Meet the Captains

Get to know Lincoln’s finest sports stars

10 years ago

The new year is about to start, meaning a new season of competitions and hopefully trophies for the Lincoln teams. We spoke to the new guard looking to take their teams onwards from last year.

Men’s Basketball – James Purton

James Purton, business and management 3rd year from Milton Keynes

What was the funniest or most memorable moment from last season?

The whole of St.Paddys weekend this year, we had about 30 veterans down and we killed them all weekend in our annual game in the day and beerpong and flip cup at night.

Who is the one to look out for this season and why?

All of the new freshers, they’ve got a lot to live up to with the fresher of the year bar being set higher and higher each year.

Women’s basketball – Saphia Vanroose-Peer

Saphia Vanroose-Peer, 3rd year sports development and coaching

What was the funniest or most memorable moment from last season?

Most memorable moment from this year was our first win of the season, our team took a hit when we only ended up with four of the same girls from the previous season and it took us a while to gel again. We’ve never celebrated so hard in front of the other team that I had to personally apologise to the oppositions coach as the other girls were cracking open the bubbly. Hahahahaha.

What makes you the best team at Lincoln?

I think we’re the best team by far for sticking together. This season has been hard but now we all know each other back to front and we are looking for nothing less than the title next year, and a hell of a lot of post game shenanigans!

Snowsports (LUSST) – Joe Gardiner (President)

Joe Gardiner – Scarborough, Yorkshire – Business and Management 3rd Year.

What was the funniest or most memorable moment from last season?

The Tex Mex meal in Val d’Isére, everyone dressed as mexicans, free wine by the bottle, more food than you can eat, four other Uni teams and a ridiculous amount of chanting.

What makes you the one of best teams at Lincoln?

Not only are we one of the biggest teams in Lincoln, but as opposed to other teams we have both male and female members; huge nights out every week and two massive holidays to the French Alps.

Who is the one to look out for this season and why?

A lot of competition but I have to go with Shana Perry. She was a complete beginner to Snowsports when she joined last year, but she’s now overtaken many established members in terms of skill and doesn’t hesitate to try new tricks. Excited to see how she’ll progress this year.

Men’s Hockey – Tom Pinder

Tom Pinder – Rochester, Kent – Sport and Exercise Science 3rd Year.

What was the funniest or most memorable moment from last year?

Our away trip to the University of Nottingham last year has to be one of the best the team has experienced for some time! A good game was followed by a fancy dress supplied by the women’s club. Its safe to say some the lads suited a dress far too well, myself included!

What makes you the one of the best teams at Lincoln?

The standard of our league Hockey is clear when you see that we are competing with huge sports Universities such as Loughborough, Nottingham Trent and the University of Nottingham. We also have a fantastic recent record the BUCS Midlands Cup, winning in the 2012/2013 season and narrowly losing in last years semi final against Oxford Brookes.

Predictions for the year?

This year the Mens 1st XI are aiming to compete at the top end of the league and push for promotion as well as progressing to victory in the Midlands Cup once again. Up the Swans!

Women’s Hockey – Rachel Bradley

Rachel Bradley – Belfast, Northern Ireland – Criminology 2nd Year.

What was the funniest or most memorable moment from last season?

Funniest momment was definitely having to do a very bad rendition of S-Club 7’s ‘Reach for the Stars’ in headphone karaoke in front of the ladies and men’s first teams on the way home from an away trip.

Who is the one to look out for this season and why?

Who to look out for?…the whole society! When we’re out and about it’s hard to know what’s going to happen.

Predictions for the year?

Aiming just to have a sick year! And to finish another season with some great stories.

Athletics – George Withers (Vice President)

George Withers – St Albans – English 3rd Year.

What makes you the one of the best teams at Lincoln?

We have grown every year, building on our 2012 award as best new club. We have had more members every year both as a social team & competitively, managing to bring a full squad to Bucs in May, capped off with a final social in Bedford after the competition.

Who is the one to look out for this season and why?

Lee Rollinson; like many members Lee has taken up athletics again at uni after a few years out, and has quickly become our fastest sprinter as well as displaying a talent for the snake dance move. A favourite on a social.

Rugby Union – Daniel Thomson (Captain)

Daniel Thomson – Bath – Sports and Exercise Science 3rd Year.

What was the funniest or most memorable moment of last year?

TOUR! What happens on tour stays on tour. To this day a pedalo Aka HMS Minerva can still be seen capsized on the murky sea bed off the coast of Salou.

Who is the one to look out for and why?

Devin Barry born in South Africa and having represented his country at a national level, he is one to watch this year.

