ANNUAL REVIEW <strong>2005</strong>-6 ANNUAL REVIEW <strong>2005</strong>-6 Contents 4 Welcome from <strong>BUSA</strong> President: John Inverdale 5 Welcome from <strong>BUSA</strong> Chairman: Phil Attwell 6 Welcome from <strong>BUSA</strong> CEO: Ian Randell 7 <strong>BUSA</strong> <strong>Annual</strong> Awards Dinner 8 <strong>BUSA</strong> Staff 9 <strong>BUSA</strong> Officers 10 Sponsorship 11 Domestic and Representative <strong>Review</strong> (by Sport) 40 British University Games 43 International <strong>Review</strong> (by Sport) 47 Acknowledgements 48 Universities 49 Overall Championship Points 50 Results 59 Graphs 62 Sportshots
ANNUAL REVIEW <strong>2005</strong>-6 ANNUAL REVIEW <strong>2005</strong>-6 The Diversity of Student Sport John Inverdale, President A Year of Change and Progress Phil Attwell, Chairman The public perception of university sport is a generational thing. The older the person you ask, the more they're likely to recall post-match parties rather than the match itself. It's only in recent years that the infrastructure of student sport has been seen as, and used as, a key stepping stone in the development of top-level performance athletes across a wide range of campuses, and not just a chosen few. The gulf between the sporting 'haves' and 'have-nots' will always be there, but there's a wider understanding now that success on the playing fields of Britain and abroad benefits not just the individual, but the university or college they represent. You only have to look at the catalogue of success over the past 12 months to realise how at the top level, if you took away the contribution of <strong>BUSA</strong> athletes, the cupboard would have a distinctly bare look. At the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, more than 50 of the 110 medals won by British athletes were claimed by current or former <strong>BUSA</strong> competitors. Two swimming medallists, Liam Tancock and Caitlin McClatchey , who are both at Loughborough, were <strong>BUSA</strong>'s Sportsman and Woman of the year. You can place them alongside successful teams in the World University Championships in Cross-Country, Equestrianism and Archery, not to mention the new folk-hero of English cricket, Monty Panesar. One of the single most enjoyable occasions of the sporting year for me was to be at Twickenham on <strong>BUSA</strong> Rugby Finals Day - an afternoon that combines most elements of the student sporting life, mixing high quality performance with sometimes even higher quality socialising. And within the players involved, both men and women, there are some who want sport to play a part in their future careers, and others for whom it is, and will remain, just a glorious form of relaxation and release. Which highlights both sides of the student sport coin. If we look back on the past 12 months, it's with a huge amount of pride at the way that <strong>BUSA</strong> members are helping to shape the sporting destiny of the home countries, but at the same time, it's to understand that for every top-level athlete, there are hundreds who want to hit shuttlecocks or squash balls, kick footballs or rugby balls, just for the sheer hell of it. And then it comes down to getting the balance right on funding and facilities, coaching and time-tables. All those involved at <strong>BUSA</strong> are trying to juggle all those balls with as much dexterity as possible. For a young organisation (it was formed from an amalgamation of several student organisations in 1994) <strong>BUSA</strong> has already seen significant growth and change – member and staff growth, move to merit leagues from block fixtures, introduction of premier leagues, development of lower tier competition – the list goes on. The past year has seen further, and some of the most significant, changes in the development of the Association. The AGM in June saw the <strong>BUSA</strong> membership approve some fundamental changes to the way that the Association operates and governs itself and the findings of a Strategic <strong>Review</strong> that had been conducted throughout the year. The review, in my view, was the most consultative process in <strong>BUSA</strong> history…. perhaps the 63-3 vote margin at General Council in January was a reflection of how much the members have been involved in the process and we will endeavour to ensure that this consultative approach continues under the new governance. Some of the changes that have, or will, take place as a result of the review are summarised below: • The Chair and CEO now sit on an Executive Board with four elected students, four Directors with responsibility for business areas (Competitions, Development, Marketing and Finance and Administration) and two co-opted positions. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome the new Directors and also thank the previous Officer group, particularly the three student vice-chairs, Ed Blockley, Jeannie Ivanov and Phil Wood, who have each done a great deal in advancing the Association during their term in office; • There is a Management Board of senior <strong>BUSA</strong> staff, who are empowered to make decisions within policy guidelines; • There will be consultative e-networks, to help guide decision-making at all levels; • A student Divisional Chairs Forum has been introduced, which will be used by the four student on the Board to gauge the opinion of the membership on pertinent issues; • The AGM will be a valuable forward planning meeting, rather than a rubber-stamping retrospective, which could slow down (or even reverse) the decision-making process. All of these should enable us to adapt and facilitate progress more quickly and effectively and ensure that the service that we provide to our members as efficient as possible. After 11 years at the helm of <strong>BUSA</strong> (and its predecessor body UAU) Greg Gregory Jones retired from active service during the year. Greg’s contribution to the organisation has been massive; he nurtured the organisation in London including the inspired purchase of the Union Street office, and oversaw the development of the team of staff we see today. He has helped to guide four <strong>BUSA</strong> chairs through the difficult landscape, has supported many successful FISU campaigns, and ensured that the wheels of the <strong>BUSA</strong> machine always remained well oiled. <strong>BUSA</strong> is well-respected partner in high places largely thanks to Greg’s stewardship and the organisation wishes him a long a healthy retirement. Our Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal officially opened the new <strong>BUSA</strong> offices in March and a new Chief Executive, Ian Randell was appointed. All in all the Association is an a healthy and vibrant position to ensure that the quality of our sporting programme and service to our members continues to improve and I look forward to working with the membership and the many volunteers who contribute so much to <strong>BUSA</strong> to ensure that we meet our on-going commitment to progress and improvement.
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