Igniting the Road to Roses

This year’s Roses tournament is shaping up to be one of the best in recent years. The largest annual inter-university sports tournament in Europe will include a broader range of sports than ever before, from football to fencing and cricket to croquet. Since the event’s inception in 1965, York enjoy a slight 24-22 lead with the only draw coming in 1974.

But what I think is going to make this year’s event even more special is the Olympic feel to proceedings. Behold the Roses Torch! The beacon of light will be relayed around York’s eight colleges by students on Friday 4^th May, before making a mammoth journey across the Pennines. Cycling ten miles each, nine brave York students will ensure the torch safely reaches its destination, where the Lancaster students will parade it to the opening ceremony.

As you would expect, a great deal of care has gone into choosing the right design. In total, eleven torch designs were submitted by students at York, and they were scrutinised by York Sport. Here, I offer my assessments for the top five torches:

Design 4: Impressive

Design 4: This was a very strong candidate. Created by Alison Wise, the design’s main strength lies in its simplicity. As Wise noted: “The shape of my torch, like that of previous Olympic torches, is designed to be easy to hold in comparison to a traditional cone.” The rose design at the top of the torch is impressively crafted and the lines of roses across the handle are the aesthetic icing on the cake. The description notes the historic rivalry between York and Lancaster and the popularity of last year’s Roses design which is incorporated into the current design.

BRADDERS RATING: 9/10

Design 5: Rivalry is the focus

Design 5: I personall quite liked this design. The division of the torch into two clear halves demonstrates the intense rivalry, culminating in the central rose in the heart of the torch. However, what may play against it are the technical difficulties of securing the vines all the way around. You could just imagine that being a bit of an issue during the 90-mile bike ride. However, what may play against it are the technical difficulties of The shape of my torch, like that of previous Olympic torches, is designed ergonomically, to be easy to hold in comparison to a traditional cone.securing vines going all the way around. You could just imagine that being a bit of an issue during the 90-mile bike ride. securing vines going all the way around. You could just imagine that being a bit of an issue during the 90-mile bike ride. BRADDERS RATING: 7/10

BRADDERS RATING: 7/10

Design 6: Medieval

ADDEDDDDsecuring vines going all the way around. You could just imagine that being a bit of an issue during the 90-mile bike ride. BRADDERS RATING

Design 6: This for me was another contender to win. The designer has a clear understanding for the history of the Roses tournament; the oar refers to Roses’ first ever sporting event, rowing. The torch has a distinct medieval feel as well which harks back to the battles of the fifteenth century. At the rear, the ‘Be a Champion’ logo refers to the NUS initiative providing £1,000 for the competition to create a piece of Olympic-related art which will be placed in the new York Sport Village.

BRADDERS RATING: 8/10

Design 8: Ambitious

Design 8: An ambitious design, the number 8 option provides a Roses twist to the Olympic logo. The rings encircle the top of the torch and the zig-zag pattern along the base catches the eye. But its main problem is its complexity. The Rose hanging at the bottom could be a pain to attach securely. The colour of the Roses at the top also looks peculiar – who has ever seen a black rose? And the overall design may be a little too friendly; there isn’t enough rivalry jumping out at me here.

BRADDERS RATING: 5/10

Design 9: Inspired

Design 9: If number 8 was peculiar, this one is utterly bizarre. But in a good way. The torch seemingly replaces the traditional horn of a unicorn, a creature which can be found regularly around the University of York campus. In the description, the designer informs us: “Unicorns live on a diet of white and red roses (yellow ones actually poison them) which, conveniently, are the colours of Lancashire and Yorkshire.” Perfect! The design would also do away with the need for students cycling over to Lancaster when it could just run there itself. The description concludes: “This design would bring a smile to everyone’s face … Choose unicorns.” It’s certainly brought a smile to my face, what a terrific design.

BRADDERS RATING: 10/10

In the end, York Sport announced the winner was Design 4. Although I can understand the reasons behind this selection, many, including myself, were a little disappointed at the rejection of the unicorn. Nevertheless, I am really looking forward to this year’s event. It is these additional projects which have involved the entire university community which will hopefully make Roses 2012 a tournament to remember.

Survey Suspense

York Sport is facing crunch time as everyone is set to discover exactly how good the university’s sports facilities are compared to our rivals across the country.

Earlier this month, four hundred surveys were sent off by the university as part of a new pilot partnership which aims to scrutinise university sports facilities in more detail than ever before. The partnership combines the expertise of NBS (National Benchmarking Service) and Quest, the UK Quality Scheme for Sport and Leisure, who are casting their eyes over fifteen universities nationwide.

