The University of Leeds new Brownlee Centre and Cycle Circuit will become British Cycling’s newest HSBC UK disability hub.
The new facility, part-funded by British Cycling, was officially opened last month with state-of-art training facilities, including a 1.6km (1-mile) cycle circuit – one of the longest in the country. HSBC UK disability hubs provide dedicated para-cycling coaching sessions for riders who want to keep fit, have fun and improve their performance. The sessions, led by British Cycling Go-Ride coaches and supported by local volunteers, help riders to achieve a variety of goals; whether this be to get into a new sport, improve fitness and confidence on a bike, rehabilitation from injury or to train for a competition.
Dame Sarah Storey, Britain’s most successful ever female Paralympian, welcomed the announcement, saying:
“Disability hubs provide a fantastic opportunity for people with all different types of impairments to get into cycling. Cycling should be accessible to everyone, and these disability hubs are making a huge difference.”
British Cycling development manager, Rob Mace, added:
“The disability hubs have been a huge success across the country and we are very pleased to be expanding the programme to Leeds. This will provide a great opportunity for riders with disabilities to develop their cycling skills, make cycling a part of their lives and possibly one day compete for Paralympic medals.”
Named in honour of the University of Leeds’ most successful modern Olympians, The Brownlee Centre sits alongside a 1.6km (1-mile) closed-loop cycle circuit at the University’s Bodington Playing fields in north Leeds. The facilities are open to sports enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Find more details on how to use the new facilities here.
British Cycling’s investment into the project has also helped to provide a fleet of bikes at the facility, including adapted bikes such as handcycles, tandems and trikes, making the new disability hub sessions accessible for those who don’t have access to their own bike.
Suzanne Glavin, head of sport and physical activity at the University of Leeds, added:
“We are delighted to work alongside British Cycling to ensure that we can provide a truly inclusive offer of cycling at our fabulous new £5m facilities at the University of Leeds. We want to maximise the use of our one mile off road cycle circuit and believe it is the perfect environment for people of all abilities to learn to ride safely as well as train and compete.”
The sessions cost just £2 if you book online in advance or £5 on the day, with groups typically focusing on improving fitness, technique and confidence. These sessions run monthly throughout the year with all dates listed in the events section of the British Cycling website.
To speak to someone at British Cycling about disability hubs and what they offer, please call 0161 274 2070 or email development@britishcycling.org.uk.
Leeds Sport, the team who deliver sport here at the University of Leeds, are a highly qualified team. From coaching to volunteering, playing socially or competitively to hosting huge sporting events, it’s all covered, so we thought we’d bring some of that expertise directly to you in the form of a blog.
Each month there will be tips, tricks, skills or advice from a member of our team or some of the talented and dedicated students we work with. You can read more about why we launched our blog here with a welcome from Assistant Head of Sport, Patrick Craig.
Our first blog covers 5 recommended exercises for strength and conditioning training for triathlon. The blog comes from strength and conditioning coach, Tim Jarrett, who works with our top Leeds Gryphon athletes on a daily basis, including our triathletes. This is highly topical with the latest race in the World Triathlon Series calendar coming to Leeds this weekend with both Leeds Sport alumni Alistair and Jonathon Brownlee competing in the event.
Keep an eye out on our social media channels or on the blog page itself for future blogs!
Newly formed in October 2016, the University of Leeds Powerlifting & Weightlifting society, have made an impressive start in their first year by claiming victory in the Northern University powerlifting competition.
On the 6th May, the club headed to their first competition organised by the Yorkshire and North East Powerlifting Federation (YNEPF), open to all university teams in the North. The team based format of the competition takes the best 3 men and women’s scores from each university to get a team total.
The team achieved the overall first position with the best team score, the best women’s team, best men’s team, and their 2017/18 captain Kieran Gray was the best male lifter. Kieran also broke the bench press record, lifting 170kg, and the deadlift record by lifting 285.5kg.
