COVENTRY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION
VARSITY 2015 EDITION
T U O L PUL E LIST UR -27 T X FI 26 S E PAG
2 Source Varsity Edition
EDITOR’S LETTER
Ellis Ajoku World Updates Editor
Sheereen Nabi - Editor in Chief Hi everyone, Welcome to our Varsity issue. For the first time, we have produced a special sports themed magazine to combine Source newspaper and the annual Varsity programme. It has been a unique experience and given us the opportunity to try something new for you to enjoy. So what is Varsity some of you may be asking? Put simply, this is the annual University sports tournament between Coventry and Warwick. Several sporting events will happen during January and February, giving us the opportunity to bring the trophy home and all the prestige that comes with it! With over a thousand competitors, training has been intense which you can read all about in interviews with a selection of the teams. The world of sports, or at least University sports anyway, has been a busy one, from preparing for Varsity to participating in the BUCS league, we’ve found out all the latest updates for you. If you haven’t caught the Varsity hype just yet fear not, we’ve put together all your regular features but with a sporting twist: From a very helpful ‘How to…gym’ guide for everyone who has given in to their new year’s resolution already, to fashion pieces on incorporating the latest trends whilst supporting your favourite teams. There’s a handy fixtures table in the centre of the magazine for you to keep hold of so you don’t miss a thing. (fixtures may be subject to change so please keep an eye on the website/CUSU Facebook page for updates and changes).
Charlotte Dyett Sports & Societies Editor
Kyle Knappett Entertainment Editor
That’s all until the next issue, where we will be celebrating the winners of Varsity and rounding up this academic year. Get involved in supporting your University, last year there were over six thousand spectators and no doubt there will be even more of us in the stands for 2015. If nothing else it’s all friendly competition and gives students a chance to achieve something more than a degree whilst being at University and of course show Warwick what we are made of! The stakes are high and the rivalry is even higher! Ps. If you fancy yourself as a budding writer or want to share something with your fellow students, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to get in touch with your weird and wonderful stories. Who knows you might find yourself on the front page of our next issue.
sourcenewspaper@outlook.com
Varsity Edition Source 3
Jo Ah Yow
Sport & Wellbeing Officer 2014/15
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arsity is the greatest sporting event in our calendar every year and I have no doubt that this year, it will be even bigger and better! It is organised by Coventry University Students’ Union and The University of Warwick Students’ Union who both put a lot of time and effort in the planning of the event. During the planning, the Sports committee was highly involved to decide on the slogan, the t-shirt and marketing designs. So, a big THANK YOU goes to Lal, Annalise, Morgan, Dan, Mike, Matt and Conor from the Sports Committee. If you’re wondering why one of our hashtags is #MagentaArmy, just take a look at the Varsity t-shirts! I believe Varsity is not just about winning or playing sport, but it is a time of the year where the whole campus comes together as one to express its pride of being part of #TeamCoventry. No matter what the results are, I hope that everyone will enjoy Varsity as much as I will. Finally, I hope you all get involved in this amazing event and feel free to get in touch with me or check out our website to learn more about Varsity.
Snap Chat: magentaarmy Instagram: magenta_army
#OneTeamOneDream
4 Source Varsity Edition
VARSITY OVER THE YEARS By Kritika David
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HERE’S TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS FROM THE PAST NINE YEARS, BROUGHT TO US BY OUR VALIANT TEAMS –
e all know what’s happening January- One title to rule them all February – the annual Varsity series, of (let’s not get carried away) course! Come along and watch Coventry and Warwick compete against each other to bag Fifteen days of intense rivalry it all and take away the glory. Fifty-one events to compete against In Jo Ah Yow, our Sport and Wellbeing Of- each other ficer’s words: “It’s more than a competition. It’s the time of the year where we all come to- With more than a thousand competitors all gether as ONE Team! What’s not to like about working towards the same motive all the chants and banter with Warwick?” And over five thousand spectators It’s the 25th year of Varsity, so let’s take a look supporting our version of The Hunger at what 2015 has in store for us: Games (I’m going to stop now!)
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#OneTeamOneDream More details can be found on CUSU’s website. Come down to witness the greatest sporting event in Coventry, get yourselves a Big Ticket before they sell out and support YOUR University; because you know it’s all about these games, ‘bout these games, no trouble.’ Oh boy! Here we go again! Sorry.
Bring on Varsity. We’re ready!
6 Source Varsity Edition
BASKETBALL FRIDAY 30TH JANUARY
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MEN’S BASKETBALL By Daisay Johnson
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ith Varsity fast approaching, preparations from all the teams are very much underway, especially the Men’s Basketball Team. We spoke to Caleb Azumah Nelson about how the team is already one step ahead for Varsity and the key things they are focusing on in their training.
What are your main predictions for this year’s Varsity game?
What qualities do you look for in a Basketball player?
We’ve got to win! We’ve definitely got to win! This is my last year here, and in the previous two years, we’ve lost unfortunately. We’ve played Warwick around 5 times, since I’ve been here, and beaten them 3 times. The times we lost were at Varsity so hoping to turn things around this year.
Firstly the ability to play, not just play as a team but to get along with everyone outside of matches too. We are more like a family, always joking and laughing with each other but we always know when it’s time to knuckle down and work hard for the good of everyone.