What games can we look forward to this year?

Varsity will no doubt be the biggest match of the season.

Rugby League – Sam Tatham (President)

Sam Tatham – Leeds – Criminology 2nd Year.

Predictions for the year?

To win the league.

Games to look forward to this year?

Playing against Hull FC in the new year.

Men’s Football – Will Fry (President)

Will Fry – Bournemouth – Sport Development and Coaching.

What was the funniest or most memorable moment from last season?

Our goalkeeper Steve Andrew trying to pull in a nightclub and going flying across the floor when he fell off his seat!

Predictions for the year?

Our aim is to get both teams promoted this year and get to the semi finals of both cups which is more than achievable for us!

Women’s Football – Sophie Bartup

Sophie Bartup – North Lincolnshire – Sport Development and Coaching 3rd Year.

Who is one to look out for and why?

Our President Robyn always having a great time in the shed of dreams.

Predictions for the year?

To top the league in my 3rd and final year after coming 2nd two years in a row.

What rivalries should we look out for?

Every team is a rival of ULWFC!

Rowing – Tom Liffey (President)

Tom Liffey – Wakefield – Sport and Exercise Science 3rd Year.

What was the funniest or most memorable moment from last season?

The girls being pointed out on twitter for wearing their kit wrong.

Who is the one to look out for this year and why?

Sarah Pearson, bronze medal at BUCS Regatta this year, can only get better.

What are you looking forward to this year?

Varsity on home soil of course.

Cheerleaders – Cherry Grimes (President)

Cherry Grimes – Nordelph, Norfolk – Dance 3rd Year.

What was the funniest or most memorable moment from last season?

While on a joint social with rugby, the theme was hunters and rabbits so all the committee members were hunters while non committee members were rabbits. The committee members had to chase the rabbits down the hill in a bar crawl, so there was 30 cheerleaders and 40 rugby players all running down steep hill together in Lincoln dressed as rabbits trying to not get caught.

What makes you the best team at lincoln?

We are the best team at Lincoln because we was crowned national champions in 2013 and beat all the other university’s at the cheerleading championships!

Aims for this year?

Aims for this year is to compete at nationals again and hopefully be crowned national champions for the second time, or come in top 3!

Tennis – Adaš Bamforth

Adaš Bamforth – Cirencester, Aukland – Business Studies 2nd Year.

What makes you the best team at uni?

Our strong commitment to tennis whilst practicing in a relaxed atmosphere. We welcome all standards of tennis to come along on social practice days and hit a ball for a couple of hours, it’s a great way to have fun and stay in shape!

Predictions for the year?

I think we have a strong team and we’ll do well against a lot of the teams, just need to stay focused and work hard to ensure we’re consistent.

Karate – Chris Mardon

Chris Mardon – Blackmoore – Law 3rd Year.

What makes you the best team at Lincoln?

We’re the oldest club in lincoln and still going pretty strong

Who is the one to look out for and why?

Everyone is looked out for, but you don’t want the little ones being picked on.

Equestrian – Kat Stanway

Kat Stanway – Birmingham – Biovetinary Science 3rd Year.

What is the funniest or most memorable moment of last year?

All of the socials are funny we’ve got such a fun group.

What makes you the best team at Lincoln?

We’re the best team at Uni because we’re a smaller team so we get a lot closer, also even though we’re competitive and we’ve got to regionals as teams or individuals for a few years now we still have a lot of fun. @lincolnBUCSeq

Men’s Lacrosse – Sam Smith

Sam Smith – Trowbridge, Bath – Mechanical Engineering 2nd Year.

What was the funniest or most memorable moment of last year?

Beating Hull 12 – 1 at varsity to end on a high of a tough season in the BUCS League.

Who are the ones to look out for this year and why?

Luke Mullery – He started last year and had already earned himself a place in the Lincoln City Lacrosse Team less than 2 months after being introduced to the sport.

Aims for the year?

Our aim this season in to recruit as many players as possible to the club and work hard throughout the season to get some good results in the BUCS league and look to have a strong and experienced team ready for the 2015-16 season.

Netball – Emma White

Emma White – Plymouth – Forensic Science 3rd Year.

What makes you the best team at Lincoln?

We have three teams competing in BUCS making us one of the most competitive teams at the uni. We also have fantastic socials and a team bond that cannot be matched.

What was the funniest moment from last year?

Funniest moment from tour was when the freshers were given control for the night, safe to say it was very messy. The funniest moment of the season had to be when one of the girls managed to have allergic reaction to the ball during a game.