Club President Danny White spoke to us about the results:
“Everyone displayed exceptional individual performances, with all 7 team members taking a podium position in their weight categories. This has brought the number of members qualified for nationals to 6; those that are still within the junior age category will be competing at the British Junior Championships in November 2017. Next year we aim to have a team compete at British University Championships and qualify for the World University Championship, in addition to bringing as many new powerlifters into the sport as we can!”
Individual Results:
Kieran Gray
1st
U105kg
Matt Chivers
3rd
U105kg
Nick Humphries
2nd
U66kg
Belal Ahmed
1st
U66kg
Wura Oyenekan
1st
U72kg
Josie Penfold
1st
U63kg
Meri Raty
2nd
U63kg
What happens at a powerlifting competition?
At a powerlifting competition, competitors complete 3 types of lift: the squat, bench press and deadlift, with 3 attempts in each to lift the heaviest weight possible. Upon arrival at a competition each competitor is weighed and put into a weight category, so that strengths can be compared between powerlifters of different bodyweights. For the squat, there are 3 attempts that increase in weight in which Judges will give athletes a white light for a successful lift or a red light for a bad lift. This is repeated for the bench press and then the deadlift, by which point each competitor should have achieved a valid attempt in each of the 3 lifts.
How does the scoring work?
The heaviest weight lifted in each of the squat, bench press and deadlift is combined to get a total. This total is used to give each competitor a ‘wilks score’. This is a way of comparing everyone’s strengths taking in to account different bodyweights. For example, a male with a 100kg bodyweight who lifts a total of 550kg would achieve a wilks score of ~335, whereas a male lifter of 90kg bodyweight with a 550kg lift total would score a wilks of 351. This allows all bodyweights to be competitive, making this a highly accessible and inclusive sport.
Competition preparation
Preparation for a competition varies from athlete to athlete, as it depends on their training programme and time available whilst balancing university studies. Individuals have a programme to follow in the gym. In the run up to a competition the programme increases the weight being lifted until athletes are generally hitting their opening attempts in the week prior to the competition. Team members have also got to be the right weight for their weight class, so there can also be some last minute weight loss involved.
More about the club and how can you get involved
The club became an official society in early October 2016 founded by Danny White (President) and Osura Bangamuwa (Captain). The clubs aims are:
Provide a supportive and encouraging environment for powerlifters and weightlifters of all ages and abilities
Provide affordable training, cheaper than coaching available elsewhere in Leeds
There are 3.5 hours of training per week at The Edge coached by personal trainer (PT) and powerlifter Chris Baldwin, at a cost of £30 per year to members and Tom Millbank (PT and strongman). Since it’s launch, the club now has around 50 members who range from absolute beginners to national level competitors.
After taking three of six available individual medals and two gold team medals at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Standard Distance Triathlon, the University of Leeds has retained its title as number one institution in the BUCS Triathlon rankings for the third year running.
A record number of students competed at this years Championships in Southport, with a large number of students from the Leeds Triathlon Centre taking part.
In the women’s race, Sarah Hodgson claimed the silver medal as the first finisher from the University of Leeds, behind Elle Twentyman from Bath. Sarah improved on her BUCS Sprint bronze medal she won back in 2014. An impressive four University of Leeds athletes finished in the top 7, with Rachael Hawker narrowly missing out on a podium position coming in 4th. Emma Pickering came in at 6th position closely followed by Natasha Sinha in 7th leaving the women’s team gold medal in absolutely no doubt.
The University of Leeds Men’s Team included two individual medal placings with Sports Scholars Alistair Rogers and Jack Willis achieving 2nd and 3rd place respectively. After returning from injury just a couple of months ago, final year student Alastair produced the fastest swim and cycle time for the whole field, but was overtaken in the run by University of Stirling student George Goodwin. Ed Beecher came in at 10th place securing the top spot in the team competition for the University of Leeds.
Head of Sport Suzanne Glavin said:
It’s fantastic to see the continuing success of our Triathlon teams here at the university. Our partnership with the Leeds Triathlon Centre is clearly paying off, allowing our students access to some of the best coaching in the country at some incredible training facilities here on university campus. Congratulations to all athletes who took part!