Head of Sports, Keith Morris, said: “I thank everybody who took part in the survey because it was a phenomenal effort and will be really valuable information. It will enable us to compare ourselves with our competitors in the BUCS leagues more easily and will give us a good foundation of knowledge from which we can move forward.”

Dan Turley has his doubts over York's
current sports facilities
(Photo: Vivan Jayant)

Morris handed me a copy of the survey, comprising twenty questions, and I soon realised it was incredibly detailed. It starts by asking what type of activity one pursued and how regularly, whether one is a member of the facility or a sports club and even the method of transport to the facility.

The main bulk of the survey, however, is concerned with analysing the crucial gap between how satisfied users are with the facilities compared to how important they would rate them in an ideal world. Aspects of this include the accessibility of the centre, the quality of services and staff, its cleanliness and value for money. It concludes by examining the user themselves; their age, gender, race and year of study.

In the past, the only surveys of university sports facilities have come from BUCS or Sport England who helped compile the satisfaction information in the Complete University Guide. However, as you may have guessed, the present efforts will go much further than this.

I talked to a couple of players to see how well they thought York would do. Football 1sts captain Dan Turley said the university was strong in some areas but very weak in others: “Our gym is very poor – some weights are missing and they only go up to 37.5 kg so it doesn’t appeal enough to football or rugby players. But most of our facilities aren’t that bad; in terms of the football pitches and the pavilion, we are up there with the likes of Leeds Met.”

With the new sports centre opening in July, rugby 1sts captain James Faktor  said the university has taken the right approach to improve its facilities: “I personally think the old facilities are quite average to be honest. There’s not too much room in the gym and most hours it gets quite crammed.”

The York Sport Village is in the final stages of construction
(Photo: Dave Hughes)

The obvious disadvantage with the survey being taken now is that the results will soon be out of date. But students at York won’t be complaining. The centre, which is currently in the final stage of construction, will be among the very best available to any university in the UK according to Chris Carling, Head and Fitness Manager, who commented: “Leeds University are the only ones which will have comparable facilities, as well as maybe Lancaster and Sunderland.”

Nevertheless, if the pilot project is a success then I expect it to be conducted again in the future. By providing universities with more information on their student’s opinions, we are likely to see improvements in both facilities and the standard of BUCS matches nationwide.

High Five: York's College Conquerors

Welcome to post number two, folks! This time, I thought I would select a more upbeat topic – my top five college players from the Spring Term.

Many people have mentioned to me in the past that college sport, competition between the University of York’s eight colleges, is nowhere near the level of university sport. In fact, the next York Sport President, Charlotte Winter, has said one of her main policies is to raise its profile.

But from the games I’ve watched, college sport appears to be in good shape. OK, the quality is not quite as high, but it’s often more exciting to watch than BUCS; the players are less tense and the games are based more on who wants to score the most, rather than on who has the most tactical nous. Players simply embrace the occasion and enjoy themselves on a Sunday. But that’s not to say we often witness bursts of quality which would not actually seem out of place at university level.

So in this post, I will select the five best college players over the last term. These are people who have been invaluable to their team’s success. They have lead by example, contributed at vital moments when others might shy away and performed majestically on a consistent basis.

Don’t forget to comment if you have a different opinion, because this should only be the start of the debate! So here we go then, the countdown begins…

5TH – RICHARD BAXTER

College football has been something of a disappointment this term, with the wintry weather forcing six cancelled weekends. Nevertheless, James finished top of the pile with an unbeaten run from three games, thanks in no small part to captain and central midfielder Richard Baxter.

Baxter holds off Vanbrugh's Rous-Ross
(Photo: Ruth Gibson)

He was the driving force behind James’ 5-0 demolition job of Vanbrugh, providing two assists for Freddy Ferrao and Ben Cooke, and then scoring the fifth goal to cap a fine performance. He was also the string-puller in the 4-2 victory over Alcuin. James Briars was able to complete a remarkable hat-trick mainly thanks to Baxter’s vision and quick thinking to pick out the pace on the wings.

His true leadership skills, however, were saved for the enthralling 3-3 draw against Halifax. Early in the second half James found themselves 3-1 down, but Baxter was incredibly vocal, urging his team to maintain their intensity and keep believing. It worked; Briars got it back to 3-2 before Baxter himself tapped in the equaliser to secure the title. Such performances are a good sign if you a James fan, with the College Cup coming up next term.

