Archive for category: Leeds Gryphons

A group of eight rowers and one cox from the University of Leeds have been putting their years worth training to the test.

Henley Royal Regatta is one of the most prestigious rowing events in the world attracting thousands of visitors every year. 2018 provides no exceptions with the third highest number of entries on record competing over five days. Over 100 international crews competed beside another 454 from across the UK, all searching for victory.

As visitors descended on the small town so did UOLBC in their bid for the Temple Challenge Cup. This particular event had 55 entries, from a whole range of clubs. Competition is incredibly tough with top crews from universities, colleges and schools all fighting for one of 32 places in the main event.  

After a successful early regatta season and a win at Peterborough Regatta the senior men’s squad have been working hard all year in preparation. 

With a crew made up from medics, mathematicians and engineers the boys had to work hard to fit their training in around exams and university life. Once the semester came to an end they threw themselves into full time training. One of the boys described the training:

‘It’s like a job but more work and more fun. We have to get up early most mornings to fit in a session before lectures and things start. Normally after a full day of uni we usually fit in another 1 or 2 shorter sessions in the afternoon to build up our fitness, working rowing specific muscles and improving our cardiovascular fitness. It’s great because we get to complete all our training as a team and that means there’s never a dull moment.’

With the whole crew committed to the Henley dream the rowers had been training three times a day. Working hard over the past few months the boys aimed to get into the best physical condition possible. To prepare they had been completing training out on the water at the boathouse to work on technique as well as working in our S&C Gryphon Room to improve their strength and mobility.

On the 23rd of June the team headed down Dorney Lake for Marlow Regatta to compete against other university crews in the Accademic 8+ category. Much of the competition they faced have been rowing from a very young age. However, half of our men’s crew has been formed by individuals only in their second or third year of rowing after having learnt at university. For these individuals to be competing at such a high level and standard of rowing is an outstanding achievement. Having the boys racing against other crews with many years of experience and practice there was going to be some tough competition.

The boys powered through their time trial to place them in the B Final, narrowly missing out on A Finals. Their final proved to be an exciting battle down the two kilometre course. With only milliseconds in it the boys managed to power through to finish in 1st place.

At this point the marshals had to make a decision on letting crews pre-qualify for Henley, meaning they avoid extra time trials the week after. However, they were particularly picky this year and so the boys stepped back to their training in preparation for their next race on the 29th of June which would make or break the Henley dream.

As qualifiers crept closer the boys got more and more anxious with only a few spaces left for the taking it was all to play for. They found themselves surrounded by 34 other eager crews that arrived from across the globe. Unfortunately, as the boys set off on their time trial the nerves began to get the better of them. Crews that Leeds had beaten only a week previously and throughout the season began to creep up the leader-board which unluckily for our boys meant they missed out on a place.

However it’s not all disappointment and frowns from the team as they still managed to have an amazing season. Coach Dan was proud of his team’s progress:

‘The club have done fantastically well to get this close to Henley. We have not been anywhere near the standard over the past few years so this is a great achievement for the boys. They should all be incredibly proud of their hard work. Seeing such strong development of the club and an increase in commitment, to what can be an incredibly challenging sport, is wonderful. I’m confident in the crew to make it further in the competition next year.’       

Former Leeds gryphon Felix Titherley has recently signed a professional contract with the Rostock Griffins of the GFL (German Football League). He will be playing at the highest level of American Football competition outside North America and it will be an exciting challenge for Felix. His new contract comes after a 5-year career in representing the University of Leeds in American Football and gaining a place on the Great Britain Lions roster in January 2017.

His sporting achievements have been assisted through continuing support from Leeds Sport, particularly with strength and conditioning coaching. Felix trains at least six times a week in the Gryphon Room, working with S&C coach Max Roger. Max shared his delight for Felix’s new opportunity:

‘I’m happy and excited for Felix. He has shown how you can achieve your goals by working towards them with consistent, hard work. He is an extremely hard worker and a true 24/7 athlete. He has been doing everything that he can in and out of the gym to be the best that he can be.’

