Several LSBU students travelled up to Sheffield for BUCS Nationals, one of the largest university sporting events of the year. This year’s event took place from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th February with over 1000 students from around the country travelling to compete in swimming, athletics, badminton, climbing and karate.   

LSBU kicked off their campaign at midday on day one with our sports scholar Jake Thomas-Mansfield, 1st year School of Law & Social Sciences, taking to the pool. Jake who is completing his apprenticeship in town planning at LSBU has previously competed at BUCS Nationals representing the University of Birmingham and is also a previous medalist and Olympic trials swimmer. BUCS Nationals is one of the biggest events in the swimming calendar for British athletes with some the best swimmers, including world record holders, competing at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre. Despite having a season off due to injury, LSBU Active are proud of Jake for getting a lifetime best in the 50m butterfly and are hopeful for his future success representing LSBU.  

With most students competing on Day 3, Sports Development Officer Sam headed to different venues around Sheffield to see what LSBU students were getting up to. First off Sam went to catch up with Natalia Nestouri, a medalist at the previous BUCS Nationals and representative for LSBU at the European University Games, who was also competing at Ponds Forge. Natalia is currently in her 2nd year studying Criminology within the School of Law & Social Sciences. This year she was fighting in a new weight category and finished 5th out of a field of 21 athletes in the -61kg Kumite.

Hopping on a tram outside of the Ponds Forge international sport centre Sam took the short 15 minutes journey to the English Institute of Sport which was hosting the 2024 indoor athletics. LSBU have had a strong history in the indoor athletics with alumni Yasmin Miller previous holding the BUCS Nationals record for the 60m hurdles which was only beaten this year after 7 years! At the indoor Athletics 2nd year School of Health & Social Care, Sports Rehabilitation student, Eva Kutman, was competing in the pole vault where she qualified for the finals on the Sunday afternoon, unfortunately missing out on the medal places.

Only a walk away was Maxwell Jones, 1st year Chiropractic at the School of Health & Social Care, who was competing in the Fencing individuals at the Canon Medical arena. Going into the event Max was the number 4 seed and one of the highest ranked competitors in the event. After what was a comfortable pool stage Max then qualified for the knockout rounds in the tableaux of 128, continuing through the knockout rounds with some comfortable victories Max was set up to face the number 1 seed in the last 16. After going a point up in the opening minute, it was not to be for Max as he was knocked out by the highest ranked fencer in the event who went on to win the BUCS individual Fencing title.  

We are incredibly proud of all the students who represented LSBU at BUCS Nationals and look forward to supporting many more at future events to come.