Three members attending yoga classes at Sport & Fitness.CategoriesMember News Psychology

Balance. Share. Rest – Mental Health Awareness Day

Balance. Share. Rest.

I am sure that for most of you, looking after your mental health has been something which has ironically been badgering you from all angles in recent times. As we celebrate Mental Health Day on Thursday 14 March, let’s commit to prioritizing our well-being and supporting one another in our journeys toward mental wellness.

Remember, taking care of your mental health isn’t selfish—it’s essential for leading a fulfilling life. With that being said, I’ll try and keep this brief, and to a few important words:

Balance

This should come as no surprise that if one finds oneself out of balance for extended periods of time, things can quickly take a turn for the worse. So, take a moment to step back and ask yourself if anything could be realigned in your immediate life.

Sharing

Often when we are struggling with some aspect of our lives, regardless of what that may be, we can immediately ease the situation by speaking to someone. This doesn’t have to be a trained professional, but rather just a friend, a family member, a colleague, or even just speaking to yourself, out loud. It may seem odd at first, but having a heart to heart with yourself can be quite affective.

Rest

Without realising it, especially in these information hyperdrive times, we can find ourselves in a state of overload. This may be realised in the form of an unusually overactive mind, or an uncomfortably tense body. If this is the case for you, factor in moments, or even days across the month, where you detox from the world, and all of its often-unnecessary complexities.

Wishing you all peace, balance, and resilience on your mental health journey.

 

Peter Antonio, Senior Gym Instructor

A headshot of Peter Antonio a Sport & Fitness Gym Instructor.

Looking to focus on your mental health this month? We have a host of activities ongoing from Saturday 24 February to Sunday 24 March 2024 in line with the BRIT Challenge. Follow the link below to find out more and get involved

Find out more
Sports Awards glass trophies, with squash winning National Team of the Year.CategoriesAnnouncement Student News

Nominations now open for Sports Awards 2024

Nominations now open for Sports Awards 2024 

All 2023/24 students can now nominate individuals, clubs, coaches and recreational teams across 13 categories celebrating their sporting successes at this year’s University of Birmingham Sports Awards.

Open from 28 February, nominations are now open and will close on Thursday 28 March giving students one month to put forward nominees across a range of categories.

This year’s Sports Awards, taking place on the evening of Thursday 30 May at the Brammall Music Building, will recognise all levels of sporting achievements from our volunteers to our elite athlete scholars.

Members of the netball team all lined up on the back line, crouching and ready to run.
A group of Lacrosse team members in a huddle with Lacrosse sticks in the air.
Three members of the netball club holding hands and preparing to Mexican wave with Rory the Lion.
Group of students stood on stage at the Sports Awards.

Categories include:

Campus League Team of the Year
The Campus League Team of the Year award aims to recognise and celebrate the teams that best embody the Campus League ethos of participation, good sportsmanship and enjoyment of the game.

NOMINATE HERE

Coach of the Year (non-student)
For an individual who is regarded as having made the most outstanding contribution to club sport through their role as a coach.

NOMINATE HERE

Coach of the Year (student)
This award aims to recognise current students who are regarded as having made the most outstanding contribution to club sport through their role as a coach, working closely with their club committee to direct the development of the club and support members’ personal and performance development.

NOMINATE HERE

Club of the Year
This award is based on the overall success of a club across a number of areas. This can include – but is not limited to – committee and/or performance achievements, developments and innovation within the club, member engagement and connection with the wider sporting community both in- and external to the university.

NOMINATE HERE

Full Blues
Awarded to those individuals that have competed internationally at a senior championship.

NOMINATE HERE

ED&I Award
This award acknowledges and celebrates the diversity and inclusion of sport within our clubs.

NOMINATE HERE

Half Blues
Awarded to those who have achieved either a BUCS individual medal or a BUCS Team Championship gold medal during the 2022-23 academic year.

NOMINATE HERE

National Team of the Year
Aims to recognise and highlight the stand-out successes of a select number of our University teams that compete on a national level within BUCS.

NOMINATE HERE

Outstanding Contribution
Celebrates outstanding contribution made by an individual towards the continued improvement of UoB Sport & Fitness and the instances in which they have gone beyond expectations.

NOMINATE HERE

 

Sport Colours
Sport Colours are non-performance-based and awarded to individuals based on a member’s contribution beyond their established role, going over and above for their club or for sport across the University.

NOMINATE HERE

Sports Person of the Year
This is the highest individual accolade awarded by the University of Birmingham, in recognition and celebration of the very highest sporting level.

