Judo stars Ben Fletcher and Gemma Gibbons bag crucial Olympic qualifying points at World Championships

Team Bath Judo's Ben Fletcher built on his first-ever Grand Prix medal in July by reaching the last-16 at the 2015 World Judo Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. Fletcher's progress, which was ended by eventual-finalist German Frey Karl-Richard, meant he has now earned enough qualification points to book a spot in the 'green zone' for Olympic qualifying - occupied by athletes who are in a direct qualification position. 23-year-old Fletcher, who trains under Juergen Klinger at...

03 September 2015

BLOG: World University Games was an incredible experience – I would recommend it!

Badminton player Angus Pedersen, a first-year Chemical Engineering student, was one of five University of Bath students to compete at the World University Games in Gwangju, South Korea this summer. Here Pedersen, a Dual Career athlete who is supported by a Trendell Sports Scholarship, looks back on a memorable experience – and tells us why he would recommend the experience to all student athletes… One week before the deadline for the application to the World...

02 September 2015

Child wins bronze in Beijing

University of Bath-based athlete Eilidh Child won a superb bronze medal in the 4x400m relay on the final day of the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing, China. Child, coached by Malcolm Arnold at the Sports Training Village, made up the Great Britain quartet along with Christine Ohuruogu, Anyika Onuora, and Seren Bundy-Davies. Fighting off a strong-finishing Russian team, they crossed the line in a season's best of 2:23.62, with Jamaica and USA picking up...

01 September 2015

‘Do or die’ Lawrence Clarke misses out on World Championships final

A “do or die” effort from University of Bath graduate Lawrence Clarke wasn’t quite enough to secure a place in the 110m hurdles final at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing. Clarke, coached by Malcolm Arnold at the Sports Training Village, got off to a flying start in Thursday’s semi-final and was well placed in third after 60m. However, he couldn't maintain that pace and hit the last hurdle, causing him to lose his balance...

27 August 2015

Top six for Eilidh Child and new PB for Danny Talbot at World Athletics Championships

University of Bath-based athlete Eilidh Child finished sixth in the women’s 400m hurdles final at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing. Danny Talbot ran a new personal best in a 200m semi-final won by Usain Bolt and fellow graduate Lawrence Clarke secured his place in the 110m hurdles semis. Child, coached by Malcolm Arnold at the Sports Training Village, ran a solid race but stuttered coming around the top bend and lost ground. She...

26 August 2015

BLOG: Seeing the work of our students in Zambia was a joy to behold

University of Bath students George Lavender and Abi Masters flew out to Africa this week to take part in the Zambia IDEALS programme. They are the second pair of students – following on from Alice Evans and Jade Traynor – to participate in the scheme this year, which sees student volunteers deliver PE lessons in Zambian schools and villages as well as set up sporting competitions between neighbouring communities. University of Bath Director of Sport...

26 August 2015

Eilidh Child through to final as Lawrence Clarke and Danny Talbot prepare for Beijing bows

University of Bath-based athlete Eilidh Child will contest the women’s 400m hurdles final at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Beijing after enduring a nervous wait in the semi-finals. Child, coached by Malcolm Arnold at the Sports Training Village, needed a top-two finish in the Bird’s Nest Stadium on Monday to automatically qualify and was well placed coming off the last hurdle. However, she lost momentum and finished third behind Cassandra Tate of the USA...

24 August 2015

BLOG: How volunteers helped make European Championships such a success

The Modern Pentathlon European Championships could not have been such a success without the support of 180-strong army of volunteers. Kieran Buggs was one of those, travelling from Kent to play his part in a memorable week at the University of Bath. He spoke to other volunteers, plus spectators and athletes, about why they had got involved and what they had taken from the experience... Following the success of the Games Makers at the London...

24 August 2015

Kate French earns Olympic qualification place as “best” European Championships end in style

Kate French earned a Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualification place and there was team gold for Pentathlon GB as a world-class Modern Pentathlon European Championships concluded in fitting style at the University of Bath. Sports Performance graduate French went into the combined event 15th overall but produced a fantastic performance, missing just one shot, to secure the top-eight finish she needed. “I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet but I am so pleased,” she...

23 August 2015

Bath student Joe Choong sets Rio 2016 qualification standard at European Championships

University of Bath student Joe Choong produced the performance of his career in front of a sell-out home crowd at the Modern Pentathlon European Championships to secure a coveted Rio 2016 Olympic Games qualification place. The Mathematics student, supported by an Ivor Powell Scholarship, was roared down the home straight at a packed Sports Training Village to finish seventh in the men’s final on Saturday. That secured one of the eight Olympic qualification places up...

22 August 2015