How do you all get pumped up How did you first get into Basketball? before a game? It’s difficult because we have such a broad spectrum of players. I’m quite introverted, so before a game, I’ll be sat reading a book on the side-lines or listening to calming music, whereas some people need to get psyched up. It’s pretty relaxed so we don’t put too How is the team preparing for much pressure on ourselves. In this season, Varsity? we’ve only lost one game against Worcester, which was just unfortunate. Everyone arrives We regularly practice together and we’re ready, and has their own routines, but when much better than we have been in the past it comes to 15 minutes before game time, we two years. In my first year, we had a lot of are one unit and we all come together on the talent on the team but we didn’t have much same page. chemistry. We also didn’t have a coach then, so when we got a coach in the second year it was a learning curve for everyone having to Which professional Basketball adjust. This year we’ve had a few new recruits players do you look up to? who’ve upped the talent and fitted right into That’s tough, everyone looks to the greats the existing team. like Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal but Ideally we want to stay unbeaten until the it’s about taking bits of everyone’s game and end of the season because that guarantees adjusting it to yours. Team wise, my favourite us winning the league and the cup because team would probably be the Lakers around we’re second in the league at the moment, and the 80s - Showtime with Magic Johnson. I had the last 16 of the cup. So, that’s guaranteed the privilege to meet him in Crystal Palace at silverware, and from there we can just take an NBA event, he was awesome! NBA is much those performances and use that motivation different to how it was before, you watch the classics and you see that there’s a much more in our Varsity performance. physical game. I actually try to bring that within my game. You play tough, you win. I started at school when I was 11. I’d initially always been interested in Football, but my PE teacher told me, ‘you’re too tall!’ So I thought why not look into Basketball!
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL By Sheereen Nabi
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ith Varsity just around the corner, the Women’s Basketball Team have been busy training hard to bring Coventry University more fantastic wins. In between fitness drills we stopped Yasmin, the team President for a quick chat about their progress:
NAME: YASMIN YAHAYA AGE: 20 STUDYING: SOCIOLOGY SECOND YEAR
How did you get into basketball?
Have you played any games recently?
Funny story actually, I tried out for the University Netball Team but they suggested I might suit the recreational team instead, so I thought I’d try out Basketball and see how it goes… 2 years on, I’m glad because now I actually prefer it especially as it’s a contact sport!
We are in the middle of our season, which is great for practice, so far we’ve won one, lost one and had a draw. Hopefully our next game will be a big win at Varsity!
I’m guessing you are very excited for Varsity, how is your preparation going?
Yes, although I did attend last year so have a feel of what we are up against. There was fantastic support from the University; all the teams really supported each other. Looking forward to that atmosphere again, it’s great to be a part of that team spirit.
Rob, our coach has been very intense with training, to get our fitness up to a high standard. We’ve been doing a lot of drills to enhance our defence, offence, stability and stamina.
Is this your first time playing in Varsity?
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FRIDAY 30TH JANUARY
What did you learn from that experience that you can take forward to this year?
Sounds like you’ve been busy, how is it balancing your studies and Basketball commitments?
We’ve learnt from last year to improve areas like communication so have been building that into our practice. There are lots of really good players who are new to the team too, many are international and will be leaving after Varsity so hoping to end on a high for them.
It was hectic doing the admin side of things and sorting out our new kit (it’s blue and pink, much nicer than the bright yellow one from last year!) but now everything is in place, I can enjoy achieving things both academically and through the sport.
Finally, what is the best thing about
It’s interesting to work with the Men’s team playing Basketball? too; I was timekeeper for a recent match. There’s a lot we can share to help both teams We welcome everyone no matter their ability; better themselves. you don’t have to be the next Michael Jordan to play with us! Come and support us at our matches against Warwick if you want to see what it’s all about.
10 Source Varsity Edition
EQUESTRIAN - GIRLS ON TOP! WEDNESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY
By Charlotte Dyett
Becca Manford
Cara McKinnon
Sabrina Wadman
Leah Case
Jessica Bennett
Claudia Sandford
Jess Shemmans
Olivia Freeman
Club president, Kelly Andrews, the new horse whisperer?
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ew sports at Varsity are female dominated but Equestrian is one of them! And don’t be fooled by these innocent looking girls as they are all up for getting their hands dirty!
Style is everything! Unlike other sports where the fastest or strongest team win, the Varsity equestrian competition is judged on how well you compose yourself. Each team will present eight riders who will compete in two very different disciplines, dressage (described as ‘ballet’ for horses) and show jumping. Two riders from each team will compete on one horse for dressage and one for show jumping, as there are eight horses in total, split equally between each discipline. The horses are chosen at random and points are gained on how well each person can ride the horse for each discipline, compared to the other riders on the same horse. Despite the narrow defeat last year at Varsity, due to a rider falling in the show jumping stage, this year the girls are more confident then ever! The team have just won their first ever BUCS competition against Warwick, Oxford and Oxford Brookes. According to club President, third year Accounting and Finance, Kelly Andrews, “We are starting as we mean to go on”.
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The Winning BUCS Team!
Are you in special training for Varsity?
What makes Horse Riding so different to other Varsity sports?
