Lewis Adams, Matt Kavanagh, Tara Fitzjohn and Peter Kirabo were medal winners during the event, held from Friday to Sunday.
Quantity Surveying student Lewis Adams, from Basildon, beat Bath University’s Shane Sandham in the final of the under-60kg boxing event by unanimous decision to defend the championship he won last year. The 20-year-old, in his final year at Anglia Ruskin, also aims to compete in the elite ABA Championships next month.
In judo, Law student Matt Kavanagh, 20, from Hornchurch, took gold in the individual under-81kg category. He saw off the challenge of Roy Sheppard of Edinburgh University in the final. He said: “I was incredibly pleased with my performance. I hope to continue to perform at this level when I compete at the under-21 world ranking event in Portugal next month.”
Tara Fitzjohn, 24, from Hadleigh, won the individual under-57kg title. After defeating the University of East London’s Julia Scardone in the final, she said: “Winning gold was an amazing experience, especially against players of such high calibre.
“To win eight of my nine fights by ippon was a real bonus and I hope these performances will put me in a position to place higher in the under-57kg ranking lists.”
Tara is studying Sports Coaching and Physical Education. Meanwhile, Anglia Ruskin’s mens team won the bronze member in the judo Team Championship.
In triple jump, Peter Kirabo won a silver medal with his jump of 14.99 metres. The 21-year-old from Ilford, who is studying Quantity Surveying, said: “It’s great to be able to bring home a medal for Anglia Ruskin. This shows I’m in good form to meet my season targets.”
In total 30 students took part in the games, and Anglia Ruskin enjoyed its best ever success for individual gold medals.
Sheffield was not the only place students were racking up the medals. In Great Yarmouth, Rich Wharton won gold in the 8-ball pool individuals championships in the BUCS Pool competition. The 30-year-old from Cambridge, studying Accounting and Finance, took the title on Saturday night. Anglia Ruskin will now put Rich forward to represent England in the BUCS Pool Home Nations Championships.
*******
For more press information please contact:
Jon Green on t: 0845 196 4717, e: jon.green@anglia.ac.uk
Jamie Forsyth on t: 0845 196 4716, e: Jamie.forsyth@anglia.ac.uk
___________________________________________
Students taste success in sports championships
25 February 2014
Students from Anglia Ruskin University enjoyed a gold rush at the 2014 BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) Gatorade Nationals in Sheffield at the weekend.