start. Rivalries between cars and drivers heighted the event. The tyre-burning Escort MkI and the Caterham kit-car battled for numerous quarter races, the Austin Mini and Toyota Yaris raced each other to see which was the smallest fastest car and the M3s raced the more ostentatious tuned RX-7s and Supras.
The quarter drag race is by far the main event of the raceway which anyone can enter, whereas the eight-figure drifting is only visited by those with genuine talent for the art.
The figure of eight was almost exclusively all RWD cars, most of them Beemers, which were drifted rather graciously around the figure eight-shape, with only the occasional spin out. It was rather impressive.
My absolute favourite part of the event was the constant racing between the Escort MkI and the Caterham resembling kit-car. Before each race the Escort made absolute mincemeat of his rear-tyres by smoking them until half the crowd was blinded. The kit-car won most of the races, but that was it!
After each race they lined up again and raced again. There seemed to be no real battles or arguments about who had the fastest or loudest car. Everyone just wanted to race, sometimes just by themselves, and sometimes with their newly-made friends.
This brings me to the atmosphere of the event. Sundays at Crail possess the best mixture of the young-just-got-my-licence-and-now-taking-mom’s-car-racing and the mid-life crisis/old enthusiast with spare cash to spend on a racing car.
One would expect there to be groups where each member would meet and they would only race amongst each other, as it is with a lot of car events. The Audi members stick together and ignore all BMW drivers.
At Crail that does not happen – one parks their car anywhere and if they want to race, they simply line up. And it works so very well.
It’s also interesting for the spectators – we see variation between the races, for example the Escort changing to race with a Supra just because it wanted to.
The atmosphere at Crail is the reason to visit. The raceway there celebrates the thrill of racing and driving in general. There are no Ferraris or Aston Martins racing (not that I’m saying I would not like to see them, though). Most of the cars are ordinary Fords and Vauxhalls – albeit slightly tuned. In other words, everyday cars.
The raceway proves that these cars can be enjoyed and can be fun, they can be thrashed around a figure of eight-shaped oval and can be raced at a quarter mile drag strip.
The simplicity of the event is what makes it the most appealing. There is no elitism between the owners of the occasional TVR or Noble, rather they park right next to the old Vauxhall Astra and have no problem chatting about their cars.
One simply comes to race, have a great time in a fantastic location, meet new friends and have unrestrained fun in a safe, relaxed and vibrant environment. Isn’t that what the very essence of racing is?
More information at www.crailraceway.co.uk.
Season in review: Rifle and Sailing Clubs
RIFLE
Adam Moran – Rifle Club
This year the St Andrews University Rifle team has really made their presence felt on the national stage.
A strong and committed batch of new members, coupled with an experienced returning team, helped the A and B teams each secure podium places in every competition they entered over the season.
The A team regularly triumphed above the other universities, remarkably placing first at all five grand prix competitions around the Scottish universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, RGU and of course at home in St Andrews.
Moreover, the club’s B team was never more than two spots behind the A team, proving a consistency in the club’s excellent training scheme.
In Sheffield the team placed third at the BUCS Indoor Championships, beating away stiff competition from the likes of Durham, Exeter and Imperial College London.
The Rifle Club are also pleased to report that, in the annual ‘Town and Gown’ match against the town’s non-University rifle club, the University team won by a comfortable margin, posting impressive scores across the board.
The team’s Vice-captain, Sarah Boyle, cheerfully noted that “The club may even have to invest in a new trophy cabinet as we’ve won every available team trophy of the season.”
The preceding quote was accompanied by a cheerful high five with Club Captain Rory McAlpine, a veteran target rifle shooter, who went to China in 2011 for the World University Games.
A special mention must also be given to Kathryn Williamson, a first year member who just this year has won the Scottish Individual Championships and was in Germany recently to compete at international level.
SAILING
Shelley Talbot – Sailing Club
The Sailing Club has had a great year, with a huge increase in beginner training and the dingy racing team making the Gold League at the SUSA Championships.
That isn’t to say there haven’t been some ups and downs along the way. There’s been broken boats, broken cars and even an almost broken face. But on reflection, the club members have had a great time, and are really looking forward to next year.
Despite a few hiccups at the beginning of the year the dinghy racing team had a great season. With almost all of the team new to university racing the team learned a lot throughout the year and hope this will show by giving strong performances in 2012-13.