Yes, our team of riders are training at least once a week at our local riding school, Hollyfast Meadows Central Equestrian. Their training regime works on both their dressage and show-jumping skills. A lot of our riders have their own horses so are able to train further. The main thing is a lot of practice and learning the dressage test as forgetting that is unforgiveable!
Obviously I’m biased but Horse Riding is a lot more exciting than other sports, our competitions are always eventful and action packed due to the unpredictable nature of working with animals! Another difference is that it consists of two disciplines so it is a whole day event.
What’s your secret weapon? Our trainer Sally Baker is amazing and does so much for us both as a team and our club as a whole! She’s really helpful on competition days, getting our team in the zone and preparing them in the warm-up before competing.
Do you have any horse-wear fashions tips? Nude underwear is definitely a must when competing in white jodhpurs (laughs). Sadly hat hair is unavoidable, but hairnets should be worn to keep it all looking as tidy as possible.
How will you celebrate the win? Typically we have socials after every competition to either celebrate or commiserate with the other club members, with a drink or two, of course! A big Varsity themed social and a celebratory meal should be happening too.
12 Source Varsity Edition
KARTING
By Kyle Knappett
WEDNESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY
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nlike most other teams, the Karting team is pretty relaxed when it comes to preparing for the big tournament. We caught up with the team’s President, Alex Crump and Treasurer Miles Murphy to discuss their Varsity winning streak and some literal streaking around Coventry City Centre!
Tell us about the Karting team?
the same opportunities as everybody else. We have a tier for BUKC (British Alex: We all get together around once a University Karting Championships) with the month, race against each other and we have better drivers, where we invite them to go and represent the University and we have a little inter-team championship. a qualifier that is four rounds with three Miles: We operate on the basis where it different teams, giving them the chance to go doesn’t matter what ability you are, you get onto the British Championship.
Varsity Edition Source 13 What was it like winning the Championship last year? Miles: Everyone bounced off each other and helped out so it worked well in the end. It’s not the calmest atmosphere in the world; however our approach was to improve the relaxation of Karting and to not take it too seriously, compared with other Universities. It was good because our students work together so it wasn’t just the teams, making it more of a collective effort. Alex: I agree, I was part of the ‘C Team’ and even though the ‘A Team’ won the Championship I felt really happy that Coventry as a University had won. Miles: We all came together as part of something special; no matter what team, we all shared the same experience. In fact we won the Championship a round early! We didn’t do any calculations, so we still went to the final round thinking we were going to blow it, but it turned out we had already won!
Guessing you have high hopes for Varsity? Miles: We have an excellent record at Varsity, three wins in the past four years! Last year we won by three laps against their first team.
possible teams and take it from there. You can’t exactly race around the ring road or anything like that!
How do the Varsity races work? Miles: There’s a ten-minute qualifier where we all split into four or five teams. Then we go to the qualifiers as a group and do the 90 minute race with two driver changes then it’s basically a run to the flag. We want to get a place on the podium that’s our main aim, that and to get maximum points.
What are your greatest Karting memories? Alex: My personal favourite was in my first year. I was driving for the rookie team and it was the first race, I won it by about 10 seconds and after about 5 laps I realised I was miles ahead of everyone so coasted the entire way (and it’s the only race I’ve ever won!) Miles: Probably our first BUKC double we did last year and the ‘A Team’ did the sprint around our local track and the endurance race. We actually won both and the gap between us and second place was over 25 seconds so it is fair to say we won by quite a lot.
My other favourite memory has to be winning the Championship at Clay. It was the first Alex: The only time we haven’t won in the last time the University has ever won a National four years was because Warwick booked an Championship as well which was a proud indoor circuit that they go to all the time and moment. we had never been to it before, so technically we only lost that because they cheated So after a success like that you’re (laughs)! definitely going to beat Warwick
What are you doing to prepare for Varsity in January? Alex: Going to Mcdonalds!
then?
Alex: Yeah, they don’t stand a chance; I’m making sure they don’t book an indoor circuit this time though!
Miles: That’s the truth honestly, unlike the Miles: If we don’t win Varsity, I will personally other sports you can’t train all the time for run around the City Centre naked, you’ve got this. Nothing really helps unless you can get that in print now so I can’t back out! out there in a kart and physically have a go. The main plan is to come back after Christmas and have a warm up event to pick our best
14 Source Varsity Edition
CRICKET - IN YOU WE TRUST SUNDAY 1ST FEBRUARY
By Charlotte Dyett
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s our highest competing team at Coventry University, Cricket are doing us proud! With both their teams enjoying a double win last season in their outdoor and indoor leagues now they are ready to take on the biggest match yet at Varsity. We met up with club President, Tom a Geography student, to discuss how preparations are coming along:
Are the teams going under any special training for Varsity?
What’s your most memorable moment playing for Coventry University?
With our BUCS indoor fixtures already well underway the practice for those has put us in good stead for Varsity and we have had some decent match practice indoors too.
Getting to know one of our great players, Cyrus Azariah, what a bloke!
Are there any special tactics to beat Warwick?
It’s is a team sport but with individual brilliance. Though some may label it as ‘boring’ it’s actually a great sport once understood. A good place to start would be the indoor Varsity fixtures, which are very short and fast paced!
We always stick together as a team and hope that on the day we put the right performances in, quite simple really!