Despite a slow start in the BUCS Duathlon placing sixth overall, the University of Leeds have dominated the BUCS Sprint and Standard to run away as the number one institute for Triathlon, leading closest competitor Bath by 43 points.
Sports Scholar, James Woodburn-Hall, has been voted as the Rugby Football League’s (RFL) University Player of the Year. The Cec Thompson award is presented to the player who has performed outstandingly on the field throughout the University Rugby League season.
James Woodburn-Hall is in his final year at the University of Leeds studying Sports Science and Physiology. Having played at Super League level for London Broncos prior to joining the University, James has been a key player for the student team since his arrival. The team has since gained promotion in to the BUCS Premier A division, the top league in the country.
Alongside completing his studies, he’s also played regularly for Halifax RLFC who play in the Championship. On top of this, James has just been selected to play for the English Students team and will be heading to compete in the Student World Cup in the Student World Cup over in Australia in July.
Performance Sport Manager David Bond said:
James approaches his training and academic studies with commitment and professionalism and is a shining example of a model student-athlete at the University of Leeds. He’s an athlete who is achieving highly both on the pitch and in the classroom, and this award comes as no surprise particularly following his nomination for the ‘Athlete of the Year’ at this years Sports Colours Awards. Congratulations James, thoroughly deserved!
The award was presented to James as part of the RFL’s magic weekend at St James Park, Newcastle, on Saturday 20th May. A huge congratulations to James for this fantastic achievement.
To prepare for the weekend, the senior squads headed over to Lake Vyrnwy in Wales over the Easter break for a training camp, whilst the others continued their grueling training regime. The hard work and training paid off in particular in the Novice Women’s Single Sculls for Tara, who claimed 1st place and a BUCS gold medal!
The Brownlee Centre, chosen in honour of Olympic heroes Alistair and Jonny, sits alongside a new 1 mile (1.6km) cycle circuit – one of the longest in the country – at the University’s Bodington Playing Fields in north Leeds.
The brothers will officially launch the centre and cycle circuit on Friday 28 April. The facilities, open to sports enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, will be available to use and book from Tuesday 2 May and include changing rooms and a café.
The circuit has a full programme of activity including “pay and pedal”, HSBC UK Breeze Rides for women and girls and special training sessions for elite athletes, University and local clubs. Bikes for children and adults are available to hire, along with hand cycles, trikes and tandems for use by riders with disabilities.
Investing in the future
Partnership funding from British Cycling, British Triathlon and others is contributing £1million to the project, with the remaining funding provided by the University of Leeds.
It will also be a new National Elite Training Centre for Triathlon, home to Leeds Triathlon Centre. The UK’s first purpose-built triathlon training base, it will combine a strength and conditioning training suite, physiotherapy, medical and other support services, to provide world-class facilities to enhance triathlon training in the region.
Alistair said:“This day marks a great day for cycling in Yorkshire. The start of the Tour de Yorkshire builds on a fantastic legacy and, thanks to these new facilities, Leeds continues to be a real centre for excellence when it comes to cycling and triathlon.”
Alistair studied sports science and physiology at Leeds and won gold in the triathlon competition at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
 His brother Jonny, a Leeds history graduate who took silver in August, added:“A big thanks to the University and all of the supporters, because this centre and circuit will inspire everyone, from beginners through to elite athletes.”
Sir Alan Langlands, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds, said:“We are very proud of the Brownlee brothers’ achievements and it’s an honour to have these brand new facilities named after two of our most successful sporting alumni. “The Brownlee Centre and the new cycle circuit offers students, staff and the wider cycling and triathlon community a truly inspiring, world-class training facility. ”It rightly puts the University of Leeds at the forefront of providing one of the best sport and physical activity environments in the UK. “It also builds on the excellent cycling legacy provided by Welcome to Yorkshire’s leadership in securing the Tour de France’s Grand Depart in 2014.”
