NEWS
The Student Talented Athlete Recognition Scheme supports talented student athletes whilst they are studying at Holloway. This year’s students are all aiming high with their individual sports. Below reviews on how the year is going for some of the STARS, with details on competitions they have entered or their training ready for the summer season.
Victoria Mullin- Pistol Shooting
Victoria has been short listed for the October 2010 Commonwealth Games for Pistol Shooting. There are three shooters currently on the shortlist and the top two will be selected. At the end of 2009, Victoria was ranked joint first on average points, so if her performance continues to be successfully over the next few competitions then she looks to be on target for the Commonwealth Games!
Julie Peachey- Squash
Due to a recent operation Julie, hasn’t got any results from competitions this academic year. However she has been playing for the ULU men’s squash team, the BUCS women’s team and some games for the BUCS men’s 1st team too. She is undefeated in all but 1 of these (men’s) matches. She has also been playing regular matches for St Georges Hill at Weybridge for both their ladies 1st and men’s 4th team, where she has won most of her matches - losing only to world ranked players! Coming up soon are the BUCS individual Championships and the Roehampton Cup.
Emily Moss- Hurdles
Emily set a new personal best in the 600m hurdles in November and an 800m hurdles personal best in January. She has more indoor races planned over the next few months, including the Senior World Indoor Championships Trials and the BUCS Indoor Championships. Her aim is to keep improving her times over the winter and into the summer season.
Emily has also joined the University of London Cross Country League and is ranked number one in this league having just won the season’s fifth race in Reading.
Emily Topps- Baton Twirling
Since winning the National Championships in October, Emily has been training hard for the final stage of The England Team Selections in Bournemouth. She is trying out for three individual events and four team events, and if selected, will be representing England at the European Championships 2010 in Scotland. She is currently training every weekend for 14 hours with her coach in Basingstoke, as well as evenings in the gym and stretching. She is very happy to be free of any injury for the first time in a long time and feeling confident and prepared for the selection weekend.
Karan Singh- Cricket
Karan has just come back from touring Cape Town as Captain of the Universities of London Cricket team. He has also been wintering indoors at Lords working hard on his batting technique and fitness. In addition to he has also been working in the gym with the Strength and Conditioning Coach Louis Howe in order to build up strength.
Sophie Christiansen- Para Dressage
Sophie competed at a CPDI competition in Mulhouse, France in October with her new horse and won all 3 classes. At the end of 2009 she had a few well deserved
weeks off but unfortunately just before Christmas, Sophie fell off her horse and tore a ligament in her right hand. She started riding again in the middle of January and is back to her full training schedule now.
Fiona Jones- Judo
So far training this year is going pretty well for Fiona, she is currently trains at Camberley Judo Club and Windsor Judo Club. She competed at the North West Senior Open in November winning Gold, as well as competing in the Belgium Ladies Open. Although she didn't medal at this event, she was pleased with her performance as it was a Senior Level B tournament. Fiona's next major event is the BUCS Championships in March which is what she is gearing her training towards.
Helen West- Korfball
At Christmas Helen went to the Korfball Time Challenge as part of the England U19 Squad in her last ever competition as an U19 and her team came 2nd, beating the Belgian National Team, and two Dutch regional teams to get to the final. This is the best ever position by an English team in this tournament, their best previous result was 7th place. The core group of players within the squad have been playing together at England level since they were 13 and have had some very good results in the past but never reached that illusive final of a tournament. In January she went with her club, Mitcham Korfball, to Budapest to play in the Europa Shield competition and had the opportunity to play against some of the best clubs in Europe and her club came 5th overall. Helen is now off to the U23 Montua Youth World Cup in Appeldoorn, Holland to represent England again.
Jack Allison- Triathlon
Training has been going well for Jack, although he hasn’t entered any triathlons so far this year he has taken part in some cycling road races. He has increased his training to 4-6 hours a day and is working closely with Louis, the Strength and Conditioning Coach and is seeing some great improvements.
If you are an elite athlete and are interested in applying for the 2010/11 programe click here.