The team would have won the SUSA Champs this year had Monday lectures not stopped them attending the finals (a sneaky move by the other teams?), and had a few good race wins in other competitions.
The team are looking forward to some new recruits, plenty of training, lots of banter and (fingers crossed) some competition wins next year.
Unfortunately the club didn’t manage to send a team to BUSA Yachting this year, however it is already planning the team for next year, and have planned some cheeky training from Strathclyde the week after exams.
The club also crewed for Colin for the first time. He lives in Anstruther but has his boat in the Clyde so it was fantastic to go across to the West Coast for a weekend. A group of six gained our Short Range Radio Certificate and now the club is focusing on organising a huge summer yachting trip for summer 2013.
The beginner training has been great, with had two weekends at the beautiful Loch Tay, sailing Solings, Lasers and Wayfarers. One such beginner, Jess, who’d never been sailing at all before, even said she came out feeling like a fully fledged sailor!
There was recreational or beginner sailing every Wednesday it didn’t feel like there was a hurricane off East Sands, and a group of beginners went on a sailing trip to Loch Ken in Galloway.
22 beginners went, with one gaining their Start Windsurfing, 10 gaining Dinghy Level 2 and 10 achieving Dinghy Level 3.
Amanda was one particular beginner who was terrified of sailing, but even she was sailing on her own by the end of the trip (even if she did end up almost capsized and screaming for help at one point!).
The next big thing for the Sailing Club will be the Yacht Party, taking place in an undisclosed location in Freshers Week.
The club is also fundraising for its ultimate dream: new Fireflies. Club members team race Fireflies, but at the moment the boats aren’t doing justice to the team, hence all the effort being put into fundraising for them.
The Sailing Club aims to continue to prosper and compete at high levels, whilst fostering an atmosphere where beginners feel comfortable to learn and recreational sailors can simply have fun.
The year has been a great foundation to what will hopefully be a really successful next season, with regards training and competitions.
But probably the best thing about this year has to be the friendships that have been created and cemented. It’s sad to see the graduating class leave, but the future looks very exciting.
Euro 2012 predictions
Saint Sport’s Richard Browne, Allen Farrington, Andrew McQuillan and Ben Reiss each look ahead to the feast of football this summer (the London Olympics, Wimbledon, le Tour de France and many other varieties of sport are also available for your viewing pleasure)…
Who will win it?
You would have to think this is the Germans’ year. If they can cope with the immense pressure of not being written off by everyone for a change, they have a great chance with some fabulously-talented youngsters.
It is hard not to pick Spain, but my basis is both Champions League semi-finals. The top Spanish players looked out of form and tired, whereas the German players were decisive. If that form carries over, then Germany.
I suspect Germany. Obviously 2008 winners Spain will be in with a shout, as will the mechanical Dutch side, but this Germany team is coming together at just the right time.
Spain will win – there’s not much competition for them in reality, but Germany should run them pretty close.
Which team will surprise?
Can I say Ireland? They should finish bottom of their group, but they beat Italy 2-0 a year ago (yes, in a friendly). If their team spirit and determination somehow gets them through and they face France, they won’t be needing much motivation.
I’d love to say Denmark as they did a tremendous job in their qualifying group, but quite frankly they will be pummelled by the ‘Group of Death’. Group A is wide open, and I can see Russia going far.
No team going to Poland/Ukraine scream out having the potential to ‘do a Greece’. I’d like to see one of the host countries go on a run, as Austria and Switzerland were both rank rotten last time round.
France will be the surprise package of the competition, putting aside their recent struggles, probably topping their group and making the semis.
Who will be the star man?
Xavi’s swansong or Ozil’s chance to take over? Actually, I’m going to go with Dutchman Arjen Robben, who on his day is unplayable, is now hitting the right form for Bayern Munich and has two World Cup final misses to make up for.
Robin van Persie of the Netherlands. Surely he will be played centrally for the Dutch after the season he’s had. If he can score like that for Arsenal, imagine if Robben, Sneijder and Van der Vaart are providing for him!
A German – I’m just not sure which one. There’ll inevitably be a Milan Barosesque player – has the tournament of his life and flops afterwards. Cristiano Ronaldo could be the main man if he keeps up his club form.