“ It rightly puts the University of Leeds at the forefront of providing one of the best sport and physical activity environments in the UK”
Jonny Clay, British Cycling’s Director of Cycling, said:“One of British Cycling’s key aims is to ensure that everyone – regardless of age or ability – has access to high quality facilities in order to get on a bike for the first time, to get back into cycling after time away from the sport, or to develop their skills on a bike. “This facility will deliver exactly that for the people of Leeds – a region which has produced several successful elite sportspeople over the years who will have inspired countless local residents to take up cycling.  “We are delighted to see the circuit open and we look forward to seeing the local community truly embrace the facility.”
“This facility will deliver exactly that for the people of Leeds – a region which has produced several successful elite sportspeople over the years who will have inspired countless local residents to take up cycling.”
Jack Buckner, Chief Executive of British Triathlon, said:“The Brownlee Centre is a fantastic new facility in Leeds and continues our focus on ensuring our elite triathletes have the world-class facilities they need to deliver medal-winning success.”

He continued: “With the Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds coming to the city in June, the centre also provides the opportunity for locals to develop their cycling and triathlon skills as they get ready for race day and provides the perfect platform for triathlon fans of all abilities to get inspired and give the sport a try.”
“[It] provides the perfect platform for triathlon fans of all abilities to get inspired and give the sport a try.” JACK BUCKNER, BRITISH TRIATHLON
Joe Krasinski, from thriving Leeds cycling club albaRosa, said the importance of the new facilities for local clubs could not be understated:“This is a fabulous addition to the flourishing Leeds cycling landscape for youth and adult club members. “Having had a session on the circuit, we were simply blown away by the professional facilities, the size and challenge of the circuit, its flexible use potential and welcoming staff. Our youth riders, coaches, volunteers and parents were all buzzing – and aching – afterwards!”
albaRosa will be providing youth coaching on Thursday evenings and race skills and fitness training in partnership with Ilkley, Valley Striders and Bronte Tykes cycling clubs on Monday evenings.
Sport at Leeds
Suzanne Glavin, Head of Sport and Physical Activity at the University of Leeds, said:“We really value our continuing relationship with the Brownlees. The dedication and commitment they demonstrate through regular training sessions on campus and their continued global success really inspires our students and staff. “They enable us to showcase to students how we can tailor degrees to allow athletes to train and compete at the highest level.”
Leeds University Union’s Activities Officer, Taiwo Ogunyinka, added:“The Brownlee Centre and cycle circuit signify another positive step by the University towards raising the experience of sports and physical activity for students. “Not only does this further cement the position of the city and the University as a hub of elite triathlete development, but also widens participation and offers a resource of world-class standards to all students.”
The University is one of the UK’s leading sports institutions, with the Brownlees following in the footsteps of a number of Olympic champions.
At last year’s Rio 2016 Olympic Games, four University of Leeds alumni were part of the TeamGB squad. All three of the men’s triathlon team were Leeds alumni, with Gordon Benson joining the Brownlee brothers.
Four of the six Team GB Rio games triathlon competitors will be based at the new facilities.
The Bodington Playing Fields have hosted numerous national standard cross country competitions. Its running routes are also used weekly by Leeds Triathlon Centre’s elite training squad, which includes the Brownlees.
The site will also continue to be used for grass sports including football and rugby. The next phase of development will see three additional grass pitches, with work scheduled for completion in autumn 2017.
The University has invested more than £25m in new sports facilities over the past 10 years, including a new £1m boat house. The latest improvements complement nearby Sports Park Weetwood, the University’s flagship 100-acre facility used by students and members of the community for hockey, football, rugby, cricket, lacrosse, American football and more.
Want to take your lifting to the next level? Want that extra bit of confidence when next in the gym?
We are launching a brand new, first of its kind Educational Workshop for lifters of all abilities in early May.
The workshop will cover an in-depth technical breakdown of the Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift with expert guidance on how to target sticking points and limiting factors for each lift. The workshop will also look at programme design by drawing on some of the best training systems from around the world. There will also be time within the workshop to get involved in a coaching clinic where you can receive expert coaching on your personal lifting technique.
By attending this workshop our expert Leeds Sport Strength and Conditioning Coaches* will teach you how to enhance your training to make those optimal gains in strength and become more equipped to overcome those performance plateaus.