NOMINATE HERE

 

Regional Team of the Year
Aims to celebrate the achievements of some of our stand out University teams that compete on a regional level within BUCS.

NOMINATE HERE

Volunteer of the Year
This Award recognises individuals who have committed themselves to a cause, activity, or event for the greater good of their club, University, or wider community.

NOMINATE HERE

Sports Awards timings on a screen in the Elgar Concert area.
A group of students waiting outside in he sun on a grass area.

With more than 200 people in attendance last year – including the Vice Chancellor and Principal of University of Birmingham Adam Tickell – we’re hoping to make this year’s event even bigger with a selection of arrival drinks, food options and post-event entertainment.

More about the Sports Awards 2024
Oliver Morgan standing in front of a Great Britain sign wearing a swim cap and goggles.CategoriesEvents Student News

Brum success at BUCS National Championships

Brum success at BUCS National Championships

It was a weekend jam-packed with sport as University of Birmingham athletes across Athletics, Badminton, Climbing, Fencing, Karate and Swimming competed in this year’s BUCS National Championships.

Even mascot Rory the Lion returned to action in the annual 200m Danny Porter Foundation sprint, grabbing a silver medal amongst 16 representatives.

 

Hosted at Sheffield’s English Institute of Sport, the BUCS points rained in for Birmingham with medals, results and records falling across the three-day event.

Didi Okoh celebrating her win.

Athletics completed a team 2nd place for the third year in a row with eight medals for Birmingham athletes. 15 of the athletes set personal best records, with the club securing its most top 8 positions across its most diverse events.

Didi Okoh (60m Ambulant), Kimani Jack (High Jump) and Tyler Bilyard (1500m) brough home gold for Brum, with Tom Bridger (3000m) and Cameron Bailey (400m) scooping silver. The Women’s Team 4x200m also finished second in their event.

Darian Moore (60m) and Zoe Hunter (1500m) completed the medal haul with Bronze finishes. Josh Woods (Triple Jump), Emilie Oakden (Pole Vault) and Orla Brennan (400m) just missed out on a medal with fourth places in their respective sports.

A record-breaking Swimming scooped six top four finishes, including four individual and two team events.

 

The Men’s and Women’s relay teams set club records finishing fourth and sixth in their respective 4 x 100m events. Para swimmer Lucy Jordan Caws won a silver medal with a season’s best in the 100m Butterfly.

 

EDCAP athlete Ollie Morgan set the pace with two Gold and two BUCS records in the 100m & 200m backstroke events.

Swimming club member in pool

Results from across the rest of our sports clubs across the weekend:

Two fencing participants dressed in fencing attire.

Fencing

 

Liam croft secured 3d place in Men’s Sabre.

Karate team group shot - all wearing red and blue University of Birmingham kit

Karate


Men’s Inter Kata – BRONZE – Harri Jordan
Women’s Novice Kata – GOLD – Katherine Galvin
Women’s Inter Kata (–70) – BRONZE – Roni Parnes
Men’s Novice Kumite (-70) – GOLD – Rajan Sidhu
Men’s Novice Kumite (+80) – BRONZE – Tom Harrison
Men’s Novice Kumite (-80) – BRONZE – Jack Maher
Women’s Novice Kumite (+63) – GOLD – Neha Nair
Women’s Senior Kumite (-50) – BRONZE – Lyra Cobb
Men’s Team Kumite – BRONZE
Overall Team Results – SILVER

Climbing


Men’s Individual 4th – Ian Davis
Men’s Team 4th Place
Women’s Team SILVER

Women's climbing team all with BUCS medals around their neck.
Explore our performance sports
Umpires and the University of Birmingham Performance Team group photo.CategoriesAnnouncement

UoB Sport Performance host Olympic Preparation Camp for Hockey Umpires

UoB Sport Performance host Paris Olympic Preparation Camp for Hockey Umpires.

Earlier this month our Performance Centre team collaborated with the National Programme Umpiring Association to host an Olympic Preparation Camp for four Hockey Umpires who have been selected to officiate the Paris Olympics this summer.

Among the Umpires selected for the Games is UoB Alumna Hannah Harrison (formerly Hannah Sanders), who graduated from the University back in 2006 from the School of Economics.

Luke Gunn, Head of Perfomance delivering presentation to umpires
Four women playing hockey on Sport & Fitness pitches in the rain.

Hannah reflects on how it feels to be selected for the prestigious Olympic Games:

 

‘It really is a dream come true for me, it’s something I’ve worked really hard for the past 15 years to achieve’.

Watch the full interview here

Umpires taking part in a physical activity on mats.

