The seventh place finish is a reflection of the Students’ Union team’s performances in 50 sports over the 2010/11 season, as well the BUCS Championships, where Nottingham took titles in: Archery, Canoe Slalom, Judo, Korfball, Pool, Swimming and Table Tennis.

While pleased with the overall performance, Director of Sport and Physical Recreation, Dan Tilley, was also delighted with the nominations achieved in the several individual categories at the BUCS Awards Dinner.

Commonwealth Games silver medalist Jess Sylvester was narrowly beaten in the Sportswoman of the Year award, while IWAS Junior Championship gold medalist Thomas Green was unlucky to miss out on the Sportsman of the Year prize.

Thomas Green winning gold at the 2011 IWAS Junior Championships

A third Nottingham nominee, Gabrielle Bunn, was also commended for her contribution in making the University’s inclusive sports programmes a success in the Volunteer of the Year category.

The English Studies student, who was described as “a real asset to the University of Nottingham, disability sport and the Sports Department in particular”, was nominated for helping disabled students access sport through the University’s Any-Body Club and Any-Buddy scheme.

Dan revealed that he was delighted that the University had secured a seventh place finish, particularly as one of only two institutions in the top ten not to offer a sports related degree (with the other — Oxford — finishing tenth).

He said: “This achievement clearly indicates what well rounded students we attract. However our aspirations are to become a top five institution and therefore, although we are delighted with seventh place, our sights are very much set on moving up the table.

“The recent launch of the Vaughan Parry Williams Coaching Fund, in memory of our previous Director of Sport, is a welcome campaign that will see a greater investment in coaching for the University sides. Not only will this improve performance but it will also deliver a greater all round student sporting experience.”

Dan continued: “We clearly have significant talent in terms of our students, and we therefore hope that by having the highest standard of coaching, our students will be able to achieve their potential.

In addition success breeds success, and we hope a successful thriving sports programme will attract a higher calibre of athlete to the University.

To find out more about sport at The University of Nottingham, please visit: www.nottingham.ac.uk/sport or check out our University of Nottingham Sport Facebook page.

I am aware that the above may seem slightly strange to the average reader – the association of masochism with physiotherapy is a rare and somewhat unpopular one – but the image of physio as a pleasant, relaxing stretching session once  a week needs to  be dispelled quickly when discussing elite sport.  It’s about getting the absolute maximum out of every part of your body, and the body is seldom willing to submit without a reasonable amount of protest.  I think my friends  are slightly alarmed when I say I’m off to do a physio session and return an hour later, drenched in sweat and appearing on the verge of cardiac arrest, but they’re getting used to it.

The process of getting the most out of someone’s body is an even more demanding one when talking about disabled athletics.  There is an important yet seldom-recognised difference between muscles that do not work and muscles that a person has not learned to use, and huge improvements can be made when the latter are identified, having been masquerading as the former.  It is the type of physio that is a long term project and far from a quick fix, but the future benefits cannot be overstated, and I was delighted to begin my personal programme on returning from Dubai in May.

In my first session with UK Athletics’ lead Paralympic physio, Sarah Kursawe, I was asked to perform a number of exercises so that we could assess which areas to target.  The first few exercises were fairly standard ones, such as walking and strength tests, and as usual people were impressed by how well I performed them.  However, I was then asked to do more muscle-specific exercises, the first of which was to tilt my hips forward.  I paused and looked at Sarah with the same confused look that my parents’ cocker spaniel wore when I tried to teach her modular arithmetic, before lunging aimlessly forward like a violent drunk in a mosh pit.  I believe that got noted down as “something to work on”.  Other areas were identified, such as the fact that I couldn’t move my shoulder up without my arm flapping up next to it in an apparent show of effeminate dissent, and I was set a daily routine of exercises to work on.

About six weeks on, I feel that I have made tremendous improvements.  My coach and I meet up with Sarah every week to assess how I’ve got on with the exercises, and then I’m given a new set for the next week.  I’m never allowed to rest on my laurels, which I appreciate – as soon as I master one exercise, it is changed  to stretch me further and move closer towards the ultimate goal.  The three of us have worked together so that we all have a clear vision of where we want my throwing action to get to, and the exercises are specifically tailored to that end.

It is difficult to maintain a high level of performance whilst carrying out such a demanding training programme, but I am reasonably happy with my start to the season.  A couple of 27 metre performances followed by a rather haywire 25 metres left me a bit disappointed, but I would have killed for a start like that twelve months ago.  I find that a good sign of progress is when you start getting disappointed by what you would previously have seen as good performances, so I seem to be going in the right direction.
Even if my performances had been suffering, I am sure that I would have persevered with the physio.  I know that I need to end up throwing 35 metres plus if I want to challenge for Paralympic medals, and the physiotherapy is pivotal to me achieving this, so I won’t compromise that just to ensure that I throw 30 metres this year.

