It’s the final day of the BUCS Gatorade Nationals here in Sheffield, where a number of Birmingham athletes are competing for medals in their attempts to become BUCS Champions. Matthew Riley brings you live updates from the English Institute of Sport:
18.21
BUCS GATORADE NATIONALS: We have to leave to get back to Birmingham, so keep up to date with the karate via our Twitter (@BurnFM_Sport). The final result comes from us where Alex Seftel took GOLD in the Burn FM Sport 200m. Josh Hunt was DQ’d on review for not crossing the line, but unlike Elise Christie, this was for missing out the whole final bend. But it was all smiles at the end. And on that bombshell, the BUCS Gatorade Nationals are over once again. Highlights and interviews will still continue to come, but for this live blog, I’m signing off and going for a lie down (on the train). Congratulations to all the athletes taking part. See you next year!
– Burn FM Sport
17.55
KARATE: It’s tense as we wait for news from the karate and Ben Slater. Whilst we wait, a new interview with the gold medalist women’s judo team has just been uploaded. You can listen to it here.
17.35
KARATE: The last medal for Brum is on the way. Will it be gold or will it be silver? Ben Slater fights in the final of the men’s Under 84kg final now.
17.25
SWIMMING: The last swimming event of the day has its commentary. Highlights of the men’s 400m long course available here.
17.15
4x200m: Here’s some more snaps from our Instagram account of the men’s 4x200m relay.
17.12
800m: Here’s a snap from our Instagram account (@BurnFM_Sport) of Sarah McDonald receiving her bronze medal. Well done, Sarah!
17.08
4x200m: Here’s an action snapshot of the men’s 4x200m where Birmingham have taken home SILVER officially. A huge congratulations from all the team.
17.06
4x200m: Whilst we wait for official confirmation of the results, here an interview to keep you occupied. Here’s our interview with Gary Humpage, Head Swimming coach.
17.00
4x200m: A sensational final race in the men’s 4x200m relay. We’re still waiting for official confirmation but preliminary reports suggest Birmingham will finish second and take home the SILVER medal. The result is delayed after two runners collided and fell, with the referees checking back to see if there was any infringement.
16.55
4x200m: The women’s 4x200m relay is all done and dusted to finish the women’s events. They finished 5th in the race which the girls are “very proud” of after very little racing time was spent together before the tournament. Only the men’s to go now…
16.50
SWIMMING: More from the swimming, this time from Guy Giles, men’s swimming team captain: “My highlight would probably have to be the gold medal but also it’s just seeing the team support each other and come together like this, you just can’t beat it really”. I have a feeling the bond between the swimmers is closer than ever right now. Listen to the full interview here.
16.42
SWIMMING: As stated earlier, Birmingham finished 7th in the overall standings with 116 points which is an improvement on last year where they came 8th with 97 points. 116 points is the highest scored by a none international training centres university. Magical.
16.40
SWIMMING: Some lines to bring you from our interview with Gary Humpage, who’s head swimming coach, whilst we wait on the audio. “It’s been really special,” he told Joe McDowell, “The excellent squad support gives us 15% more [energy]”. After meeting the teams aim of achieving 1 gold medal, Joe asked what the aim was now: “2 gold medals!” was the reply. Great stuff.
16.37
1500m: The women’s 1500m has just finished out on the track where Sarah McDonald takes the BRONZE back to Birmingham. A huge congratulations.
16.31
800m: Ben Waterman has just finished competing in the 800m men’s final where he finished 3rd with a time of 1:52.8s. This means he takes away the BRONZE medal for Brum. He was beaten by Guy Leamouth of Loughborough who takes gold, and silver goes to Robert Needham of Leeds Met.
16.29
800m: After finishing 4th, Julia Cooke was disappointed to miss out on a medal but admitted that she did her best in a tough final, when she spoke to our reporter Alex Seftel. Elsewhere in the same final, Georgia Bell finished 5th. A fantastic effort from the girls.
16.23
BUCS GATORADE NATIONALS: The athletics is coming to an amazing climax, and the swimming is done and dusted. But here at Burn FM Sport, we don’t stop working. Here’s Joe McDowell interviewing Birmingham swimming coach Gary Humpage and Josh Hunt commentating at the athletics centre:
16.21
400m: The men’s 400m race was a sensational race that saw the men’s competition record broken. It went down to a photo finish where it was confirmed that James Forman of Brunel walked away with the gold medal. Listen to the remarkable race here.
16.13
200m: Seb Tully-Middleton finished 5th in the finals of the men’s 200m here at the EIS. A good result for the sports scholar in a tough field.
16.07
SWIMMING: Joe Leavey has been speaking to Tom Mills, freestyle swimmer of Birmingham, who says “we’ve had a great weekend”. Well, that’s one way to put it Tom!
16.05
SWIMMING: The men’s 400m medley team also finish their run, finishing 7th with a time of 3:59.72s. That wraps up events at the Ponds Forge. Birmingham swimming finished 7th overall with 116 points. Fantastic stuff all round from the swimming team. There was certainly no bombing in the pool from them.