Do you have any pre-match rituals/ superstitions? Some of the team are superstitious, don’t want to embarrass our 1st team captain but he always listens to ABBA’s, Winner Takes It All before a game!
Why should people watch Cricket?
How will you celebrate the win? Celebrations will involve getting everyone together and probably letting our hair down, if we’ve worked hard enough!
What’s your favourite thing about Varsity? The coming together of the University with sport as the focus is great. University is not just about getting your degree and studying but memorable moments like these.
PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR: JAMES MIDDLETON Third year physiotherapy student, James Middleton, is studying here on a sports scholarship looking forward to his first Varsity as 1st X1 Captain. James hopes to lead his team to a highly anticipated victory.
What position do you play?
I’m a wicketkeeper and opening batsman
What’s the highest level you’ve competed at?
I’ve played county cricket for Warwickshire and Leicestershire 2nd X1.
What are your strengths on the field?
My strengths are my presence as a keeper; a lot of encouragement and making the opposition know we are there. Also batting in difficult situations and adapting my game accordingly.
What are your strengths as a Captain?
As a Captain I’ve got a lot of passion and desire, I know everyone’s strengths, when to adjust our tactics and approach to suit how we play. Managing different players’ personalities respecting everyone’s views is important too.
What happens just before a match?
Listen to some good tunes, some house anthems. We have a warm up, team talk and always a team huddle before going out. I touch the club badge as a good luck thing too.
NETBALL
Varsity Edition Source 15 By Jennifer Smith
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he Netball team has been training hard for Varsity we stopped by and spoke to Daisy Roberts the team president about their progress:
SATURDAY 7TH FEBRUARY I am guessing you are very excited about Varsity, how is your preparation going? All of the netballers are excited about Varsity this year and preparation so far is going very well, the girls are upping their game in training and are hoping for similar results to last years.
Have you played any games recently? All three BUCS teams have all had matches every Wednesday with all three teams playing at least one match against Warwick. The First Team beat Warwick’s Seconds in a cup game the other week, which was a win the First Team needed. The Seconds and Thirds have also had weekly matches, which have helped them to push themselves in preparation for Varsity.
Is this your first time playing in Varsity? No, this is my second Varsity so this year I know exactly what to expect. We’ve been training harder than ever.
What did you learn from that experience that you can take forward to this year? Last year was an extremely successful year for Netball, seeing all three teams win games against Warwick. The girls who participated in Varsity last year are all ready to go out and smash Warwick like we did last year and this is passing onto the new players who have all gained the passion we have to win all three matches.
How is it balancing your studies and Netball commitments? Balancing any sport with your studies is difficult. You just have to learn to prioritise everything. Time management is definitely something that is key to organising everything. The first term was a stressful one, the library saw a lot of the netballers in-between training and lectures to get their assignments completed!
Finally, what is the best thing about playing Netball? The best thing about playing Netball are the members, without the team there would be no Netball club. Whether they are BUCS, social or recreational members, they make the club what it is today. Winning matches is also a bonus as well, but without a team that is not possible. Each match the BUCS teams play in sees the club becoming a stronger unit each week. This is something that we are taking to Varsity with us this year ready to smash Warwick….again.
Any final words to send over to Warwick? You may have beaten us already this year, but we are not letting is happen again. Varsity is ours!
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FUTSAL By Charlotte Dyett
SATURDAY 31ST JANUARY
THE NEWCOMER
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t’s the fastest growing sport in the country, originating from South America, and making its first appearance at this year’s Varsity! Following an interest from both teams and a push from the Students’ Unions, Futsal is being trialled for the first time. (However, this means the points won’t go towards the overall result.) The sport looks a lot like 5-a-side football but with a twist! The ball is slightly smaller, the goals are more like field hockey goals and you can’t play off the walls. Club President, Lewis Farquharson, describes his squad as laid back but still giving it their all. The team are currently joint top, with games in hand and are pushing for a play off position! I met up with Lewis to see how the team is feeling about their first Varsity…
Varsity Edition Source 17 Are you in special training for Varsity? Why Futsal, not Football? Not yet, but just after Christmas we’ll increase the number of training sessions per week. It’s our first Varsity as Futsal, so obviously the tension is going to be high and the local rivalry will increase even more.
What do you know about Warwick’s Futsal Team? They are the league above us, but that doesn’t scare us! Our squad is a lot stronger than this time last year so the fact they are the league above means nothing to us. I’m sure the tension of the day will counteract any superiority they may think they have.
Do you have any team tactics for Varsity?
Futsal is a faster pace sport so it’s a lot more active. You’re on the ball a lot more and it’s much more technical than Football. So instead of spraying it across the pitch, you’re in a much more confined space so it’s about your footwork and ability to move quickly across the pitch.
How will you celebrate the win? I think we’d have a little party, obviously keep it quite chilled and celebrate the hard season as we’re doing really well in the league at the moment, so with any luck, it will be a lot to celebrate at the same time!
Why should people watch Futsal?
It’s a lot more entertaining than Football. It’s Stay as a unit. It’s all about the Varsity ‘one a shorter match, only 20 minute halves but a team, one dream’, we have got to stay as a team, lot more action and score lines are a lot higher, that’s the best way that we’re going to beat normally there’s 8/9 goals a game. Plus, it’s Warwick; everyone attack together, everyone indoors so you’re always warm! defend together. Lots of communication and we’ll come out as winners.
