The annual Association of Colleges National Championships were for the first time ever held in the North at Tyne and Wear University.

The College’s weekend started with Tom Farrow-Smith competing for the South East in the team golf.  A late tee time meant that Tom was up against some wet weather and finished the round +6 despite being -1 after the 8^th.  As a team, the South East claimed 4^th after a countback for 3^rd with the South West team.

On the Saturday, Tom was competing individually and had an earlier tee time.  Unfortunately we woke up to sleet and snow making Tom’s round more challenging.  By the afternoon, the North had clear blue skies and Tom finished +5 and inside the top 10.

In the meantime on the Friday, the badminton team had started their group matches.  Stirling Burrow, in the men’s singles, had been drawn in a tough pool with his hardest two matches first.  Stirling’s first match was an epic battle against a known rival from the South West whom he beat 2-1.  Supported by the South East, the cheers of support and tension actually caused other competitors to pause and watch the closing stages of the match.  Stirling then had to play the top seeded player and, whilst he lost, he took more points from him than any other player throughout the tournament.  Sadly Stirling didn’t qualify in the top 2 of the group stages, which again went to countback, resulting in him battling for 6^th place.  One final match on the Sunday saw Stirling claim 6^th place. 

Our mixed pair of Idris Sabur and Steph Davis also started strong, winning their first game on the Friday 2-1.  On the Saturday, things did not go to plan and they ended up losing out on the top spot due to dropping a game in the first match.  This meant they had a playoff for 5^th/6^th place.  With a confident start they looked sure to win in two games, but a slight lapse of concentration in the second game saw the score go to 1-1 and a decider in the third.  Idris and Steph took an early lead which was closed down by the North West pair and the match went to the wire, with a win 18-16 in the final to Steph and Idris.

On Saturday our swimmers headed to Sunderland Aquatic Centre to defend the South East title from last year. Charlotte Ovens finished second in the 50m freestyle,  4^th in 200m freestyle; Phoebe Boyles 7^th in the 50m fly; and Lara Charlton 1^st in 50m and 100m Back.  This meant the girls’ team was in 1^st place after the individual events but double points in the relay meant all was still to play for.  Two first places in the medley and freestyle relay saw team gold secured for the women’s SE team.  Jamie Cunningham was the only male swimmer from the College and he won both the 100m and 200m freestyle.  The last minute drop-out of another swimmer meant the boys only had three swimmers and despite swimming both relays a man down and coming second, they were disqualified and the points did not count.

On Saturday, the cross country competitors were faced with a wet, muddy and hilly course.  Jack Boswell, Rian McCawley and Bryn Smith ran for Farnborough and the South East in the men’s race.  Jack Boswell stayed on the heels of the front runner and defending champion for as long as possible before he broke away.  Jack claimed the individual bronze medal, Bryn and Rian followed in soon after and the South East took the gold medal.  Sarah Heddle ran for the South East in the women’s race and claimed a team bronze medal.

Another successful weekend of sports for the College at the highest level.  Emma Stephens, Senior Curriculum Manager for Sport & Physical Education said, “The North were brilliant hosts and our students were fantastic. They took everything that was thrown at them in terms of long periods of time travelling and adverse weather conditions. Our students took everything their stride and proved themselves to, once again, be quality athletes.  It was a pleasure watching them compete and the College is very proud of all of their achievements.”