15.56
KARATE: This just in from our man in the field, Michael Powell:
“Agota Mockute out in 1st round of women’s senior kumite +68kg, narrowly losing 1-0. Unlucky to lose in my opinion, was the better competitior”.
15.54
SWIMMING: Another update from the swimming, and another record gone. This time, Calum MacGregor achieved a new PB in the men’s 100m backstroke. For the competition as a whole, Birmingham are currently 7th overall for swimming with a total of 89 points. In the women’s 400m medley, Birmingham finished 5th just 1 second off the club record which was set earlier in the competition.
15.52
400m: Despite featuring no Birmingham competitors, what a race the 400m men’s final was. The London Olympic semi-finalist in the hurdles, Christian Morton of East London, pipped to the post by UK under-20 sliver medalist James Forman of Brunel. Commentary highlights of this one will be soon.
15.43
ATHLETICS: Bronze Medalist Laura Riches and fellow finalist Melissa Horton track-side after their 3000m exploits.
15.38
TRAMPOLINING: Congratulations to Birmingham’s trampolining team girls. They’ve picked up their first ever BUCS points by placing fourth overall this weekend.
15.24
SWIMMING: Everytime we go back to swimming, another record is smashed. This time, Victoria Lim broke her PB time in the 200m butterfly. In the men’s equivalent, Cameron Brodie of Stirling was able to break the BUCS record. Fantastic stuff at the Forge.
15.21
ATHLETICS: The EIS is absolutely rocking – the crowd giving it their all to spur on the competition as they watch the finals. Brilliant atmosphere to compete in – now, where are my running shoes…?
15.15
ONE FOR THE SCRAPBOOKS: Here’s the successful women’s judo team posing with our reporter, and part-time South Wales Hardcore-er, Tom Brown.
15.10
3000m: Laura Riches has just won BRONZE for Birmingham in the 3000m women’s final. You just can’t look away at the moment!
15.07
BADMINTON: It seems that the mixed doubles team in the badminton, of Doug Furze and Hannah Sharman, will take the BRONZE medal. Loughborough, their opponents, are just simply too strong for them to take. But it’s yet another medal for Birmingham!
15.05
LONG JUMP: Caoimhe King has just completed her second jump in the long jump, registering 5.70m. She goes ahead of Sophie Worral.
15.00
SWIMMING: Plymouth Mark John and GB swimmer Ben Proud has set a new record for BUCS over at Ponds Forge in the 100m freestyle. He set a time of 49.99s which is just 2.85s short of the world record and 1.7s short of the British record. It’s his third record of the games, showing it’s not just UoB Swimming that are rewriting the record books.
14.57
LONG JUMP: Sophie Worral has just jumped 5.41m in the early stages of the long jump final. Also competing in this one is our BUCS Triple Jump Champion, Caoimhe King.
14.54
SWIMMING: Ponds Forge is seeing more records broken. This time it’s Kristina Paige who’s beaten her PB in the 100m freestyle! Strong showing from the swimming club.
14.52
ATHLETICS: Not long now until the finals are underway for the athletics events. Promises to be a grandstand finish here at the EIS.
14.36
BADMINTON: Our semi-final pair have a difficult draw against the top seeds. On court soon. They are GUARANTEED A MEDAL!
14.29
SWIMMING: An impressive 11 finals for Birmingham to look forward to. Including: Womens 200m Butterfly, Womens 100m Freestyle, Breaststroke, 50m Butterfly and 100m Backstroke. For the men, we have the 100m Freestyle, 200m Individual Medley, 50m butterfly, 100m Backstroke and both Womens and Mens A Team Medley Relays.
14.25
JUDO: After winning Birmingham’s first ever Gold in a Judo team event, Olympic hopeful Rebecca Telfer says she wants to “keep winning Gold medals”.
14.07
BOWLING: Three individuals in the top fifteen competitors in the Bowling for Birmingham. Both Mens and Womens teams A and b teams also in their respective Top 10s.
14.04
400m: Harry Ashman may not have made it through but the 400m final has great pedigree – featuring a UK Under-23 champion and a London Olympic competitor.
13.54
MORNING REVIEW: It’s nearly finals time here at the English Institute of Sport. This morning the floodgates opened at Ponds Forge in terms of records and medals. An afternoon to feast upon for lovers of Birmingham’s sports teams Stay tuned.
13.44
400m: Disappointment for Harry Ashman and Tom Gifford who are just unable to make it through the 400m Semi-Finals. They were in tough groups who were simply too quick for the Birmingham duo.
13.34
SWIMMING: Nick Grainger of Sheffield Hallam breaks the BUCS Swimming Championship Record in the 400m Freestyle event.
13.14
SWIMMING: News from Ponds Forge of a new lifetime best time for Carl Halford and a 1st Place in his 400m freestyle heat.
13.02
JUDO: CONFIRMATION OF WOMENS TEAM GOLD IN JUDO FOR BIRMINGHAM!
13.02
BADMINTON: Doug Furze and Hannah Sharman through to Mixed Doubles Semis.
12:58
HIGH JUMP: Nottingham’s Isobel Pooley sets a new Championship record of 1.87m!