WOMEN’S FUTSAL L
ike the men’s, this is also the first Varsity for the girls, which President Marnie Sidhu, physiotherapy student, has described as very exciting!
Are you feeling confident?
Why should people watch Futsal?
I think so. We have been practicing our game faces!
It’s fast, fun, tricky, exciting and a lot can happen even with a few seconds left on the clock!
Are you in training for Varsity?
Do you or the team have any pre-
Yeah, three times a week so I think we’re ready match rituals? for Varsity. Pre match rituals... We all eat a banana in the Are there any special tactics for warrior yoga position before a match!
Varsity?
How will you celebrate the win?
Not as such, just know the history of the competition and we would definitely like a If we win we will do something wacky for charity for a day. win!
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WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
SATURDAY 31ST JANUARY
By Charlotte Dyett
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ne of the few teams to celebrate a win at last year’s Varsity, Women’s Football is looking to make it two years in a row! They’re so hungry for success that they’ve even cut one of their teams so all the focus can be put into one. According to club President, Natasha Ogbe, a Sports and Exercise Science student, “two teams kind of restricted us in getting all our best players into one team, we had to break them up to make it fair to give people that chance of playing competitively”.
Is there any special training in place to prepare for Varsity?
Do you think Women’s Football should be broadcast more?
Just keep working hard, keep the commitment together. Make sure everyone knows each other because the more you get along with your team, both on and off the pitch, the more chances of success you have, so that’s our main strategy. It’s go hard or go home! We’re going to be tough on them. It will be quite a physical game, but fair.
Yeah, definitely! Recently there has been a huge development in Women’s Football. Think back to the recent England v Germany game at Wembley, as I work there I was able to see it. It was one of the highest numbers of audiences they got. 50,000 tickets were sold which was capped! They got a good reception; so it’s the foundation for better things to come.
What’s your secret weapon? I have a little player who I call my warrior. She keeps fighting, even if she’s tired, she’ll always keep on going. I won’t say who it is, the team knows, but it’s top secret - we don’t want Warwick to find out. When I say warrior attack that’s her cue! Watch out.
How will you celebrate the win? Football girls are quite a social sort of people so we’d celebrate hard and do our thing, socials and that sort of stuff.
How do you think the sport could be taken more seriously? Especially by male spectators who believe men’s Football to be better. Guys just think that women’s isn’t that physical, but when you’re on the pitch it is incredibly physical! Obviously we are slower paced than the men but we’re developing and with the more media coverage we get, like I heard at the World Cup in Canada, the BBC will be showing all the fixtures. So I think that’s another huge step for the game, women’s football is finally getting there.
Who are your Football icons? Male is probably Thierry Henry. I look up to him, he’s an all-round player, people say Ronaldo and Messi, but they’re not really someone you can relate to. Henry is someone I can relate to football wise. For women, I feel either Rachel Yankee or Kelly Smith; both players have incredible passion for the game and I aspire to be a lot like them.
Why should people watch the Women’s Football team this Varsity? For something different. We get good support when it comes to Varsity but obviously we want to showcase every ability we have and beat Warwick. You guys need to be there to witness that!
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LACROSSE
SUNDAY 1ST & SATURDAY 7TH FEBRUARY
By Keiran Raza
B
ack in September I decided to attend a Lacrosse taster session and immediately loved it. There’s a real sense of positivity playing the sport and all team members are valued whatever their skill level. Everyone has something to contribute and we work co-operatively to perform at the best level we can. With the lead up to Varsity, I interviewed Josh Gale who gave me an insight into preparations and what he thinks Lacrosse is really about.
Can you tell us a bit more about Lacrosse? Lacrosse is an extremely fast paced game. It’s similar to Hockey, except players have the ball in nets at the end of sticks. For the men it can be quite brutal as ‘checks’ are allowed – where players can essentially bash into one another in order to gain possession of the ball (like a tackle in Rugby). For women the rules are slightly different so it’s less violent. There are 3 defensive players, 3 midfielders, 3 attackers and 1 goalkeeper. The team that scores the most goals is the winner! It’s a highly energetic sport that’s easy to pick up and I recommend anyone interested to definitely give it a go.
What is the Lacrosse team like this year? Much better than last year, there is some real talent and skill going for us this year. The men’s team has been participating in BUCS matches while the girls have come on leaps and bounds having already won a tournament and reaching the final of another.
How do you prepare for a big match? We’ll all get warmed up and practice some easy passing, and as the match draws nearer about half an hour to go we’ll really switch on and focus getting our head into what we’re going to do.
What are your hopes for Varsity and do you have any plans for preparation? We want to win Varsity! We’re going to get a coach in
that we’ve worked with before and really focus on the fundamentals that will lead us to victory.
What is the best thing about the Lacrosse team? There’s a really friendly sociable atmosphere so we can all just have a really good time together, but when it comes to game day we can really switch on and focus on working together as a team for the best performance.
What advice would you give to someone looking to get into Lacrosse? Just get stuck in and give it a go, you never know what it’s like if you don’t try. It doesn’t matter what skill level your at, you can come and chuck a ball around for a bit and we’ll help you develop your skills and get you game ready in no time!