During the camp, our Performance Team delivered content across a number of key areas:

 

Dr Sue Jones (Sports Psychologist) covered the psychological pressures of officiating under the scrutiny of elite teams, crowds and the media.

 

Mike Gosling (Physiokinetic) showcased physical movement screening and biomechanical interventions.

 

David Sheldon (SportExR/UBSport Exercise Physiologist) presented heat acclimatisation and cooling strategies.

 

Luke Gunn, Head of Performance who helped to deliver the camp says:

 

‘We were delighted to be able to assist the NPUA and the wonderful four GB Umpires who will officiate in Paris this summer.

 

Just as the athletes need to be at peak performance at the Olympics, as do all the officials for whom this is also the pinnacle of their sport. We were honoured to be able to share our expertise to aid their preparations.’

The Camp aimed to cover the physical, mental and nutrition aspects required of umpires to ensure they are on optimum form for the Games. Hannah found the content extremely valuable, saying:

 

‘I feel incredibly lucky that the family of the University of Birmingham have welcomed me back, and that I’ve been able to access such great facilities and some real experts’.

Luke presenting content on the board to umpires.
Explore our performance sports
Three women from Rugby team taking diagnostic swab out of packaging, with BBC videographer filming.CategoriesAnnouncement

BBC Sport cover ‘ground-breaking’ concussion research in Women’s Rugby

BBC Sport cover ‘ground-breaking’ concussion research in Women’s Rugby

Last month, we had a visit from BBC Sport and Marker Diagnostics as part of their ongoing research into concussion testing on female Rugby players. Marker Diagnostics is an emerging biotech company that was founded in 2016 following pioneering concussion research conducted at our university.

The test involves a simple mouth swab to collect saliva samples, which can then detect biomarkers for concussion.

Women's Rugby team huddled on the pitch with camera.
Rugby Women swabbing mouth with diagnostic marker.

After collaborating with the Rugby Football Union in the elite men’s competitions last year, Marker is now collaborating with Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) to validate the existing test in women, with evidence suggesting that effects of concussion may be more severe in women.

 

BBC Sport Correspondent Katie Gornall interviewed members of our Women’s Rugby Union club during their early morning training session on the pitch. Many members of the club had already taken part in the ground-breaking saliva swab test and noted that the test was ‘easy, quick and efficient.’

Watch the behind-the-scenes clips of the club’s morning with the BBC.

Member of women's rugby team sat on bench for interview with Katie Gornall.

 ‘Being a part of the progression it feels really good, especially seeing the difference between when I started and now. There’s so much input going into it now which is really important for the women’s game’  

Jemima Moss, University of Birmingham Rugby and former Worcester Warriors

Kat Merchant smiling holding Hall of Fame certificate.

As part of the research, BBC Sport also interviewed Former Rugby Union wing and University Alumna Kat Merchant, who last September was inducted into our University of Birmingham Sport Hall of Fame for her incredible achievements across her sporting career.

During her time playing rugby, Kat experienced over 30 concussions, stating:

 

‘There are some really, really dark times with it, because you don’t know what’s normal any more’.

Watch the BBC Sport Interview.

This highlights the importance of concussion testing within higher-risk sports to help better understand the signs and symptoms. It’s estimated that up to 80% of people experiencing concussions aren’t diagnosed.

Fran Williams wearing her England netball dress, wearing a Goal Defence bib.CategoriesStudent News

New year, same scholar success

New year, same sports scholar success  

2024 started with a bang for our outstanding university scholarship athletes and alumni, who have broken in the new year with some incredible performances on the national and international stage, particularly in hockey, netball and cross-country.

Great Britain Men and Women Hockey squads embarked on the road to Paris 2024 after qualifying at the FIH Olympic Qualifiers.

 

In Spain,  GB Women featuring current EDCAP scholar and social policy student Lily Walker as well as four alumni, Lily Owsley, Anna Toman, Amy Costello and goal-scorer Hannah French closely battled to secure their spot, beating Ireland 2-1, after losing 3-2 to Belgium in the semi-finals.

 

GB Men secured their spot after beating New Zealand 3-1 to reach the final in Muscat, Oman. The team featured talented alumni Nick Bandurak. Both teams will now prepare for the Olympic Games in just over six months’ time.

Amelia Quirk reaching the finish line, with arms raised in the air at the European Cross Country Championships.

EDCAP scholarship athletes and current students Evie Wood, Alice Atkinson and Betsan Thomas have been named in the Women’s GB Elite Development Squad (GB EDP) for 2024, with fellow scholar Harvey Edwards being named as a reserve for the men’s squad.