Possibly any of Spain’s attacking players, so I will go for Mesut Ozil, a very dangerous attacking talent who has been excellent for Germany and Real Madrid.
Who’s the player to watch?
Robert Lewandowski of Poland. The 23-year-old has so far scored 25 for Bundesliga winners Dortmund this season. If the co-hosts are to do anything at this tournament, they need him to be fit and firing. No pressure, then.
Toni Kroos. He bossed Real Madrid in both legs of the Champions League semis and scored two screamers in each of Germany’s last two matches. It’s not a question of whether he’ll play, but whose place he will take.
Marco Reus, if Germany pick him. Very exciting, having just had a great season with Borussia Monchengladbach, he’ll want to arrive at Borussia Dortmund off the back of a good tournament.
Mario Goetze of Germany may only be 19 but he has already set the footballing world alight with his attacking displays from midfield.
And England and Ireland?
For Ireland, see the second column. England – if they can find a system that works and integrate Rooney into it after his suspension, they could do well. The aim must be to get out of the group, then anything after that is a bonus.
England have a great chance in their group, with France stuttering recently. Wouldn’t write them off, but going out in the semis is a good bet. Ireland are easily the worst team in their group and winning a game would be an achievement.
England could have a good run but for them I predict a quarter-final exit to some ghastly Latin team. Ireland have been placed in a sheer humdinger of a group. To survive that would be a massive achievement.
England should come second in their group but will then be tortured and dismembered by Spain. Ireland may struggle; even if they make second they won’t go further.
Rotator Cuff Impingement Syndrome
START is the Sports Medicine Clinic at the University Sports Centre. Bernie Li, lead physiotherapist and founder of the clinic, is available for consultations and treatment of all musculoskeletal injuries during weekdays by appointment.
For more information, visit www.startclinic.co.uk or call 01334 462 190.
The rotator cuff muscles play an important role in stabilising and mobilising the shoulder joint. These muscles are supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis and teres minor, and they are easily injured by trauma or overuse.
Impingement occurs if any of the rotator cuff tendons are impinged, or ‘trapped and scraped’ under the acromion as they pass through the subacromial space. The impingement causes irritation of the rotator cuff tendons, which may lead to swelling and damage to the tendons.
The inflammatory reaction into the tendon reduces the space beneath the coracoacromial arch. The swelling caused by this can interfere with normal movements of the shoulder by causing muscle inhibition and compensatory movements or postures.
Causes of impingement include:
- Bone spurs;
- Acromioclavicular joint arthrosis;
- Glenohumeral instability;
- Biceps tendinopathy;
- Increased thoracic kyphosis (curvature of the back);
- Poor technique.
Symptoms of rotator cuff impingement:
- Shoulder pain with overhead activity;
- Referred pain down the outside of the arm;
- Sudden pain when lifting or reaching;
- Reduced strength of the shoulder;
- Difficulty moving the arm behind the back.
Impingement syndrome of the shoulder is common in sports involving frequent, forceful, overhead activity such involving throwing, swimming, gymnastics and tennis.
Treatment firstly is rest, ice, reducing the frequency and intensity of activity causing impingement and pain relief drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Impingement can also be avoided by altering the biomechanics of the movement.
Physiotherapy includes stretching exercises and then introducing strengthening exercises for the shoulder muscles and improving control of the scapula.
Your AU Presidential candidates
Emily Griffiths
What relevant experience do you have?
Ladies Golf Club Captain for two years, leading over 300 girls. I’ve honed my team working, organisational and time management skills over that time. Having been in several AU clubs, I understand how the AU works. I have did ten months’ work at Accenture, helping my mature and structured approach.
What area of Saints Sport needs most attention?
The barrier between the AU, DSE, AU Exec and club members needs to be broken down. I aim to be a gateway., providing students with honest and clear answers and also providing an opportunity for students to give feedback.
What are your top three policies?
Accessibility (open to all AU clubs via a daily one hour drop-in session); Inclusivity (improving the opportunities offered to students (gym experience) and making headway with plans for a pool); Development (links with universities in the UK and abroad and more corporate sponsorship and club fundraising).
If you could have any sportsperson round to dinner, who would it be?
Adam Scott, golfer. Girls – Google him!
Patrick Jenner
What relevant experience do you have?