What is your pre match song to get you psyched and ready? For the girls it would have to be ‘Shake It Off’ by Taylor Swift, while I think the guys might go for something a bit heavier like ‘Remember the Name’ by Fort Minor.
Three things that make Lacrosse the best game? It’s a really quick and exciting game that takes a lot of skill, it’s very physical and there’s a great atmosphere and culture that surrounds it.
20 Source Varsity Edition
VOLLEYBALL SATURDAY 31ST JANUARY
By Sheereen Nabi
T
his year’s Varsity features the debut of our very own Women’s Volleyball Team! In between setting up a brand new team, we had a quick chat with the Team President, Martyna Sikora. Also joining her was Utku Cetin, Captain (and Coach) for the Men’s Team. NAME: UTKU, TEAM CAPTAIN
STUDYING: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, THIRD YEAR
NAME: MARTYNA, TEAM PRESIDENT
STUDYING: ECONOMICS, SECOND YEAR
Varsity Edition Source 21 Congratulations Martyna on starting up the Women’s Volleyball Team, how is it progressing?
How did you both get into volleyball?
Utku: Motivation is important too, to keep everyone upbeat and focused. After last year’s Varsity, we’ve been trying to train more. It’s just finding the facilities to accommodate separate sessions for different abilities and both the Men’s and Women’s.
What else are you looking forward to in Varsity?
Utku: Both myself and Martyna are international students, but it’s nice that sport Martyna: We are coming along well. We have has a mutual language, people communicate some really good players with lots of skill. By through their actions in the game as opposed the time we played our first game we only had to words. Our team is very international one practice session but won against Oxford. based; we have people playing from all parts Our second game was against Cambridge of the world, some of whom have represented which we also won. There is lots of potential, their country playing Volleyball. I have played l have high hopes for Varsity. Volleyball for over ten years now, so I’m using my experience to coach the team. How are things progressing for the Men’s Team? Martyna: Same, my family got me into Volleyball from a young age, so I’ve been Utku: The team are playing since high school in Poland. coming along nicely, we have played a few Wow, so you are both games so far, two of Captain and Coach, which we won and one how do you find that we lost which was coaching others? against Loughborough University, which is a Uktu: It’s a nice feeling Sporting University helping others, especially but still a fantastic the beginners who have experience. never played before. I’ve created a training schedule Have the preparations that’s been working well for Varsity been going so far. We have to lead by well? example, so by coaching others and demonstrating different Martyna: Both the Men’s and Women’s techniques it helps us improve our own skill. teams have been training together. It’s been enjoyable training the beginners, to see how Martyna: Yes definitely, if we make mistakes far they’ve progressed in such a short period then others will think it is ok to make those too, of time. Some have even been invited to join so we have to stay on top form. The girls have the intermediate team as well. It’s not only also been coached by Rachel Braggs, who about Volleyball skill, we aim to do exercises played in the 2012 Olympics, having someone focused on speed and stamina to improve the that experienced has really benefitted us teams overall condition. through our first few games.
Martyna: Watching the boys play and seeing how they do, also looking forward to watching Rugby. As we are a new team we need everyone to support us, come down and watch us play, don’t hesitate to join the team we have lots more coming, so watch this space!
22 Source Varsity Edition
ICE HOCKEY SATURDAY 7TH FEBRUARY by Sheereen Nabi
W
ith Ice Hockey set to be one of the biggest and definitely the most popular event of Varsity, we caught up with Vincenzo Ferrara, Team Captain of the ‘A Team’ just before Christmas for an update on how things are progressing: What has been your most unexpected moment playing Ice Hockey for Coventry University? In 2013 we played in Germany, in a tournament where the University plays a foreign team. After the game, two massive German guys threatened to fight us, they grabbed me in a headlock and I thought things would turn ugly but they ended up dragging me to the bar and inviting me for drinks! They turned out to be actually pretty nice guys!
Varsity Edition Source 23 You must be very excited to be leading the team at one of the biggest events on the University calendar, Varsity?
so the help is always there if you need it. What does it take for you to be the Team Captain, any special skills?
To be honest we haven’t fully got our team prepared but it should be a lot of fun. After It’s funny you ask, I actually got told I was speaking about Varsity with the others it the Captain, which is nice that other people does sound scary, I won’t lie! There’s going have belief in me. It’s to be a lot more crowd important to get along interaction this year, well with everyone, and a few other communication is so things but I can’t say important in sport. what just yet. I try to lead by example so we all By the time people work hard and play read this, will you be as a team. ready? What other sports Of course! What are you looking many people don’t forward to during know is that Coventry Varsity? and Warwick play Ice Hockey as one team. There are a few We only separate things I’m going into two teams after to try and catch; Christmas, that’s when Basketball competitiveness moves and American up a notch. At the Football... Oh moment we all train and Netball which can together! be quite scary believe it or not! Does that increase your rivalry, knowing teammates now competing against each other?
What would you say to anyone that wants to get involved in Ice Hockey?
