During 15^th – 19^th April, a total of 37 staff and students from LSBU teamed up to complete a virtual 64-mile walking challenge. The theme of the activity – ‘Walk the Bridges with LSBU’ is a play on both the route, which involved virtually walking across 26 of the Thames’ footbridges, as well as encouraging individuals to build bridges with others during the challenge. Participants were required to log their daily walks on Strava whilst they collectively moved through the virtual route. 

The Make Your Move campaign was focused on promoting individual wellbeing through getting active on your own or with others. There are huge links between an increased level of exercise and improved mood, concentration, and alertness – which LSBU were encouraging staff and students to discover.

As well as participating virtually, some in-person sessions were integrated in this challenge, including a ‘treadmill session’ with a trained instructor and a group wellbeing walk from LSBU Active to Lambeth Bridge and back. The week ended with the group going above and beyond both the initial 64 ‘bridge-walk’ target, and the additional challenge of walking the marathon route (bringing the total up to 90 miles) with a total of 97 miles complete.  

At the end of the challenge, Nicole Suliman a residential community ambassador from LSBU, posted on the Strava group: “Would love if we could do something like this on the regular. Maybe a virtual run club?”. After the challenge, she went on to say “I thought the challenge was a great way to keep others and myself active. I’m a frequent user of Strava and love seeing other people’s workouts and sharing mine as well.”  

Daniel, the fitness manager at LSBU Active, also claimed, “I enjoyed taking part in Friday’s Lambeth bridge walk, great view, good weather and great company. The walk helped refocus my thoughts, and it will ensure I get more active breaks into my work schedule as the benefits are well worth it.” This positive feedback only highlights the benefit group members felt that activity had on their wellbeing and enjoyment of being part of the LSBU ‘Make Your Move’ initiative. 

On Saturday 23rd March, the LSBU Cheerleading Squad travelled up to Birmingham to compete in the ‘Legacy’ Cheer and Dance Competition! For this weekend, universities from all around the country come together to showcase a range of performances. LSBU Cheer gave it their all in a dazzling performance that included stunts, coordinated dance moves – as well as an incredible effort from all involved. After the event, students gave glowing reviews of the weekend, with one first time attendee, Amber White, 1st Year, School of Applied Science, saying she “loved performing and found everyone very supportive”.

Other returning students remarked on how “team spirits were high”, with one student saying that for their routine “the team worked together amazingly the progress from last year was tremendous. The new uniform and bows also made a huge difference as the team felt a lot more unified” – Amelia Bywater, 2nd Year, School of Business

Members from the entire squad picked up on the unity and team spirit the weekend had brought. “At this moment, we didn’t feel like a team, we felt like a family” remarked Joe Soriano, 2nd Year, School of Business. 

Final words from the cheerleading squad club leader – Nayana Gash, 2nd Year, School of Applied Science: “it was a lovely feeling to see everyone so proud of themselves and the journey they have been on. The progression from the team from last year was massive. This was one of the biggest teams LSBU cheerleading has had with one of the best routines the team have performed and it was an honour to captain the team at this competition” 

On Wednesday 6th March, the LSBU Men’s Rugby first team headed to Surrey Sports Park to compete in the BUCS Southeastern Conference Shield final against London City University with the hope of bringing home the ‘Conference Shield’. After a fantastic season of matches, the men’s rugby team were hoping to come away with an LSBU win. Getting as far as the finals only highlights the successful efforts that LSBU Men’s Rugby have put in to developing their squad over fixtures this season. It has been great to watch their efforts paying off! Captained by Daniel Goldhill, a core squad of 22 players, some diehard LSBU spectators plus some supporting staff members from LSBU all headed down to Guilford, to either watch or play the game.  

With pitch side warmups and pep talks complete, the starting whistle went off at 3pm sharp signalling the beginning what turned out to be a very tight but exciting match. The first half consisted of some early tries from London City (2 with conversions one without), quickly bringing their score up to 19-0. There were also a few injuries stop starting the match, but both sides played well testing each other’s limits.  