How much – Only £20 per person (Edge members). £25 (non Edge members). This is an introductory offer with limited spaces available so make sure to book on quick.
Other – The workshop will a mixture of taught theory and practical education so gym kit is required.
To book onto the workshop please contact The Edge reception on 0113 343 5095, email edgereception@leeds.ac.uk or visit in person.
*The course will be taught by competitive powerlifter and UKSCA accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach – Chris Baldwin. Chris has a current powerlifting total of 665kg.
Alumni sports day is back and bigger than ever before with over 20 clubs joining us for our annual friendly day of competition.
Our sporting alumni will be dusting off their old kit and catching up with old teammates as they return to Leeds for a day of fixtures against our current Gryphons on Saturday 29th April.
We’re delighted to thank Endsleigh who are the official supporters of the Alumni Sports Day 2017.
The fixtures confirmed for this year are:
University Campus:
Team
Venue
Pitch
Time
Badminton
Gryphon
All
2-5pm
Basketball Mens
Edge
Hall 1B
3-6pm
Basketball Womens
Edge
Hall 1B
1-3pm
Fencing
Edge
Hall 1A
2-6pm
Handball
Edge
Hall 1
6-8pm
Korfball
Gryphon
All
12-2pm
Netball
Edge
Hall 1A
12-2pm
Netball Development
Edge
Hall 2
3-5pm
Squash
Gryphon
Squash Courts
1:30-4:30pm
Volleyball
Edge
Hall 2
5:15-7:15pm
Sports Park Weetwood
Team
Venue
Pitch
Time
Football Mens
Weetwood
3G
2pm
Football Womens
Weetwood
Soccer 1
4pm
Hockey Men
Weetwood
SD1
12-4pm
Hockey Women
Weetwood
SD2
12-4pm
Lacrosse Men
Weetwood
3G
12-2pm
Lacrosse Women
Weetwood
3G
2-4pm
Rugby Womens
Boddington
Rugby 3
1pm
Cricket Women
Weetwood
Cricket 1
2pm
Swimming & Waterpolo will take place on Sunday 30th April in The Edge pool at 3.45 – 5.15pm.
American Football will also happen on an alternative date.
Get involved:
With over 20 sports involved, there’s plenty to see on the day. Fixtures are based either on University campus or up at Sports Park Weetwood. If you’re an alumni looking to get involved in the day, head to the alumni section of the University of Leeds website.
Sports Scholar Gillian Finnerty has had an incredibly busy year representing both The University of Leeds and Great Britain, all whilst undertaking her PhD in CDT Bioenergy.
Gillian headed to Kazakhstan back in January 2017 for the World Winter Student Games , just a month after recovering from breaking her arm during training. The games is widely recognised as the biggest global winter multi-sports event for student-athletes with 11 days of competition and over 2,500 participants from more than 50 countries.
British Universities Dryslope Championships, Edinburgh, UK – Nov 2016
Gold – Big Air
Gold – Slopestyle
Gold – Snowboard Giant Slalom
Silver – Snowboardcross
British Universities Indoor Regionals Snowsports Championships, Milton Keynes, UK – Feb 2017
Gold – Slopestyle
Gold – Snowboard Giant Slalom
British Universities Indoor Finals Snowsports Championships, Castleford, UK – Mar 2017
Silver – Slopestyle
Gold – Snowboard Giant Slalom
British Universities Alpine Championships ‘Above & Below’, Alpe D’Huez, France – Mar 2017
Gold – Big Air
Gold – Slopestyle
Gold – Snowboardcross
Silver – Snowboard Giant Slalom
“I was so excited and proud to represent GB and The University of Leeds at the World University Winter Games this year. It was such a great competition and atmosphere and we all had a fantastic time. Massive thanks to Leeds Sport for my scholarship which has really helped me afford to go to the Winter Games, as well as with training in the gym and with Physio. It’s really been invaluable in my recovery and preparation for the competitions“. Gillian Finnerty.
A huge congratulations to Gillian for all her hard work this year, it’s fantastic to see the impact our Sports Scholarships can have.
