Team bios

Meet the teams taking part in this year's competition:

Cycling

• Established: 2017
• Members: 15
• Number of teams competing: 1
• Competitions: BUCS Hill Climb, 10 mile TT, Track and Road Race. Local British Cycling races
• Notable achievements: 3 top 10s and BUCS national track championships
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Varsity is a great day with lots of fun, interesting racing! It is also a great day to show off the club!

Equestrian

• Members: 8
• Number of teams competing: 2
• Competitions: BUCS region D mini league 15, SUPA winter and summer nationals
• Notable achievements: First team from the University to go to polo nationals last year. Maddy Young qualified for the BUCS regionals, was top 10 in BE Novice, and came 12th in open pony club national championships. 
• Varsity 2018 result: LOSS
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Varsity is a chance for our best riders to compete and represent the University. There is a great atmosphere and it's great to get all our members there to support. Its the only time both our A and B team compete at the same competition so its really good fun.

Cheerleading

• Established: 2002
• Members: 96
• Number of teams competing: 5
• Competitions: Future Cheer and Legacy Cheer and Dance
• Notable achievements: Level 3 All Girl Stunt Group National Champions 16/17, Level 2 All Girl Full Routine National and Grand Champions 17/18, Level 1 All Girl Stunt Group National Champions 17/18, All teams Hit Zero
• Varsity 2018 result: This is the first ever cheer varsity!
• What competing in Varsity means to them: For us, this is the perfect opportunity for us to showcase what the sport cheerleading involves. We are so excited to represent Team Leicester and take part in the battle to make the city ours!

Ski and Snowboard

• Members: 40
• Number of teams competing: 3
• Competitions: Kings Ski Club dry slope competition, BUD, BUCS Dome Series
• Notable achievements: Varsity win two years ago. BUDS 2018/19 3rd place novice lady slalom skier and 3rd place novice lady slalom snowboarder. 2nd place lady slalom snowboarder and 1st place lady freestyle snowboarder at BUCS 2018/19 Midlands league dome series. 7th place for our mixed ski slalom team at the Midlands league dome series and qualification of 4 individuals and 2 teams to the national finals.
• Varsity 2018 result: LOSS
• What competing in Varsity means to them: An opportunity to bring our club together to support the teams and individuals that have been working hard in training to improve their performance, as well as a chance to encourage and introduce new members to racing and freestyle. It's a fun event that we thoroughly look forward to and one of the highlights of our racing season.

Archery

• Established: 2014
• Members: 36
• Number of teams competing: 1
• Competitions: BUCS Indoor Championships, BUTTS Division 2
• Notable achievements: Two archers qualified for the BUCS Indoor Championship National event last year
• Varsity 2018 result: LOSS
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Varsity is a chance for us all to come together and show team spirit in an individual sport.

Men’s Rugby Union

• Members: 100
• Number of teams competing: 3
• Competitions: Midlands 1A
• Notable achievements: Won the league two consecutive seasons. One member signed for Wasps. Three other members play semi-pro at Leicester Lions.
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN 
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Always one of the biggest matches of the year, and something every member wants to compete in.

Men’s Hockey

• Members: 55
• Number of teams competing: 1
• Competitions: BUCS Midlands 2A/4A/4B
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: It’s a great way to bring the whole club together, throughout the different teams, as well as being a point of comparison to previous years.

Women’s football 

• Established: 1990
• Members: 40
• Number of teams competing: 3
• Competitions: BUCS Midlands 2A/4A
• Notable achievements: Club of the year 2016, promotion to 2A in 2016. Shauna Cossens getting through to England Universities Squad 2018.
• Varsity 2018 result: 2 WINS, 1 LOSS
• What competing in Varsity means to them: DMU women’s football team are a strong team and Varsity is always a hard-fought battle between the two clubs. We have been working hard this season and hope to secure the 3 wins this year! A win for us will make all the early mornings and cold evenings worthwhile as well as make both our club and the University proud!

Fencing

• Members: 25
• Number of teams competing: 1
• Competitions: BUCS Northern Premiership
• Notable achievements: 3rd in the Northern Premiership 2017-18, gold and silver in Alice Ruggles memorial team and individuals, gold in Irish Open 2018
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: A fun experience to challenge ourselves against our rivals and promote unity within the club.

Running and Athletics

• Members: 80
• Number of teams competing: 3
• Competitions: BUCS XC, Track and Field Indoors and Outdoors, North Midlands XC League, several open competitions.
• Notable achievements: East Midlands England Athletics Club of the Year (and on national shortlist). 4th in North Midlands XC League, county champion in women’s steeplechase, 3rd place in county 800m champs.
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: It’s great to just have Varsity, this will only be the 2nd we have had a running Varsity and it means a lot to be the fastest uni in Leicester!