Come along, simple as! Turn up to training Yeah it does! It makes you play harder knowing and I’m sure you’ll have fun, it’s a team sport you want to beat your friends. We know what and everyone gets along. Even if you can’t we are up against, where the strength and skate we can teach you, if you can skate even weaknesses lie in each player which makes better! things easier. The downside is they will know our team so we have to try and mix it up and be unpredictable in their eyes. How did you get into Ice Hockey? I started playing when I was very young, with my family. We played together for Great Britain up until I came to Coventry so you could say I’ve grown up with the sport. Having someone there to coach you and give you support has been a massive help. In Coventry there are many teams you can play with too
24 Source Varsity Edition
ULTIMATE FRISBEE
by Ellis Ajoku
WEDNESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY
W
ithout knowing much about Ultimate Frisbee, we sat down with President of the society, Amir to discuss all things relating to the sport and what the team have been up to recently.
Ellis from Source met the Ultimate Frisbee President, Amir.
What exactly is Ultimate Frisbee?
Are there any downsides to Ultimate?
It’s called either Ultimate Frisbee or simply Ultimate. Think of a casual game of Frisbee with your friends but a cross between American Football and Netball. Similar to the two end zones in American Football, you have to pass the disk to someone who is standing in the end zone, but like Netball you can’t run or move with the disk, so it’s all about passing to a teammate who has to run into a space.
I’d say weather conditions, especially last year when we played at outdoor regionals - one of our bigger tournaments that we play throughout the year. There was one match where the wind was crazy and you couldn’t pass for more than five yards, the year before that we had to play in snow too!
What is it that you think is unique about the sport?
As for tournaments, the big ones we’re playing are regional qualifiers. We won, meaning the top three teams from our region go to Division One and the next three go to Division Two of Nationals. We’ve got Outdoor Regionals coming up in the spring, hopefully we will push forward to Nationals which is one of the big things we’ve been trying to do. Last but not least Varsity, we believe it is the 25th year of Varsity against Warwick, so it should be special.
At higher levels (often international), it is commonly 7-a-side outdoors, although you can play 5-a-side indoors. The game is self-officiating, there are no referees. It is team focused and the rules stipulate that you can be ostracised if there is harsh behaviour seen during the game to other players. Do you get kicked out of the game or is it a losing respect thing? It is a respect thing. You won’t get kicked out of the game per se, but you would get into trouble from others. This behaviour is rare because Ultimate’s community is tightly knit. Between us, we try to uplift our rules and hold ourselves accountable to the rules that we set as Ultimate players. What’s the most satisfying thing about playing the sport? I think one of the most satisfying things is when you get defended, intercepted or knocked-down. It can really get you hyped up! Coaching the team is rewarding too, watching the players improve, developing as a team and reaching the levels you want them to be at. In Ultimate, there is more emphasis in being a team. In Football, a Messi or a Ronaldo can change a whole side, whereas in Ultimate you would find that really hard because it’s such a team-orientated sport and you get good camaraderie between teams. I think that’s one of the best parts about Ultimate, the friendships you get from it.
What competitions have you guys entered?
Did you take part in this year’s BUCS event? Well our Indoor Regional is West Midlands and Wales, so the big Universities that play in our region are Warwick, Birmingham, Bangor, Swansea and Cardiff. A lot of these teams have been established for a lot longer than we have, we’ve only been around for three years and I think we’re pushing for that National spot which is pretty impressive! What would you say to people to entice them to come and take part in Ultimate? Ultimate Frisbee is one of the most fun experiences you’ll have if you come and try it. It is the fastest growing sport in the UK, at Universities mostly. No matter whom you are or what you do, you can come and play Ultimate and there’s a place for you to play in our team. I don’t think any other sport in the world can boast as much, I think that’s one of the biggest things about Ultimate.
25
SPORTS ACTIVE
TRY IT, PLAY IT, LOVE IT!
Try it
Play it
A
s the New Year kicks off and the build up to Varsity begins, Robyn McDowall and Ben Nicholson of the Sports Active team want to offer you a chance to get involved in sporting activities designed for people of all abilities. The Sports Active programme is designed to offer you the chance to take part in sport in a fun and relaxed environment without the need to commit regularly. Robyn is a former student of Stirling University and Queen Margaret University, while Ben is a former student of our very own Coventry University, so they understand the needs and demands of students, as well as potential barriers that students may feel that stop them getting involved. By using their own personal experiences as students they’re aiming to make fun, relaxed, sporting opportunities accessible for everyone. ‘Try It, Play It, Love Sessions’ are casual sessions where you can just turn up and play. There’s no commitment to go week on week and there’s a range of activities to pick from. All equipment is provided and there will always be a Sports Active representative there to help organise and run the session. Never more than £3 a session and a perfect way to gain all the benefits from sporting activity, these are a great way to fit in your sport around the busy student lifestyle! If you would prefer a more structured block of sessions or just fancy learning a new skill, our block lessons for all abilities is a fantastic way to do this. High quality coaching across six to eight weeks, at an affordable price, which always make these lessons popular; book early to avoid missing out. Bookings can be made at the CUSU reception upstairs in The Hub. If you’re looking to get more involved in sport on a regular basis, then there’s a chance to do this too... Halls Leagues are a great way to meet other people in residential accommodation, whether that’s your own
Love it
or somewhere else. Sign up, get a t-shirt in your community colour and represent your Halls in our multisport and football leagues. By signing up you get access to both, so feel free to come and try. Even if you don’t like football, the multisport league offers a different sport each week to try so there’s something for everyone. Turn up with friends or by yourself and get organised into a team. Each week points are awarded to the winning halls community; which community will be top of the pile by the end of the year? Faculty Leagues are similar to the Halls Leagues, though instead of representing your Halls you can represent your faculty…the clue is in the name! A competitive rivalry is starting to grow between the faculties across both the football and multisport as each compete to be the best! Want to show that your faculty is best? Just sign up, get a t-shirt in your faculty colour and come and play. A timetable for all the sessions can be found on the CUSU website. Just go to: http://www.cusu.org/ opportunities/sports/sports-active/ For more information just email the Sports Active team on active.su@coventry.ac.uk or pop into The Hub for a chat. You can find us upstairs in room 1.25 (along with sports, societies and volunteering in the glass fronted room).
