Rengen House hosts celebration of sporting scholarships as University of Bath seeks to support more student-athletes
After a stunning summer of success for University of Bath sporting scholars, past and present beneficiaries of the programme joined current and prospective donors for a special celebration event at Rengen House.
Four of the six medals won by University-associated athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games went to student-athletes who have been supported in their dual careers by scholarships – Tom Dean (swimming, gold, Bill Whiteley Scholarship), Prisca Awiti-Alcaraz (judo, silver, King Scholarship), Kate Shortman (artistic swimming, silver, Bill Whiteley Scholarship) and Becky Wilde (rowing, bronze, Santander Scholarship).
They are among hundreds of high-performing student-athletes to have benefitted from a sporting scholarship since Bath became the first university in the UK to introduce them in 1976 under the trailblazing leadership of Dr Tom Hudson, the University’s first Director of Sport.
He passed away in 2023 and, in his memory and with the 50th anniversary of the first scholarships approaching, the University is seeking to increase the number of people it can support through its ambitious and robust Sports Scholarship Programmes.
Director of Sport Stephen Baddeley told the assembled gathering: “We had 252 applications for a sport scholarship this year and the overall quality was absolutely tremendous, but we currently only have 11 scholarships to award. That meant many deserving candidates missed out, so we are on a campaign to increase the number we can offer in the future.”
He was introduced by Iestyn Lewis, CEO of Team Bath partners Rengen, who hosted the reception at their city-centre boutique and co-working space ahead of the 2024 Anniversary Game at The Rec.
Lewis has a first-hand appreciation of the impact a scholarship can have, saying: “I was a sports scholar at the University of Bath from 1990 to 1995 while I studied structural engineering and played for Bath Rugby. It was a very successful time for the club so balancing those commitments with studying 38 hours a week, and playing for the University on Wednesdays, was challenging but the scholarship support helped me.
“There are no second chances with a sports career; you have to do it while you can, and the scholarship allowed me to achieve my sporting ambitions while standing me in good stead academically for what I am doing now.”
The guests also heard from one current and three recent scholars, including Leah Crisp (Santander) who made her Olympic debut in marathon swimming this summer, just four weeks after graduating in economics and mathematics.
“I was able to sit my final two exams while I was in Italy for a competition,” says Crisp, who is coached by Jamie Main at the University-based Aquatics GB Bath Performance Centre. “Having that support from the University – splitting my final year over two, fitting modules and credits around my sporting commitments – really helped me.
“I’m not on the World-Class Programme and don’t get funding through Aquatics GB so the scholarship definitely helps with travel and competition costs. It’s also great to know you have someone who believes in you, who can see your potential to succeed and is willing to back you.”
Sophie Kelly (Bill Whiteley), who will make her senior England Netball debut at the World Fast5 Championships in New Zealand in November, has joined London Pulse for the 2025 Netball Super League season and will split her time between the capital and Bath as she continues to play for the University in BUCS competition while studying management.
“Travelling to London three days a week for training would take up my whole pay cheque as a netballer, so the scholarship really helps with that,” she says. “It’s also really helpful with nutrition; eating good food can be expensive, particularly as a student, but we have access to a nutritionist who helps us get as physically prepared as possible to succeed.”
Bristol Bears hooker Tom Doughty (Trendell), who earned a Bath Rugby contract thanks to his outstanding BUCS Super Rugby performances for the University men’s 1st XV, recalled how the scholarship programme had been fundamental to his sporting career.
“There was a period where I was doing my degree, training with Bath Rugby Academy, coaching on the side and working as a doorman at a nightclub until 3am,” he says. “It was pretty tough but then I was awarded a scholarship which took the pressure off – I was able to do less shifts at the nightclub for a start!
“I don’t think I would have become a full-time professional athlete without that support. Something would have had to give, either my degree or my rugby, but the scholarship meant I was able to do both and I am forever grateful.”
Completing the panel was fellow Bristol Bears player Jenny Hesketh (Trendell), who made her debut for Wales during the Women’s Six Nations this year and was fresh from helping her country secure a place at the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.
She graduated in the summer and says: “I was writing my dissertation throughout the Six Nations, going back and forwards between Bath and Cardiff, so it was particularly good to have that funding support because of the amount of travelling I was doing.
“The scholarship also made me feel a lot more connected to the University. I was able to use the sports facilities between lectures, do my recovery sessions in the pool and hydro pool, and get the most out of being an athlete.”
Visit teambath.com/scholarships to find out more about sports scholarships at the University of Bath. For more information about providing a sports scholarship or supporting student-athletes visit www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/supporting-elite-athletes.