4TH – CHRIS BUTTERWORTH

Butterworth in action against Halifax
(Photo: Vivan Jayant)

James have also enjoyed a fantastic term of hockey, winning the title from rivals Halifax on goal difference. It was a campaign characterised by fine margins; both sides are head and shoulders above everybody else in the league, and the title decider was effectively their clash back in January.

Halifax had won the previous meeting back in the autumn term, but this time Butterworth’s match-winning performance swung the momentum the other way.

He scored a sublime goal within the opening two minutes, showing both his pace and touch to give his side something to hang on to. Although Halifax dominated possession for the rest of the match, Butterworth time and again put his body on the line to make those vital tackles and interceptions which are so often overlooked.

His contributions in the remainder of James’ games were nothing short of exceptional, either, providing both goals and assists for his teammates. Without him, Halifax would surely have won the title.

3RD – AL QASYAFF ZAINAL

Zainal during his match-winning display against Vanbrugh
(Photo: Ellen Rawlins)

The Malaysian dynamo has provided much of the energy to a sparkling Langwith side this term, helping his side win the 2012 college badminton title.

Although diminutive in stature, Zainal possesses remarkable racquet power, easily making him the crowd favourite every Sunday. He has an unerring ability to produce aggressive shots from almost anywhere on the court, which immediately strikes fear into his opponents.

Defensively, he can be a frustrating opponent to face. He can stretch like a slinky and make returns when you thought the point was over. In short, he never gives up; he is the Rafael Nadal of college badminton.

One of his proudest performances will be the tight victory against Vanbrugh in February when, paired with Sarah Howarth, he was instrumental in winning the deciding game and keeping Langwith’s title challenge on track.

2ND – CHARLOTTE WINTER

Winter scores in a 22-9 win over Goodricke
(Photo: Vivan Jayant)

Off the netball court, Winter has attracted much publicity over the last few weeks, being elected the next York Sport President for 2012-13. But it’s important not to forget that on court, she can be an equally formidable opponent as her college rivals will testify.

As Alcuin’s GA, her success rate must be at least 80 per cent; you are usually left reeling if she misses. Her influence shone through in a remarkable 29-2 victory over Langwith in February, despite Alcuin missing several key players.

This momentum culminated in her crowning achievement on the final weekend of the season, when Alcuin secured the college netball title thanks to victories over nearest challengers James and Halifax.

It’s always good when your GS is a top performer as well; Amy Moye provides that element of competition in both training sessions and games, which makes you as a player want to match or better it. And their understanding of each other’s game is scarily impressive.

Finally, from a reporter’s point of view, her refreshingly honest and interesting responses to post-match interviews contrast with the boring, conventional dribble we so often hear from sportspeople.

1ST – JAMIE CRISWELL

Derwent rugby XV have been simply sensational this season, matching last year’s record by retaining their college rugby title with a stunning victory over Alcuin in last week’s final.

I could go on about several players in this remarkable side who are unbeaten since November 2010; Oliver Wessely, Alex Cochrane Dyet and captain Tolga Necar among others have all caught the eye. However, one stands out from the crowd for me – Jamie Criswell.

Criswell touches down one of his three tries in the final against Alcuin
(Photo: TK Rohit)

The winger finished top scorer with a total of ten tries this season, but this record is not surprising. His searing pace allows him to elude even the most alert defenders and sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say, “This guy is unplayable.”

His ability shone through in the 64-0 final win over Alcuin, scoring a try after running almost the entire length of the pitch before securing a deserved hat-trick. The best players save their best performances for the biggest stage, and this was the perfect example.

Even when he doesn’t score, such as in Derwent’s narrow 25-24 victory over Halifax, his mere presence causes the opposition to back off in anticipation of something dangerous. This allows teammates such as Wessely time to pick a pass or win territory, and to give the likes of Alex Littlechild space to drive battering rams into the opposing ranks.

I’m sure the Derwent Duck will be very content this Easter after the team’s sterling work. It will undoubtedly expect more of the same from Criswell and co when it re-surfaces in the autumn.

Football 1sts Fiasco

Hello everybody! I’m delighted to announce the birth of The Bradders Blog, following what has been a fantastic Spring Term of sport here at the University of York. With a lengthy five-week break now upon us all, I thought it was time to reflect on what has happened so far this year and look ahead to a crucial Summer Term, where Roses awaits us.

This term, we have experienced the second White Rose Varsity tournament against the University of Hull, some captivating (albeit snow-hit) college sport and a dramatic finale to the BUCS season.

And my inaugural topic this week concerns BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport). The men’s football 1sts’ season ended in agony last Wednesday when, needing just a point to survive in their BUCS Northern 2B League, Hull scored a late screamer to condemn York to a 3-2 home defeat.

