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Team Newcastle sporting success in 2023/24

As the summer term fast approaches, we take a look back at some of the sporting highlights from Team Newcastle so far this academic year – including a triumph over local rivals Northumbria University in the annual Varsity competition!

2 May 2024

Congratulations to our student sports superstars for all they have achieved in 2023/24!

Varsity

One of the most anticipated events in the university’s sporting calendar, Varsity, returned on 22 March. Over 900 Newcastle University students took part in the competition across 27 different sports and 70 separate fixtures.  Team Newcastle successfully defended its title against rivals Northumbria University, securing a remarkable overall win of 106 – 38.

The competition, formerly known as the Stan Calvert Memorial cup (1994 – 2019), was reintroduced in 2022 as Varsity. This was the third consecutive win for Newcastle in the annual competition, with hopefully many more to come!

View all Varsity results
Newcastle won the Varsity competition against Northumbria for the third year in a row
A crowd of students cheering on Team Newcastle

BUCS performance

British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) is the national governing body for higher education sport in the UK. Over 100,000 students compete in BUCS competitions, leagues and events, including two major sporting events – BUCS Big Wednesday and BUCS Nationals.

BUCS Nationals

BUCS Nationals is an annual multisport event. Over 100 students made the journey to Sheffield on 23 – 25 February to represent Newcastle University across 6 sports – fencing, indoor athletics track and field, karate, badminton, swimming and climbing.

Louise Flockhart (pictured), a recipient of the alumni-funded Charles and Karen Sheppy Sports Scholarship, took home a gold medal in the individual climbing event. Whilst Bronze medals were secured by Ellen Robbin-Wilkinson in the Women’s sabre (fencing) and Kiana in the Novice Kata (karate).

Over in the athletics, the team returned home with 14 new Personal Bests, and 6 athletes reaching the finals of their respective events with Etienne Maughan placing 4th in the 60m hurdles final.

Erin Omeara also made the 100m freestyle swimming final.

BUCS Wednesday

BUCS Big Wednesday hosts the final matches for 16 league sports, to determine the champions of knockout competitions. This year’s event took place at Loughborough University on 19 and 20 March, hosting 114 teams from 25 institutions.

Three teams from Newcastle University headed to Loughborough to compete. There was success in the ICG Hockey Women’s Vase with a 2 – 0 win against Nottingham Trent, and a 3 – 1 win against Cambridge in the Volleyball Men’s Trophy. Over in the Rugby Union Men’s Vase, Newcastle lost out 38 – 19 against Brunel. However, the teams met again the following week for a BUCS Super Rugby play-off match, with Newcastle securing a 39 – 24 victory. The team will play a final match against Swansea University in April to determine who will progress to the BUCS Super Rugby league next season. 

Newcastle have also won 12 leagues so far in basketball, football, hockey, netball, rugby union, squash, table tennis, volleyball and wheelchair basketball.

Winning team at BUCS Big Wednesday
Winning team at BUCS Big Wednesday

Newcastle hosts the BUCS Fours and Eights Head

In February, the city welcomed 40 university rowing clubs from across the UK as Newcastle University, Tyne United RC and Tyne Amateur RC teamed up to host the BUCS Fours and Eights Head.

Over 350 crews competed over the weekend (24 – 25 February), with beginner boats covering a distance of 3,000m, while Intermediate and Championship crews navigated a longer 5,000m course.

Following an impressive performance in the Championship events with 3 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 1 bronze medal, Newcastle came out as the overall top performing university. The top ten results were as follows:

  1. Newcastle University
  2. Durham University
  3. University of Edinburgh
  4. Imperial College London
  5. University of Nottingham
  6. QUB Queen's University Belfast
  7. University of Reading
  8. University of Surrey
  9. University of Exeter
  10. University of Birmingham

Although the BUCS season is still underway, Team Newcastle currently ranks in 7th position for overall BUCS points (figures correct as of 01/05/2024). The team is hoping to retain its strong position, having finished in the top 10 for the past 6 consecutive years.

There are several sporting events still yet to come including the Rowing regatta (4 – 6 May), Athletics outdoor championships (4 – 6 May) and the Cricket Outdoor Championship Men and Women’s final (2 – 3 July).

Good luck to all those representing Team Newcastle!

Share your memories

Did you take part in any sport whilst at university? If so, we’d love to hear your memories! Please email these to [email protected] along with any photographs for a chance to be featured in a future edition of Arches or on our social media channels.

Reconnect with former teammates

If you’d be interested in reconnecting with former teammates, we have a variety of alumni networks dedicated to sport. If your preferred sport does not feature on the list, get in touch with us and we’d be happy to help you explore the option of establishing a new alumni network.

Check out our alumni networks