Sport
SportStudent SportAU President

AU President

My name is Katy and I am your AU President the 2021-22 academic year. 

As your Athletic Union President, I am the voice and representative for all students who want to get involved in sport at Exeter. From recreational to competitive sport, as well as employability opportunities with coaching and umpiring, I work alongside the AU team and students to ensure your experience is as enjoyable as possible.

My principal aims this year are to offer more para-sport opportunities and access to a Hardship Fund, to reduce some of the barriers to participation students can face. To find more about my manifesto, head below to read more! 

Inclusion:

As AU President, I would work closely with the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team to break down the barriers to sport that many students face. I believe that there is more that we, as a university, can be proactive with in order to achieve this.

I want to make the UK Disability History Month an annual focal point, particularly since Movember has highlighted how successfully our student body can work together. Alongside the Student Disability Campaign, we would educate clubs about visible and invisible disabilities, to make members aware of how they can help. Throughout this month, I’d help clubs host more accommodating taster sessions, and work to make the implementation of inclusive sessions more of a normality throughout the year.

Support and Wellbeing:

The aspect of my campaign that I am most passionate about, the wellbeing of our community, is hugely important to me. This year, I’ve been working to provide the lacrosse club with workshops for women, focusing on positive mindsets and self-confidence within sport. With the help of the AU, I want to continue this initiative next year and offer a series of workshops to all female/mixed clubs. 

I’d continue to offer the Good Lad Initiative workshops and encourage more people to attend, particularly committee members. That way, they can lead from the front and help educate their members further.

Finally, I’d like to develop a wider range of training opportunities for committee members. In better preparing students for their roles, their clubs would benefit, as would their individual skills and future prospects as a result.

Providing More Opportunities:

I’d work with the AU to secure membership support each year. Students who regard membership fees as a barrier to participation could apply for reduced memberships, depending on individual clubs’ funds.

I’d also like to help the AU offer more competitive sports opportunities, finding a middle ground between commitment to BUCS and more relaxed participation in intramural sport. Implementing a new league next year would bridge this gap. Students would have the opportunity to play competitively, without the pressure of sacrificing too much of their time for BUCS.

For many students, COVID-19 is challenging their wellbeing now more than ever, and sport plays a key role in combating this. It is vital that our students have the equal opportunity to participate in sport, and I hope you will join me in my campaign to make this possible.

Committee Training Oppertunities

Next term, thanks to the generosity of the Alumni Fund, we will be offering some Beyond Equality workshops to our AU club committees. These will educate students further on active bystanders, challenging social norms, mental wellbeing and healthy relationships. Previous feedback from these workshops has been fantastic, so I’m excited to offer it to students next term.

Parasport

Thanks to the generosity of Exeter City Community Trust and the hard work from members of Exeter ladies’ football and cricket club, we were able to host a para football and para cricket taster session early in December with some powerchairs, as pictured. It was brilliant to raise awareness for parasport and to gain a greater understanding of how we can continue making sport at Exeter more inclusive. Notable mentions must go to Sally McKendry and Sanjana Kang-Mullen for their dedication to making their clubs as accessible as possible and for running our first para-sport open session with powerchairs.

Our next parasport taster session will be Friday 21st January during refreshers week. This will take place in the St Luke’s sports hall from 2:30-4:30pm. Parafootball

Hardship Fund

The Athletic Union has worked closely with the Guild in order to provide students who cannot afford to join a club due to financial reasons, with the opportunity to get funding to support them with their membership fees.

If you'd like to read more about the Hardship Fund, or apply, please head to the Guild website.

 

Campaigns

February - This Girl Can

Throughout the month of February, the Athletic Union are launching our own university This Girl Can campaign, supported by Sport England. The purpose of thiscampaign is to challenge the conventional idea of what exercise looks like and reach out to women of all backgrounds and ethnicities who feel left behind by the stereotypical pathways to getting active. My aims this month are to offer a wider range of oppertunities and support to provide women with the confidence needed to enjoy sport. 

As well as working with our 51 AU clubs to make them more accessible and inclusive, this month we will be offering a number of new exercise classes that cater to more students. We are hosting free self-defence classes with both male and female instructors, PHAT (Plus-sized Health & Attitude Training) fitness classes and Basics to Barbells programmes. By launching this campaign, my intention is to demonstrate that exercise can be enjoyed in a variety of environments and to encourage students to explore new ways to get involved. I hope that our free sessions throughout February will encourage women to try something different and integrate physical activity into their student lifestyle beyond this campaign. 

Thanks to the generosity of the Athletic Union and the individuals leading the classes, all of these sessions are either free of charge or highly subsidised to ensure money is not a barrier to participation. Please see below for further session details and booking links: 

Weekend Female-Only Self Defence Classes with Lewis Sloan from the Exeter Self-Defence Academy 

Free self-defence classes for beginners will take place at St Luke’s from 3-4pm on Saturdays throughout February. Following this month, Lewis will continue running more progressive self-defence classes as part of a 6-week programme. This will continue to take place on campus at the St Luke’s sports centre. 

