BUCS Nationals round-up

Overview

From February 14^th to 16^th in Sheffield, 4,327 athletes from across the UK competed for BUCS gold in individual sports. Among them, 109 athletes proudly represented Team Durham across six different sports, securing numerous medals, personal bests, and notable accomplishments against the nation's top talent.

Swimming

A standout performance in swimming came from Talia Staines, who secured a medal in the 800m freestyle—an extraordinary achievement given the high level of competition, including Olympians and prominent national team members. Additionally, Durham’s open freestyle relay team set a new university record, and many team members achieved personal bests. Overall, it was a fantastic weekend for Durham swimming.

Athletics

Durham Athletics had a busy and successful weekend, with several personal bests and strong finishes. Charlotte Crowson placed 4th in the women’s 60m ambulant, while Dante McNichol reached the final in the men’s shot put. Dan Hindle and James Scott advanced to the semi-finals in the men’s 200m. Other standout performances included Jacob Smith, who narrowly missed the final in the men’s 800m, Ollie James in the men’s 3000m, and Annabelle Ita in the women’s 800m.

Karate

Team Durham’s karate athletes competed on both Saturday and Sunday, delivering outstanding performances. Siam Riley earned a bronze medal, while several novice athletes also secured podium finishes, showcasing the club’s strength across multiple categories and levels of competition.

Badminton

Durham’s badminton squads put on an excellent display, competing fiercely in the men’s and women’s singles as well as men’s and women’s doubles. While no medals were secured, the team performed admirably, earning crucial points, and pushing opponents to close matches. Across 38 games, Durham achieved 23 wins, demonstrating remarkable competitiveness.

Fencing

It was an outstanding weekend for Durham’s fencing team. First-year Lexie Craze claimed gold in the women’s Sabre on the first day of competition, with her teammate Ellen Robbins Wilkinson securing silver in a thrilling final. On the men’s side, Angus Scott earned a bronze medal in the Sabre category. Many Durham fencers achieved top-10 finishes, further highlighting the team’s impressive performance.

Climbing

Durham’s climbing team delivered an excellent showing during Saturday’s third session, with 11 athletes competing against top university climbers. Although no medals were won, the team represented Team Durham with distinction, demonstrating skill and determination throughout the competition.