Through continuing training, Felix has gained the strength and athletic ability he will need to compete at the next level. Felix’s dedication to the sport has allowed him to make great improvements and proved him to be an accomplished athlete. The university wishes him the best of success in his new and exciting career. We hope to hear great things in the future.

Leeds Varsity is back. Our 9th annual Cross Country Varsity kick started the 2018 series and saw each university claim a point in the race for the title.

Each January we take on local rivals Leeds Beckett in our first Varsity event of the year. With two separate races, a 9.5km male race, and a 6.2km female race, there are a total of 2 points up for grabs. Over the years the event has seen some impressive names compete for those all-important Varsity points; Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, Gordon Benson, Non Stanford and Tom Bishop to name a few.

Similar to parkrun Varsity, students, staff, alumni and members of the public are welcomed to take part in this event with the top six female  and top twelve male students then gaining points for their respective universities.

This year it was Leeds Beckett (LBU) Women who came out on top in the first race of the day. Helen Warburton of LBU crossed the line in first postion, closely followed by Beth Garland from UoL Cross Country.

Over in the men’s event it was the Leeds Gryphons who claimed the overall men’s title with Sam Dickinson, Josh Woodcock-Shaw and Nathan Marsh taking 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions respectively, however Alex Lee of LBU secured the top spot.

The University of Leeds Cross Country coach, Greg Hull said:

“It’s always great to kick-off the Varsity series with the cross country races, seeing not just our students, but staff and members of the public taking part in an inevitably great event. Both teams put in a fantastic effort on the day and the women weren’t far away from making it a 2 point lead. Thanks to everyone who ran, set up the course, the officials and spectators for braving the cold winds and mud to help us put on a great event and also raise £190 for Hope Pastures Charity“

Well done to everyone who was involved in the day. Head to the Varsity website or follow the Varsity Facebook and Twitter to find out more about the series. Up next will be American Football Varsity so keep a look out for more information.

Brazillian Jiu Jitsu took bronze at their first competition of the year with five gold, three silver and two bronze individual placings.

On the 25th November, the Brazillian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) society competed in a UK Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association (UKBJJA) competition at Warwick University. BJJ is a grappling combat sport where competitors aim to control and then submit each other. Matches start from the feet with both competitors aiming to takedown, control and submit their opponent on the floor. Matches run for a minimum of five minutes and can only end earlier if one competitor manages to make the other tap/submit- whether this be through a joint lock or choke. Submissions are positions in which an opponent is forced to tap/submit otherwise could suffer a bone breakage or passing out unconscious. Otherwise, a point’s decision will be given to the competitor who won more advantageous and controlling positions.

The UKBJJA are a national organisation that put together BJJ Competitions for Universities to stake their claim as the best Brazillian Jiu Jitsu society in the UK. Last weekend was our first competition of this academic year and University of Leeds successfully came third out of all the universities that competed.

Divisions are separated by weight and experience. There are beginner (up to two years), intermediate (up to three years) and advanced (plus three years). All matches are either gi or no gi. In gi matches, competitors are required to wear a gi (martial arts suit that looks like pyjamas) which has a larger focus on grips. No gi events are faster moving. Matches are set up in a tournament scenario, where competitors will need to have up to five matches to take gold.

All together the University of Leeds took 5 gold medals, 3 silver medals and 2 bronze, with medals coming from the intermediate and beginner divisions. Everyone who competed fought their hearts out, with some of our competitors having to pull out of their brackets due to injury.

The medal winners included Nathan Wanjau, who in only his second competition won three gold medals, one in the beginner no gi category, another in the beginner gi category and his third in the beginner Absolute Openweight division in which he had to fight opponents of any and all sizes. Alannah Russell took gold in her weight categroy and bronze in the Absolute Openweight female division. Chinyere ‘Lily’ Chilliredclaw Wokocha also claimed gold in the beginner Absolute Openweight no gi women’s division, alongside silver and bronze in gi women’s division. Finally, Sean Maguiness competed in the Intermediate division and came away with double silver in both gi and no gi under 69kg division.

If you’d like to find out more about the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu society here at Leeds, please visit their page or head to their Facebook group