This month with Team UOP - March & April

March 

Pompey Compey

Right at the beginning of March, Dance hosted Pompey Compey. Held at the Guildhall, the day was full of energy, talent and incredible performances from our Dance teams. Months of hard work and preparation were on full display, with our dance teams placing in seven categories. A huge well done to everyone who performed, organised and supported, it was a massive feat to pull off! 

Battle of the focus sports  

A brand-new event entered the calendar in March, as Netball, Basketball and American Football, the university's focus sports, battled it out on the netball court to see who would be crowned champion. After some competitive match-ups, Netball took first place, with Basketball a close second, and American Football in third.  

End of BUCS  

March marked the end of the BUCS season, with teams wrapping up their competitions across the country. Congratulations to Dodgeball Men’s 1s and 2s and Lacrosse Men’s 1s for earning promotion to the next league! Also, a massive well done to Football Men’s 3s and Equestrian for winning their leagues!  

It's been a brilliant year of sport, with some fantastic results, huge improvements and plenty of memorable moments along the way. Well done to everyone who has represented Team UOP this season. Your commitment, resilience and teamwork have been incredible to see. 

Rowing  

Rowing headed downstream to Southampton on Saturday 21st March to compete in the Head of the River Race. Representing Itchen Imperial Rowing club, Team UOP delivered some fantastic results:  

Open Novice 4+ - 2nd 

Open 2x - 1st 

Open Senior 4+ - 1st  

A brilliant performance across the board!  

Sailing  

The Sailing team had an incredible season, finishing 2nd overall in the National Universities Keelboat League (UKL). They secured a win in the final round at the Royal Southern Yacht Club in March, closing the gap to Exeter to just one point and overtaking Southampton in the final standings. 

Well done to all the team members throughout the 4 rounds, in particular Ed Gamble, competing at every event, & sport scholar Kate Robertson, who skippered the team to a total of 2 wins this season. 

Climbing  

Climbing had a strong month, winning their regional SWUCCS league. Emily McCartney placed 2nd in the finals, with Zak Taylor securing 3rd. Earlier in the month, the team also picked up valuable points in a lead climbing round, with Tom Miller placing 3rd and Emily once again finishing 2nd. A fantastic set of results for the club! 

One World Festival 

March also encompassed our One World Festival, a month-long celebration of the diversity that makes Portsmouth such a vibrant community. It was great to see Team UOP engaging with the festival, celebrating different cultures and reinforcing the importance of inclusivity within sport. 

Eating Disorder Awareness Week 

Eating Disorder Awareness Week gave us the opportunity to start important conversations around health, wellbeing, and our relationship with sport. Across the week, clubs and individuals helped raise awareness and promote a more supportive and understanding environment for everyone involved in sport.  

Red Week 

Red Week, in support of the British Heart Foundation, brought both education and activity to Team UOP. Throughout the week, clubs got involved in raising awareness about heart health, while also encouraging everyone to think about the small changes we can make to live healthier lives. 

Tennis led the way with their Tennisathon, raising an incredible £6,800 for the Osteoporosis Society and the British Heart Foundation. There were also plenty of other events across the week, helping to raise both funds and awareness for the cause. 

International Women’s Day 

International Women’s Day was a chance to celebrate the incredible women across Team UOP, from athletes and committee members to volunteers and staff. It was great to see so many stories, achievements and contributions being recognised, highlighting the vital role women play in our sporting community.

April  

Alumni Cup  

April saw the return of the Alumni Cup, bringing together past and present members of Team UOP. It was a great opportunity to reconnect, reflect and celebrate the ongoing impact of our clubs beyond university. The alumni dominated the competition, with them winning all sports across the board. Congratulations to them - clearly, they haven’t lost their touch! See the full article here.

Navy Varsity 

We’re well on the road to Varsity, and one of the key stops along the way is Navy Varsity. Some of our development teams had the opportunity to take on the Navy in what proved to be fiercely competitive fixtures. 

In a very close contest, Team UOP came out on top with a 32-28 win, a great result and hopefully a sign of what’s to come! A huge well done to everyone who competed, and thank you to the Navy for taking part!