12:56
WINNING SMILE: Here’s Caoimhe King receiving her medal for winning the triple jump earlier.
12:53
800M: Ben Waterman was the fastest qualifier in the Mens 800m heats and he has just won his Semi Final comfortably. 800m looking good for Birmingham, with Julia Cooke already through in the Women’s.
12:51
KARATE: When it rains, it pours. Over at the karate, Zoe Hillsden is out in the first round of U64kg Women’s Senior Kumite after losing 1-0. An unlucky day so far for the karate team.
12:46
800M: Back to the athletics, where Julia Cooke is through to the 800M final after comfortably winning in the semi-final with a time of 2:09.86, a two second improvement on her heats time.
12:41
KARATE: It’s bad news from the karate, as Alex Fewster pulls out of his second round fight after suffering a foot injury with the score at 0-0.
12:35
KARATE: The karate is well underway here in Sheffield. It’s been a mixed morning for the karate team, suffering two early defeats, however Alex Fewster fights on into the next round. It’s straight knockouts all the way to the final, and he enters his next match shortly.
12:32
SWIMMING: Joe Marsh won in his 50m butterfly heat. You can listen to the commentary of his victory here.
12:23
JUDO: Great news coming from the Judo where the women’s team, consisting of Fia Barnes, Emily Snell and Rebecca Telfer, are through to the final after beating Glasgow! They will face Strathclyde after they beat London. Well done girls!
12:13
HIGH JUMP: The women’s high jump finals have begun, where Dee Ann Rogers is competing for Birmingham. She has currently cleared a height of 1.61m on her third attempt.
12:06
SWIMMING: Back over to Ponds Forge, following a great mornings action, where records are tumbling. Charlotte Reid, 50m backstroke BUCS Champion, has just beaten her PB in the women’s 100m breaststroke. Joe Marsh, competing in the 50m butterfly, has broken into the national qualifying times! An excellent effort from him. We also have 2 finalists in the 200m women’s butterfly in Lizzie Gray and Victoria Lim. On top of that, club records have been broken in the 200m butterfly, 100m freestyle and in 50m butterfly. An excellent games for the swimming team so far.
11:54
TRIPLE JUMP: Here’s the interview you’ve been waiting for… we caught up with Caoimhe King after she was crowned BUCS Gatorade National Champion. Here it is.
11:47
TRIPLE JUMP: Listen as Caoimhe King becomes Birmingham’s second BUCS Gatorade nationals gold medalist here. Interview to come shortly…
11:42
MEN’S 200M: Seb-Tully Middleton qualifies to the next round as he blitzes his heat in the 200m.
11:27
SWIMMING: We’ve managed to scoop an interview with BUCS Champion Charlotte Reid: Listen here
11:24
TRAMPOLINING: News from the trampolining, as Alex Peart finishes 4th overall in the men’s competition. A fantastic effort, well done Alex!
11:15
TRIPLE JUMP: And there it is! Caoimhe King is our first athletics medalist of the day, winning GOLD in the women’s triple jump with her sensational jump of 12.88m. A huge congratulations to her from all the team!
11:09
TRIPLE JUMP: Watching the triple jump is our man Alex Seftel who sends us this report:
“Going into the final round of jumps, Caoimhe King holds the lead with a jump of 12.88m, but Emma Pringle of Northumbria has jumped an improved 12.71m. Close at the moment”
11:06
BADMINTON: Our reporter Josh Hunt caught up with Andrew Wainwright and Doug Furze after getting into the quarter finals of the men’s doubles. Listen here
10:58
TRIPLE JUMP: Caoimhe King takes the lead in the women’s triple jump with a distance of 12.88m in the fourth round. If she keeps this up, the gold is hers.
10:54
SWIMMING: Great action going on at Ponds Forge in Sheffield, where club records and new PB’s are being set for the athletes of the UoB Swimming Team. Every member giving it their all!
10:47
SWIMMING: It’s not just athletics taking place at the Gatorade Nationals today: Charlotte Reid, who won gold yesterday in the 50m backstroke, is back in action already in the women’s 100m backstroke. You can hear how she did here.
10:42
TRIPLE JUMP: Caoimhe King continues to go well in the women’s triple jump final where she lies in second place with a jump of 12.61m. She sits behind Emma Pringle of Northumbria who is 8cm ahead. Come on Caoimhe!
10:38
JUDO: As always, we have the latest interviews for you on Burn FM. Here’s an interview we did with Judo bronze medalist Fia Barnes: listen here.
10:30
Good morning from the English Institute of Sport here in Sheffield where we’re ready for another days action in the BUCS Gatorade Nationals. The events have been underway for about an hour, and we’ve already been competing. In the Badminton, Doug Furze and Andrew Wainwright are through to the quarter finals of the men’s doubles after beating the third seeds, but a tough challenge in Loughborough lie ahead. In the field, Caoimhe King is competing in the triple jump after a cracking qualifying yesterday. She’s currently posted a distance of 12.34m. But there’s still plenty to come on finals day here, as we hope for more medals for Birmingham.