Lacrosse

• Established: 2006
• Members: 85
• Number of teams competing: 2
• Competitions: BUCS Midlands 2A (men's and women's 1st teams), BUCS Midlands 3A (women's 2nd team)
• Notable achievements: Men's team winning their league 2016/17
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Varsity is a fun and inclusive day that brings the whole club together to support those playing. It brings a level of friendly competition that the average BUCS game doesn't attract. There is an even greater drive at Varsity to play to your best and support your fellow teammates. As we are only able to put forward one men's and women's team for Varsity, due to DMU's limited number of teams, it provides a chance for players from all teams to strive to be selected and play with members they are not usually on a team with. It is something that often marks the ending of the season and is something all players and captains are proud to be part of.

Men’s Football 

• Members: 100
• Number of teams competing: 5
• Competitions: BUCS Midlands 3A/4A/4B/5B/6A
• Notable achievements: 3 Varsity wins in 2018, 3 league promotions in 2017
• Varsity 2018 result: 3 WINS, 2 LOSSES
• What competing in Varsity means to them: It brings the club together as one and drives us forward.

Volleyball 

• Members: 44
• Number of teams competing: 2
• Competitions: BUCS 2A/2B/3A and Leicester local league
• Notable achievements: Men promoted from division 3 to division 2 in the last year
• Varsity 2018 result: LOSS
• What competing in Varsity means to them: It's an opportunity for the whole club to show the University of Leicester and De Montfort audience the hard work we’ve been putting in all year round. It makes us proud to represent the University of Leicester in such an important competition.

Cricket

• Members: 60
• Number of teams competing: 3
• Competitions: Men's indoor cricket championship, Womens midlands indoor league, Men's outdoor Midlands 2A, 4B, 4A, women's outdoor Midlands 1A
• Notable achievements: Most improved Club of the Year 2017/18, Club Captain of the Year 2017/18, Varsity Performance of the Year 2017/18, Event of the Year 2016/17 and 2017/18, Midlands 3A champions 2016/17
• Varsity 2018 result: 1 WIN, 2 LOSSES
• What competing in Varsity means to them: For us, Varsity is a highly competitive match with strong teams on both sides. The fierce rivalry between us and DMU captivates all our members and teams as we intensely prepare for all fixtures. Therefore as a club we become strongly united in the cause of winning, but it also allows us to display our strong club ethos in getting all our members together to support the teams. Both indoor and outdoor games normally finish off both seasons allowing for a fantastic opportunity to end on a high.

Badminton

• Members: 55
• Number of teams competing: 3
• Competitions: BUCS Midlands 2A/3A/4A
• Notable achievements: 2 members representing nationally. League titles in 2013/14 and 2014/15
• Varsity 2018 result: 2 WINS, 1 LOSS
• What competing in Varsity means to them: We can't wait to represent the University in front of a large home crowd and to maintain our winning streak and be part of the club's history.

Table Tennis

• Members: 32
• Number of teams competing: 2
• Competitions: Men - BUCS Midlands 2B and BUCS Table Tennis 2018-2019 Midlands Conference Cup. Women - BUCS Table Tennis 2018-2019, Midlands 1A and BUCS Table Midlands Conference Cup.
• Notable achievements: The women's team winning division 2B last year thus getting promoted to 1A.
• Varsity 2018 result: LOSS
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Competing in Varsity means representing our university with pride and showing how the club and teams have developed this year.

Golf

• Members: 20
• Number of teams competing: 1
• Competitions: BUCS Midlands 2B
• Notable achievements: Freddie MacArthur - final open qualifying. Cup game in St. Andrews 2018. Currently 2nd in league.
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Being able to contribute to the University's success and being part of the local rivalry against DMU.

Netball

• Members: 154
• Number of teams competing: 5
• Competitions: BUCS 3B/4B/5B/7A/7B, Leicester league Div 1, Div 3, Midlands Development League
• Notable achievements: 
  • Largest sports club on campus
  • Jazz Latham in BUCS 1st team plays indoor netball for England, Adina Bailey in BUCS 1st team has previously played / trained with Loughborough Lightning
  • Two sports scholars (Jazz Latham and Adina Bailey)
  • Team Leicester club of the year 2017/18, Committee of the Year 2017/18, and current club captain Mia Nembhard awarded Sports Personality of the year
  • Leicester League A team promoted two consecutive seasons in a row
  • Introduction of new BUCS team year 2018/19 making ULNC the biggest it has ever been
  • BUCS 3rd team finished in 2nd place in BUCS netball cup last year
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: ULNC train and play hard all year round, and constantly strive for success within their respective leagues. As an all female club, we work hard together and bring their all to everything that they do. For us as a club, Varsity is one of the highlights of the year, the big fixture to showcase all of our hard work and efforts. We prepare all season, and going out and representing the University in such an important fixture means everything to us. We are lucky to have local rivals and are honoured to be involved in Varsity as this is our time to showcase ULNC and everything we have worked hard for. We are more prepared than ever for Varsity, and can't wait to play!