There’s still a long way to go.  My shoulders and shoulder blades are a lot stronger now, and my pelvis tilts have improved to such an extent that it now seems mildly antisocial to practise them in public areas, but I am not yet ready to incorporate these things into my throwing.  It’s easy to get greedy and try and use the new movement before it’s properly developed, but this can be detrimental in the long-run, so I’m staying patient for now.  Considering how far I’m throwing without the use of many of the muscles that should be fundamental to a backwards action, it should be worth the wait.

I’ll catch up with you again in September, when we’ll be launching my very own blog site!

The British Open will be taking place at the Nottingham Tennis Centre just opposite our main University Park campus, from 19th – 24th July. Some of the world’s top wheelchair tennis players will be taking part in the event, so you could be working with some potential 2012 Paralympic Champions.

Local player and one of the top British seeds - David Phillipson

Volunteers are needed from the 14th right through until the 25th July, to carry out the following roles:

• Tournament Assistants
• Court Supervisors
• Player Liaison

Training will be put on for all volunteers and you will also be provided with lunch and refreshments.

It will be a great opportunity for you to work on and be a part of an international sporting event, with some of the world’s top players. If you’re interested in volunteering, even if it’s just for a day or two, then please email: becky.tilley@tennisfoundation.org.uk

The CPD which will focus on working with severe mobility impaired swimmers, is the only course of it’s kind in the country and is endorsed by the Amateur Swimming Association.

The course will be split in to two parts with a dry side practical session in the morning and a wet side session with disabled swimmers in the afternoon . Ultimately, the course will be great for developing knowledge and giving further confidence for working with disabled children and young adults in an aquatic environment.

And if you needed any further persuading, we have some of the most experienced swimming teachers and coaches in the business leading the CPD – Anna Lavan and Jill Stidever – from CP Sport.

The course will start at the Jubilee Sports Centre (NG7 2GG) at 10am and will then move on to the University Swimming Pool (NG7 2RD) at 1pm, with an expected finishing time of 3pm. All for the bargain price of £20.

Once completed, you will come out of the CPD with access to resources and a certificate to confirm your participation. If you’re looking to work with physically disabled children and/or adults, then this course is definitely worth considering.

If you require any further information, please contact the University’s Disability Sport Officer: hannah.webber@nottingham.ac.uk

Summary of CPD Details

Date: Sunday 17th July
Time: 10am – 3pm
Location: 10am @ Jubilee Sports Centre, 1pm @ University Swimming Pool
Cost: £20 per person
Contact: hannah.webber@nottingham.ac.uk

The event saw teams from Nottinghamshire, Nottingham City, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire come together for the conclusion of a schools initiative to battle to be crowned Parallel Games champions.  Following a number of county school festivals, players were selected from a number of schools to represent their county at this regional event.  This event was possible due to the great work of the Competition Manager network across the East Midlands.  The event was won by the Nottinghamshire team, following an impressive 3 unbeaten matches.

Paralell Games Winners - Nottinghamshire

Powerchair Football has grown massively in the East Midlands, with 4 Powerchair Football clubs, a newly formed East Midlands Powerchair Football Association and schools activity.  This means that players within the East Midlands have access to every level of the sport, from the “grass-roots” to National league competition. The WFA National League will be returning to Nottingham for the 2011/12 season, following the first event held in 2006.

Sam Bull, National Development Manager for the Wheelchair Football Association, said:
“The East Midlands was a ‘priority area’ for the first year of the Football Foundation project.  Due to the fantastic support from a number of partners within the region, we have made great progress in a short time.  This event is the culmination of partnership working between the Competition Managers, schools, County FAs and our clubs.  We hope the children taking part in this event are only at the start of their Powerchair Football journey.”  

Kevin Sanders, Football Development Officer for Nottinghamshire FA, commented:
“Powerchair Football plays a massive role with Nottinghamshire Disability Football Family.  We have created a network of inclusive clubs that cater for everyone with a disability and the 2 Powerchair clubs in the county spearhead this network by offering an opportunity to play for the first time.  We know the sport in Notts will continue to grow and flourish over the coming seasons”

The event was be used by the Wheelchair Football Association (WFA) to promote the “Rise of Powerchair Football” and the achievements of the first year of a Football Foundation project.  The WFA have been awarded £134,445 from the Football Foundation towards a total project cost of £256,000 over 3 years.  The Foundation is the country’s largest sports charity, funded by the Premier League, The FA and Government (via Sport England).

“It’s great to launch our National Programme at an event which aims to get new participants involved in our sport.  Its credit to our project Partners – the Football Foundation, the FA, Davies Sports and the WFA, who have been able to make this possible.  I look forward to seeing the sport grow over the coming years” said Ricky Stevenson, WFA Chairperson.

The East Midlands Powerchair Football Parallel Games was also chosen to part of the UEFA Grassroots day in the build up to the Champions League final.

Jeff Davies, FA National Development Manager – Disability, commented: “The Parallel Games is a wonderful event to showcase with UEFA on its Grassroots day, it gives the participants an opportunity to be involved in a great event as this is one of 100 events around England. The WFA Project launch could not be undertaken on a better occasion as it continues to develop powerchair football for all abilities”.