York clubs prepare for the new year
THE YEAR 2007 promises to be an exciting one for sport at York University.
Highlight of it all will undoubtedly be the Roses tournament, which this year York will host, although many clubs have a varied programme for 2007 for both the high flyer and keen amateur.
The rugby club have quite literally astronomical aspirations this year as one member, Des Pond, will be hoping to go into space, having registered with the British National Space Centre. Back on planet Earth the men’s 2nd XV will be hoping to gain promotion: the deciding match to see if that will be the case will be against Sheffield University on February 7th. .The men’s football teams aims this year are fairly straightforward. The first’s to get promoted, and to win the Varsity and Roses tournaments. Easier said than ,done but with greater unity throughout the club, there is confidence that this can happen. They also have a trip to Amsterdam to look forward to.
In hockey, should the men’s 1st XI win their remaining games against Newcastle University, they will finish top of their league. The men’s 2nd XI and women’s 1st and 2nd XI will be looking for mid-table finishes . They will also be looking to build on their strong showing at Roses last year by taking a clean sweep against Lancaster.
The tennis club will be looking to build upon a highly successful 2006. Having taken an impressive 57 out of 60 points so far this season, the men’s team are currently top of the league. The crucial game will be against Durham this week, the winner of this clash virtually assured of promotion to Division 2 of the BUSA league.
The women’s team will be looking to maintain their solid start to the season, and finish in mid-table of Division 2. They will also be looking to repeat their impressive Roses performance where they took 10 out of the available 14 points last time around. The men’s firsts have the toughest task in this annual event as Lancaster sit top of the division above them. Other events to look forward to include entering a team into the LTA league for the first time and the first annual University of York tennis tournament.
The two events of note for the athletics club this year include participation in the first Steel Cup Championships, organised by Sheffield University. The summer term will also see the outdoor BUSA’s which take place in Bedford.
The canoe club have got around the problem of the recent floods closing the Kings Arms and the Lowther by paddling there for a pint, fully living up to their motto of “paddle, drink, pillage”. Away from the pub, 2007 will see the canoe club having its annual trip to Scotland as well as competing in the National Student Rodeo in Nottingham.
As you can see then the year 2007 promises a lot for sport at York University. With many of the clubs determined to meet the new year with success, and what with us hosting the Roses tournament this year, 2007 is a year that promises much.