Book Here: 

Saturday 5th Feb - https://fixr.co/event/320196867  

Saturday 12th Feb – https://fixr.co/event/678415550  

Saturday 19th Feb – https://fixr.co/event/549069311  

Saturday 26th Feb - https://fixr.co/event/837095484  

PHAT Plus-size Health and Attitude Training led by PHAT 

We are offering free of charge plus size exercise classes (PHAT Strength and Cardio) starting on Wednesday 2nd February at 5pm at the Sports Park. This is a 4-week pilot running throughout the whole of February. The classes will be run by PHAT (Plus Size Health & Attitude Training) which is a body positive inclusive health training organisation that promotes physical activity for people who self-identify as plus size. Anna Janota will be the fitness instructor for these classes. 

Book Here: 

Wednesday 2nd - https://fixr.co/event/513060958  

Wednesday 9th - https://fixr.co/event/114031500  

Wednesday 16th - https://fixr.co/event/930017762  

Wednesday 23rd - https://fixr.co/event/944817167  

Weekday Female-Only Self Defence Classes with Alice Tindall

Alumni, Alice Tyndall is returning to offer some free self-defence training sessions after setting up her own self-defence business. She is returning for the second week in February to offer some bespoke student sessions, so make sure you sign up and reserve your spot!

Book Here:

Monday 7th - 10.30-12.30 - https://fixr.co/event/622692189

Monday 7th   -1.30-3.30 - https://fixr.co/event/622692189

Tuesday 8th - 11.30-1.30 - https://fixr.co/event/622692189

Thursday 10th - 10.30-12.30 - https://fixr.co/event/622692189

Thursday 10th - 1.30-3.30 - https://fixr.co/event/622692189

Friday 11th - 2-4 - https://fixr.co/event/622692189

Basics to Barbells Programme - £15 for 6 weeks 

This unique, women-only course is designed to teach you how to add free-weights into your workouts and perform these exercises with confidence. From mastering the perfect technique in the squat, deadlift, pull up and hip thrust, to learning all about barbells and dumbbells, this course will help any beginner get the most out of their gym workouts in a small, non-judgemental environment. 

Some other key dates are as follows:

7th – 13th = Sexual violence and awareness week

28th Feb – 6th March = Eating difficulties and body image

 

The 2022 AU Award Shortlist is here! The time has come for us to reveal which AU clubs and members have been shortlisted for each award. We cannot wait to see you all there!

 Achievements in Media

  • Men's Football
  • Fencing
  • Touch Rugby
  • Tennis  
  • Ladies Football  

Student Coach of the Year 

  • Sanjana Kang-Mullen – EULCC
  • Connor Wright - Futsal  
  • James Coffin - Tennis    
  • James Eslik – Canoe  
  • Thomas Nagle – Rugby League  

Treasurer of the Year 

  • Keanu Boucher, Touch  
  • Alexander Mason, Squash  
  • Chris James, Sailing  
  • Martha Bearne, Rifle  
  • Joe Wilson, Rowing  

The AU Unsung Hero(es) Award

  • Laura Stops, Boatclub
  • Arlen Veysey, Fencing  
  • Emily Bec, Netball  
  • Amy Swift, Boxing  
  • Joanna Gaudini, Table Tennis  

The Bruce Coleman Contribution to Sport Award 

  • Robert Giardelli, Sailing  
  • James Coffin, Tennis
  • Rachael Cawker, Ladies hockey  
  • Lillie Saunders, Cycling  
  • Sally McKendery, Ladies Football 

Club Captain of the Year

  • Anthony Lynch, Table Tennis  
  • Jade Richards, Netball  
  • Harry Isaacs, Mens Football
  • Aman, Jui Jitsu
  • George Whittington, American Football  

Sports Personality of the Year

  • Antonia Sokic, Tennis
  • Emily Drysdale Ladies Hockey
  • Lewis Cox, Tennis  
  • Fin Richardson, Mens Rugby
  • Sam Avery, Swimming

Club Development of the Year

  • Trampoline  
  • Golf  
  • Men’s Football  
  • American Football  
  • Ladies football  

Inclusive Club of the Year

  • Tennis  
  • Ladies cricket  
  • Ladies football  
  • Table Tennis  
  • Surf  

Participation Activity of the Year 

  • Women's Rugby
  • Boxing
  • Canoe
  • Fencing  
  • Tennis  

Sustainable Club of the Year

  • Tennis

  • Ladies football  
  • Trampoline  
  • Subaqua  
  • Sailing

Team Captain of the Year 

  • Ruby Wilkinson, Womens Rugby  
  • Jimmy Hawkings, Football  
  • James Hammett, Sailing  
  • Olly White, Rugby  
  • Oscar Lindqvist, Golf  

Team of the Year

  • Netball  1s
  • Men’s Trampoline 
  • Golf 1s 
  • Womens Rugby 1s   
  • Men’s Rugby 1s

Club of the Year 

  • Womens Rugby 
  • Ladies Football  
  • Mens Rugby  
  • Netball  
  • Touch  

Sportswoman

  • Natalya Helvadjian-Williams, Trampoline 
  • Tamsin Miller, Cycling
  • Rachael Fee, Netball 
  • Martha Taylor, Hockey 
  • Matilda Toresater, Women's rugby 

Fresher

  • Tabby D'NYeurt, Fencing 

  • Francesca Maini, Windriders
  • Cole Rees-Williams, Karate
  • Emily Simon, Touch Rugby  
  • Nancy McGillivray, Women's Rugby

Sportsman

  • Dingo Raposo, Surf
  • Christ Tshiunza, Men's Rugby
  • Rhys Bradshaw, Men's Hockey
  • Henry Waldern, Rifle
  • Dafydd Jenkins, Men's Rugby