The disappointment at the final whistle was unlike anything else I have witnessed covering games for Vision. Every player looked utterly devastated, most of all captain Dan Turley, who led his team through the mist straight to the pavilion dressing room, shunning any post-match interviews.

You could argue York only have themselves to blame. One win, six defeats and three draws was simply not good enough and relegation was deserved. In addition, the side threw away an opportunity to secure their safety in their penultimate match, playing out a drab 0-0 draw against Leeds 2nds on Sunday.

Tom Clarke's goals are vital for York (Photo: Oliver Todd)

But if you look at the bigger picture, you’ll soon realise that York have been rather unlucky on a number of levels.

Firstly, the wintry weather that hit York mid-way through the term has upset the players’ routine. The frost and heavy snowfall forced match postponements for both BUCS and college matches. You cannot underestimate college football as a way for the players to build up their fitness and get their touch back after the Christmas break.

And you would think that reaching the semi-finals of the Northern Conference Cup would remedy this problem, but no; it may well have been detrimental to their league performances. It was clear the fixture list was becoming quite busy by the latter half of the term, with the team juggling both league and cup games in a limited period due to the previous snow chaos.

I suspect several players may have put extra effort into the cup games, and, due to fitness shortages, may have not recovered in time for the equally-crucial league matches. So basically, the team was initially playing too little and then too much, which can be very difficult for the players to adapt to.

An even bigger issue for the team has been missing key players at key times. The most obvious example is highly influential striker Tom Clarke, who was missing for the final two crucial league matches.

It's a shame Clarke was unavaible at this time - he had to go home early for some unexplained reason - because when Clarke plays well, York play well. The former Yeovil Town man is masterful at finding those priceless pockets of space between the opposition’s defenders and midfield line, much like Wayne Rooney for Manchester United. He then tends to spread play wide to the likes of Dan Jones or Dan Atherton on the wings, who just love to run at the full backs, and from there you get chances.

But without Clarke, York struggle massively. On countless occasions during the final two league games, the ball was being pumped aimlessly upfield many of the players, especially central midfielder Matt Mawdesley. It was clear the rest of the team had lost confidence when they were in possession as they knew there wasn’t a Mr Reliable up front to show for the ball and help them out.

Other key players who have been missing at times this season include Phil Taylor, who missed the entire Autumn Term due to an ankle injury and Dan Atherton, who had a stop-start Spring Term.

Although Taylor’s best position is up front, he can also be highly effective as a central midfielder. In the Varsity win against Hull in February, he was a delight to watch with his range of passing and calmness in possession. His understanding with Ash Daly and Clarke further upfield was reaping rewards in many areas of the pitch.

Unless he had picked up a knock or something prior to the final match against Hull, it was therefore quite puzzling that he was left out of the starting lineup. In short, I bet York would have performed far better with him in there from the start of the autumn, because the central midfield positions were a bit unsettled; even Dan Turley was forced to fill in at times.

Atherton’s absence, meanwhile, has deprived York of some trickery down the left wing, forcing the deployment of either Jack Beadle or Ollie Harrison. Both have their qualities, but from when I’ve watched them, I feel at times they lack the composure and overall consistency of Atherton to both drive past defenders and deliver the killer ‘final third’ pass.

It’s a shame York have not been able to be firing on all cylinders from an attacking perspective (12 goals from 10 games) because defensively they aren’t too bad. Tom Brandreth and Oscar Lynch have formed an efficient partnership, and you’re guaranteed a cool head from Dan Turley at right-back. Conceding 18 goals in 10 games should not be an insurmountable statistic come the end of the season if you’re doing the job at the other end.

Despite the immense disappointment of relegation, I am confident that York will bounce back next season and win promotion. And nothing would be better to begin this road to recovery than a victory over Lancaster at Roses in May.

BUCS Northern Conference 2B - final table:

1	Durham 1st	10	5	0	0	13	2	5	0	0	12	2	10	0	0	21	30
2	Sheffield 1st	10	3	1	1	11	6	4	0	1	15	8	7	1	2	12	22
3	Leeds Met Carnegie 2nd	10	2	0	3	6	9	3	0	2	9	7	5	0	5	-1	15
4	Hull 1st	10	1	1	3	6	10	1	0	4	9	13	2	1	7	-8	7
5	Leeds 2nd	10	2	0	3	6	17	0	1	4	3	10	2	1	7	-18	7
6	York 1st	10	0	1	4	6	10	1	2	2	6	8	1	3	6	-6	6