The University of Brighton will be represented in seven different sports in the upcoming BUCS Championships held in Sheffield on the 22nd-24th February.
Brighton currently stand 36th in the BUCS league table against 155 other Higher Education institutions. Last year the University finished 42nd and will be hoping to improve this year. The championship weekend held in Sheffield concentrates on individual events and for many sports its considered the most important competition of the BUCS calendar.
Amongst the Brighton representatives competing in Sheffield are two fencers, Sofi Purcell and George Burwood (pictured). Both are left-handers competing in the Epee class which George says gives them an advantage.
George said, “I have competed against other universities, first at Sussex as a Sussex Spartan for three years, (captain in my second year) and now for the past one and a half years at Brighton. I enjoy fencing hugely, and it's a pleasure to be acknowledged as representing your university, especially when one performs well.”
George recently returned from Paris this week after competing for Brighton in an international fencing competition he said, “The social aspects are fantastic, and it is a great opportunity, since fencing outside of university is expensive.”
Brighton's biggest team to attend the Championships are the swimming team. The club have 23 members competing in the highly competitive Long Course Championships. A full preview of the swimming can be found on the BUCS website, with the field including Team GB's recent olympians the times are likely to be quick. Brighton will be hoping to break some club records and challenge for finals.
The Brighton Boxing Club are also off to Sheffield this weekend to compete at the Don Valley Stadium. Club Coach Adam Haniver will have a minimum of five boxers taking part, including three female boxers. Haniver hopes to continue the current good form the club are experiencing.
He said, “We are now 17 bouts, 15 wins this season and the Brighton Juggernaut hopes to roll on the last two weeks successes and bring back the golds.”
Other competitions where Brighton has representation includes athletics, judo, badminton and climbing.
Good luck to all those competing for the university this weekend in Sheffield. Keep up to date with Brighton's progress on our Facebook and Twitter pages:
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