University of Leeds half year sports report

As we come to the half way point of the year it would appear to be a good time to look at the progress of our Universities sports teams and to see how they have been doing and to check whether Leeds is on target to achieve its target of (14^th) in the overall BUCS table this year.

The standings overall so far show that the University of Leeds is 9^th with a total of 98.5 points, 0.5 more than Exeter who are 10^th. These have come in a variety of sports showing Leeds’ strength in depth across the board. The Hill Climb cycling event saw the Men’s Team win their event with the Women’s team coming fourth. Overall the cyclist brought back 33 points from the Hill Climb a great start for the Leeds’ teams this season.

In the Ju Jitsu competition Leeds brought back further points from some excellent performances. In the Blue belt competition Leeds one six points, in the Dark Blue belt a 3nd place earned Leeds eight points and an overall team finish of joint 4^th brought home 4.5 points, a strong total of 18.5.

In the swimming gala Leeds also won an impressive haul of BUCS points. Wins in the women’s 100m fly and women’s 50 metre free, a second place in the 50 metre fly and 3^rd in the 100 metre back meant the Leeds achieved a total of 44 points.

And with the women’s team surfing coming 6^th and winning three points Leeds have made a superb start to the BUCS season.

Results in the weekly BUCS matches have also been good with many of the universities teams competing near the top of their prospective tables. The hockey teams are doing well half way through the season, with 12 teams overall the Gryphons side are showing their strength in depth with the men’s 2nds, women’s 1sts and 5ths all leading the way at the top of their leagues. With the men’s 3rds are second in their league, and the men’s 4ths, women’s 2nds and women’s 3rds all just three points of the leaders in their divisions it is looking a potential golden season for the hockey teams.

Following on from the aquatic success of the swimmers the water polo teams have also made good starts to season with the men’s team topping their league and the women in a strong second.

After a first win for the men’s tennis 1sts last week, university tennis to be in a great place with the men’s 2nds second in their division and women’s 1sts just 3 points off the summit of their league. In table tennis the men’s 1sts are undefeated and top of the Northern Conference 1A by a staggering nine points. Meanwhile the men’s lacrosse 1sts sit atop the Northern Conference 2A, tied on points with Liverpool1sts in what is a hugely competitive division. 

The Gryphons teams continue to improve and the amount of teams who are topping their individual leagues seems to grow week on week. The men’s football 3rds are three points clear in first in the Northern Conference Men’s 5B, the men’s rugby union 3rds and 4ths are number one in their divisions. The women’s squash 1sts are top of their league while the women’s 2nds are in second. Further mid-season success is coming from the netball teams. The 2nds and 4ths are second in their leagues while the 5ths are top of the Northern Conference 7B.

So with so many Leeds teams either leading the way in their leagues or sitting a few points away from the summit of their tables all the players have earned themselves a long rest over Christmas. But with success so close all our sports men and women will no doubt come back determined to push for the league titles straight away. And if that happens, well, it could be an amazing year for sport at the University of Leeds.

To close it may be worth looking at whether Leeds is aiming at the correct target. Loughborough have so far accumulated 638.5 points, 463.5 more than Stirling who sit in second. In light of that, an eventual 10^th place for Leeds is a good target to have.