Three years committee experience with Canoe Club including Treasurer and Vice-President; chaired the competition committee (led Canoe to achieve its best ever results); managed projects including securing £6000 lottery funding and creating an alumni legacy. Participated in a diverse range of sports clubs.
What area of Saints Sport needs most attention?
Publicity is a key area to improve in. Through engaging with the student body and making people more aware of individual and club successes, I believe we can increase participation and be more proud of sport at this university.
What are your top three policies?
Work with clubs to develop long term goals to ensure continuity; engage with the student body through effective publicity and reporting on sporting success; increase transparency through a weekly President’s blog on my recent progress.
If you could have any sportsperson round to dinner, who would it be?
Steffi Graf, she is incredible!
Korfball claim silver at BUCS Nationals
Last weekend saw the St Andrews Korfball 1sts gain an unprecedented silver medal in the annual BUCS Nationals in Manchester.
The tournament began with three group stage matches against Reading, Leeds and Birmingham, with the top two in each group progressing to the top half of the draw and a quarter final place. After a slightly disappointing fourth place showing in the Northern regional qualifying tournament, most predictions had Saints vying for second place spot in what was the toughest group in the draw. However, the team was confident that their extensive preparations and the strength of their squad would see them through.
Opening against an undermanned Reading team, Saints were quick to find a rhythm and, conscious of the potential impact of goal difference in the group, rolled to a 22-5 victory. England international and AU President Andrew Hall became the first Saint to score 10 goals in a single game, backed up by five from Calum Lindsay.
The second match against Leeds proved to be significantly more challenging. Both teams struggled for rhythm, with each playing exceptional defensive korfball. Saints took a two goal lead but missed opportunities allowed Leeds to gain momentum. A somewhat bad-tempered and stressful game ended in a 7-7 draw, perhaps a disappointment for both sides.
This left the team knowing a victory against Southern regional champions Birmingham – who had beaten Leeds 9-3 earlier in the day, and who would eventually finish third – would see them qualify top of their group. Birmingham came out with a clear plan and executed it strongly, gaining an early two-goal lead by playing smooth and structured korfball and making excellent use of their girls. Saints adjusted their defensive strategies, and adopted a system that Birmingham were largely unable to counter. With Saints’ own girls in particular able to negate the aggressive tendencies of their Birmingham counterparts, Saints scored six unanswered goals. Despite being less polished in their attacking approach, an ethos of tough defence and an uncanny knack for sinking the important shots saw the Saints progress at the top of their group with an 11-7 victory, setting up a quarter final against Cambridge, who had qualified second from a significantly weaker group.
The subsequent 17-7 scoreline reflected Saints’ domination, and rounded off a psychologically and physically draining day’s korfball, at the end of which Andrew Hall and CJ White were chosen to represent St Andrews in the North vs South All-Star Game.
Day two began with a semi-final against the perennial korfball powerhouse Sheffield Hallam University, featuring free-scoring Great Britain international Charlie Vogwill and a strong supporting cast. Past games between the two have been typically tense and attritional and this game was no different, with defence dictating the game throughout. Hallam gained a two-goal lead going into half time, which they kept for much of the second half. Saints’ cause was dealt a significant blow when one of their strongest girls, CJ White, was carried off with a dislocated ankle, having had an immensely strong tournament. Liana Hewson entered the game as a substitute and continued the exceptional defensive play that was the hallmark of Saints’ weekend. The team regrouped, and led by a remarkable shooting performance from captain David Ewing, an exceptional goal from Andrew Hall, and a game-winning long shot from AJ Battey, they held out for a nervy one-goal win and a place in the final.
The final itself proved to be a bridge too far against a Nottingham side widely held to be the finest student team of recent years. Nottingham built a significant lead in the first half, their attacking channelled largely through GB internationals Ben King and Joe Bedford. The Saints acquitted themselves well, but the final margin of victory (17-6) was reflective of Nottingham’s dominance throughout the tournament.
At the final presentations, Saints (including White, returned from hospital) collected their silver medals, and Andrew Hall was named tournament MVP as selected by the referees, a not insignificant honour in itself.
Reflecting on the weekend, Saints captain David Ewing said: “The effort from the entire team over the weekend was outstanding. Everybody supported each other and stayed together as a team, even when games weren’t going our way, and that team spirit got us the results we deserved. The club’s first ever nationals final was a great result which shows the strength the club has developed over the last few years.”