After a quick break and team regroup, the second half kicked off with two fantastic tries scored by LSBU, both successfully converted. With the score coming up to 19-14, the game was becoming a much closer match. With more back and forth, City were awarded a penalty earning them an extra 3 points bringing their score up 22-14. Not long later, LSBU came back with another successfully converted try bringing the score up to 22-21. The last moments of the match saw some impressive rugby from both sides. Having played together all season, the impactful social connections formed between the LSBU players were particularly clear in the last moments of the game when the team put in a last push for that all important finals win. 

Though the game did not end in victory, making it as far as the final is still a huge achievement for LSBU, as well as a memorable moment for students. Some post-match words from the captain were “Today we’re at Surrey sports centre and we’ve just played in the cup final.” “The boys put in a shift, unfortunately they (City) got a couple of early tries, but we brought it back and it became an intense game” “I’d like to thank all the team for showing up, our coach and LSBU Active for supporting us today”. As LSBU staff, we could not be prouder of our squad for how far they’ve come this academic year and can’t wait to watch the team grow from strength to strength in the years to come. 

On Wednesday 20th of March, over 500 students headed to  Greenwich University’s Avery Hill Campus to join in Varsity 2024 which was delivered in collaboration by LSBU Active, South Bank Students Union and Greenwich Students Union. Over 10 sports were on offer throughout the day including taster sports giving LSBU students the opportunity to try a new sport or activity they may have never previously taken part in. There was also a social hangout space where non-competitive sport and activity was offered for students to come together, providing a safe space for South Bank and Greenwich students to interact with their peers. LSBU students came together to support each other throughout the day, all proudly representing LSBU, whether this was in a competitive fixture, social event or as a spectator.

For many, the varsity event is the highlight of their year as it gives students access to opportunity to build relationships and develop social connectedness, take part in a range sport and physical activity opportunities developing their good health and wellbeing and enhance their student experience by celebrating together. The power of sport brought students together from many different backgrounds. This was something prevalent on the day, with Emdad Shar, 3rd year School of Business, president of the Bangladeshi Society, and Cricket Club leader, saying:

“The best part about Varsity is the diversity and inclusion with all the sports clubs playing and this is the first time having cricket at Varsity. So far we are doing well, we are batting first and have a decent amount of runs”

Taking part in sport at LSBU is about more than just the training and fixtures, it gives students the opportunity to be part of an enriching community, making friends for life and supporting each other through University.

When asked whether they would recommend joining women’s basketball club, Elisha Dawes, 1st year, School of Law and Social Sciences, and Kamaya Nelson-Clayton, 1st year, School of Arts and Creative Industries said:

“One hundred percent! Once you get to know everyone, we’re basically like sisters”

A final word on Varsity from Daniel Goldhill, 5th year, School of Built Environment and Architecture and Men’s rugby captain:

“The best thing about varsity is having the whole team together for the whole day, we are all here, all socialising and all having fun. Everyone is coming down to support the final of the rugby later it will be a big atmosphere and I’m well excited”

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 23^rd to Sunday 25^th 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, 1^st 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 2^nd year studying Criminology within the School of Law & Social Sciences. This year she was fighting in a new weight category and finished 5^th 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 2^nd 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, 1^st 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.  

Several students will be heading to BUCS Nationals during the weekend of Friday 23 February and Sunday 25 February. During the weekend we be supporting Natalia who will look to retain her medal position in Karate hoping to look to qualify for the European University Games once again, which saw her head to Zagreb last year for the European University Games. We will also see 2 new LSBU students competing in Fencing and Swimming, with Max currently part of the U20s GB fencing squad and Jake having previously gone to Olympic swimming trials. Also heading up north we have Eva, one of our 2nd year students who has previously competed in national pole-vaulting event in her home country of Estonia. However, not all of our athletes are heading to Sheffield for their competition, with one heading to Bristol for the regional indoor archery qualifiers. We are sending our best wishes to 1st year international student Yun who will be representing LSBU.