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LANDMARK 2016
35
Sports
reports
Equestrian
This year, we have two strong equestrian
teams. The 1st team, sponsored by Fairfax
and Favor, has had a very competitive
year; winning their home team competition
and placing well all season. Individually,
India Nichols has qualified for regionals
and we are hopeful she will make it to
nationals again this year. The 2nd team,
sponsored by Equiboodle, has also had a
successful year and is on track to qualify
for regionals. We have also had a show
jumping team represent the University
at Hartpury College. The team won their
class, and Beth Hams won individually.
Jessica Shiach
Boat club
The 2015/16 year has been one of
development and training for the RAU boat
club. The number of socials has increased
which helped us to create a tight knit
team. As race season approaches, water
training has increased, and we hope to
enter boats into BUCS as well as some
of the South West area competitions with
Swindon Rowing Club. We suffered the
devastating loss of one of our best male
rowers, Michael Johnson, in February 2016,
during adverse weather on a trans-Atlantic
rowing competition. The team decided
to finish the other half of the Atlantic row
in his honour (2,112,907.74 metres) on
rowing machines. The team had massive
support from the student body and staff
at the University, as well as Michael’s
family and Harper Adams University
boat club. Over £1,200 was raised over
the five weeks it took to complete.
Lydia Aldridge
Team chasing
In the club’s second year, we had a good
start but we have struggled with the
weather, with most of the competitions in
the New Year being cancelled due to rain.
After a shaky end to the season last year,
with a fall at the Avon Vale Team Chase,
we continued our run of success with a
win for the RAU Mad Hatters at the Grafton
Team Chase in October 2015. We also had
some good rounds at both the Cotswold
Team Chase and the Meynell and South
Staffs Team Chase. Alas, we sadly came
home without rosettes. We have two
more competitions this year before the
season draws to a close for the summer,
which I hope will hold more luck for us.
Amanda Briscoe