 

The programme aims to help junior players smoothly transition to senior international hockey, providing those who have Olympic potential with the support they need. This is an amazing achievement for these players and shows real promise as they look to follow in the footsteps of those named above.

 

Sunday 28 January was a crucial but exciting day for England Netball as the England Roses played in the Vitality Netball Nations Cup Final in Leeds.

 

University of Birmingham alumni Fran Williams played in goal defence whilst captaining the team to the final, alongside fellow alumni Ellie Rattu. The Roses put in an incredible performance, but narrowly missed out on the win to the strong team Origin Australian Diamonds.

 

One week later, the Athletics club came home with a record-breaking medal haul of 13 medals at the BUCS Cross Country Championships. Not only this, but the team won 3 out of the total 4 for both team and individual titles – an exceptional achievement for the team.

Lily Owsley of Great Britain breaks with the ball from Pippa Hayward during the Women's hockey semi final match betwen New Zealand and Great Britain on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Hockey Centre on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images.
Sports Awards timings on a screen in the Elgar Concert area.
A group of students waiting outside in he sun on a grass area.

Over a gruelling course, EDCAP Scholars Amelia Quirk and Will Barnicoat continued their success from the European Cross Country Championships in December and dominated the field in the Women and Men’s Long Course, bringing home 2 gold medals.

 

Will was closely followed by fellow scholar Tomer Tarragano and Oliver Smart, in a Birmingham 1-2-3, the first clean sweep on the Podium at BUCS Cross Country in history.

Three athletics members running in the European Cross Country Championships, heading for the finish line.
Discover more about University of Birmingham Sports Scholarships
University of Birmingham running at the BUCS Cross Country run.CategoriesAnnouncement Events Student News

Record breaking medal haul at BUCS Cross Country

Record-breaking BUCS Cross Country medal haul  

University of Birmingham Athletics made history with the highest-ever medal haul by any institution at this weekend’s BUCS Cross Country Championships.

The record-breaking weekend saw the Athletics Club beat their 2022 record of ten medals thanks to eight individual medals and five team medals at Temple Newsam in Leeds.

 

To strengthen their dominance, Birmingham won three of the four team titles with three out of four individual wins available.

 

The team took its largest ever cohort with 150 competitors across the event supported by staff and alumni.

 

The Cross County Championships host four races across short and long distance for Men’s and Women’s competitors. In each race, there are individual medals and team medals at stake.

Birmingham post-graduate scholar and GB representative Amelia Quirk claimed her first-ever BUCS title in style, winning her race by a massive 36 seconds.

The Men’s Team completed the first-ever podium sweep at the Championships in BUCS history, with third-year sports scholar Will Barnicoat winning his first ever BUCS individual Gold.

His teammates Tomer Tarragano, a third-year Chemistry undergraduate, and Ollie Smart completed the podium with an unprecedented 1-2-3.

With the Long Distance results contributing to the University’s overall BUCS points, the Athletics Club bought home 72 points, bettering last year’s haul by 30 points.

Sports Awards timings on a screen in the Elgar Concert area.
A group of students waiting outside in he sun on a grass area.

Posting on Instagram, Luke Gunn, Head of Performance and Athletics, said: “I couldn’t be prouder of what we produced this weekend!

 

“This team has a culture where every athlete looks out for their teammates and coaches that continually go above and beyond to make sure each athlete has the best experience.

 

“This weekend was truly special and one I feel we will be talking about for many years to come!”

MAn

See a summary of the results below:

 

Men’s – Long
Will Barnicoat – GOLD
Tomer Tarragano- SILVER
Ollie Smart – BRONZE
Team – GOLD
+ Tyler Bilyard, Mike Ward & Noah Campion

 

Women’s – Long
Amelia Quirk – GOLD
Team – SILVER
+ Elisha Tait, Elsa Palmer & Kate Willis

 

Men’s – Short
Elliot Moran – SILVER
Sam Burkitt – BRONZE
Team – GOLD
+ Fin Ward & Ethan O’Shea

 

Women’s – Short
Charlotte Alexander – GOLD
Rosie Hamilton-James – SILVER
Team – GOLD
+ Rose Chesterfield
& Team – BRONZE
+ Freya Stapleton, Zoe Hunter & Hannah Seager

 

Next up, sports scholars Tomer Tarragano, Tyler Bilyard, Charlotte Alexander and Elsa Palmer will represent Great Britain at the World University Cross Country CHampions in Oman on 17 February, with the BUCS Indoor Championships taking place on 23-25 February in Sheffield.  

Discover more about University of Birmingham Athletics