Basketball

• Members: 65
• Number of teams competing: 3
• Competitions: BUCS 2A/3A
• Notable achievements: Mens 2nds promoted to 3A, Mens Cup run last year to the semi-finals
• Varsity 2018 result: 2 WINS, 1 LOSS
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Varsity is a huge competition that our club loves being a part of. This is because all Team Leicester clubs come together and support each other to stay undefeated in the biggest competition of the year! Nothing is better than seeing DMU lose!

Women's Rugby

• Members: 40
• Number of teams competing: 1
• Competitions: BUCS Midlands 1A
• Notable achievements: Varsity champions for the last 15 years!
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: The most anticipated game of the year, and the one everyone wants to win.

Futsal

• Members: 70
• Number of teams competing: 3
• Competitions: BUCS Midlands
• Notable achievements: BUCS National Cup Champions 2018
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Varsity to us is more than just about honour or bragging rights, it is about showing the University of Leicester and DMU sporting community that all our hard work in training and on the pitch has paid off and produced three futsal teams that not only ourselves, but everyone at the University can be proud of.

Tennis

• Members: 96
• Number of teams competing: 2
• Competitions: BUCS Midlands 2A, BUCS Midlands 2A
• Notable achievements: Mens BUCS 3A Champions Last Year, Both Mens and Womens Local League Champions 2018, Womens 1st Player Fran Booth representing Northumberland in County Cup Div 1 (Top 4 counties), Mens 1st Player Luke Kirby representing Oadby Tennis Club in National Open Club League (Top 32 Clubs)
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Representing the University against our arch rivals DMU is an amazing opportunity, while playing in front of so many friends and peers is a fantastic experience for everyone involved. Lets keep our unbeaten streak going!

Women's Hockey

• Members: 56
• Number of teams competing: 1
• Competitions: Midlands 2A and Leicestershire league
• Notable achievements: Sports Woman of the Year (2017 and 2018), Club Captain of the Year 2017.
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: For us Varsity is a yearly event where our members who have gone through university together get a chance to play together one last time. It is also an event that allows all of Team Leicester to bond as all the teams are competing together.

American Football

• Established: 1980s
• Members: 60
• Number of teams competing: 1
• Competitions:  BUCS 1A Midlands
• Notable achievements: Midlands division 2A winners 2016, University of Leicester most improved club 2016/17
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Bragging rights in the city. Great way to send off our senior players with a victory. The rivalry is intense.

Squash

• Members: 47
• Number of teams competing: 3
• Competitions: BUCS Midlands 1,2 & 3, Leicestershire squash league
• Notable achievements: 3rd at Roehampton University cup
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Varsity is more than just a competition. It provides our members with an opportunity to further develop their skills by playing opponents they may not have played before and by giving them a goal to work towards. Whilst doing this, the atmosphere cements their love for the university which they represent.

Ultimate Frisbee

• Established: 1993
• Members: 35
• Number of teams competing: 2
• Competitions: BUCS and UKU events
• Notable achievements:
  • Kay White - Alumni and Team GB u24 member at Ultimate world championships in Australia January 2018
  • Giulia Newbery - Alumni and Team GB u24 member heading to ultimate world championships in Germany July 2019
  • 2016 Women's Indoor Nationals placed 9th in country
  • 2017 Ran Jest Get Loose indoor tournament for the first time (8 teams)
  • 2018 Ran Jestival (outdoors tournament with 15 teams) for the first time 
  • 2018 Ran Jest Get Loose 2018 expanding to 16 teams 
  • 2018 Women's team Won NBWin 2018
  • 2018 Mens 1st team 7th at indoor door regionals 
  • 2018 Women's team came 21st at indoor regionals 
  • 2018 Mixed team came 11th at indoor regionals
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Maintaining that sweet 100% unbeaten Varsity record.

Swimming and Water Polo

• Members: 81
• Number of teams competing: 2
• Competitions: BUCS National Short Course/BUCS National Long Course/BUCS Mens Midlands 2A/BUCS Womens Midlands 1A
• Notable achievements: BUCS Cup Semi finalists 2017 and 2019, Team of the Year 2017
• Varsity 2018 result: WIN
• What competing in Varsity means to them: Representing our club and university, working as teams and as individuals, and winning!