26 Source Varsity Edition
Varsity Fixtures 2015 24TH JANUARY Athletics
Park Run
9:00
30TH JANUARY Women’s Basketball 1st Men’s Basketball 1st
Coventry City Sports Centre Coventry City Sports Centre
18:30 20:30
Priory Hall, Coventry University Coventry University Sports Centre Priory Hall, Coventry University Coventry University Sports Centre Outdoor Tennis Courts, Warwick University Warwick University Swimming Pool Outdoor Tennis Courts, Warwick University Rileys, CV1 3JZ
9:30 10:30 12:30 12:30 14:30 15:00 16:00 18:00
Warwick University, Games Hall The Place, Coventry University The Place, Coventry University Cryfield, Warwick University Warwick University Swimming Pool The Place, Coventry University Outdoor Tennis Courts, Warwick University The Place, Coventry University Cryfield, Warwick University Deso Hall, Warwick University Cryfield, Warwick University Westwood, Warwick University The Place, Coventry University Deso Hall, Warwick University Cryfield, Warwick University Deso Hall, Warwick University Westwood, Warwick University
10:00 10:30 11:30 12:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 13:00 13:00 13:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:00 14:30 15:00 16:00
31ST JANUARY Women’s Volleyball 1st Women’s Futsal 1st Men’s Volleyball 1st Men’s Futsal 1st Men’s Tennis 2nd Men’s Waterpolo 1st Women’s Tennis 2nd Snooker 1ST FEBRUARY Fencing Men’s Football 4th Men’s Football 3rd Men’s Rugby Union 2nd Men’s & Women’s Swimming Men’s Football 2nd Women’s Tennis 1st American Football Women’s Lacrosse 1st Men’s Cricket 1st Men’s Rugby Union 1st Men’s Hockey 2nd Men’s Football 1st Men’s Cricket 2nd Men’s Lacrosse 1st Men’s Cricket 3rd Women’s Hockey 2nd
Varsity Edition Source 27 Men’s Tennis 3rd Women’s Hockey 1st Men’s Tennis 1st Men’s Hockey Men’s Basketball 2nd
Outdoor Tennis Courts, Warwick University Westwood, Warwick University Indoor Tennis Courts, Warwick University Westwood, Warwick University Warwick University Sports Centre
17:00 18:00 19:30 20:00 20:00
2ND FEBRUARY Golf
Coventry Hearsall Golf Club, CV5 6DF
4TH FEBRUARY Equestrian Karting Ultimate Frisbee Snowsports Golf
Brooksby College, LE14 2LJ Birmingham Wheels, Birmingham, B8 1AD Athletics Grass Pitch, Warwick University Swadlincote, Derby, DE11 8LP Coventry Golf Club, CV3 6RJ
12:00 12:00 13:30 18:00 TBC
Westwood, Warwick University
14:00
5TH FEBRUARY Mixed Lacrosse 7TH FEBRUARY Men’s Badminton 2nd Women’s Netball 3rd Women’s Badminton 1st Women’s Rugby Union 1st Women’s Netball 2nd Taekwondo Men’s Rugby League 1st Mixed Lacrosse Men’s Badminton 1st Women’s Netball 1st
Coventry University Sports Centre 10:00 Coventry University Sports Centre 11:00 Coventry University Sports Centre 12:30 Cryfield, Warwick University 13:00 Coventry University Sports Centre 13:00 Games Hall, Warwick University Sports Centre 14:00 Cryfield. Warwick University 14:00 The Place, Coventry University 14:00 Coventry University Sports Centre 15:00 Coventry University Sports Centre 15:00
FINALE - 7TH FEBRUARY Ice Hockey
Planet Ice, Skydome, CV1 3AZ
Fixtures are subject to change please keep an eye on the CUSU website/Facebook for updates and changes
sponsored by
19:45
28 Source Varsity Edition
FIELD HOCKEY
SUNDAY 1ST FEBRUARY By Daniel Raza
W
e sat down with the President of the Field Hockey Team, Benjamin Kent to discuss his aspirations for the team coming into Varsity season.
Hockey pre
What excites you the most about the coming season?
sident Ben n
tio Kent in ac
How’s training going so far this season?
We take every game as is it comes – it’s just the new Wednesday experience as well as the raw talent that’s coming through but we’ll take every game as it comes and just push for the win.
It’s your first Varsity as President, what makes you excited? It’s such a great experience. We make sure the Freshers’ know it’s one of the biggest games of the season so everyone looks forward to it, we get a massive crowd and there’s a competitive nature, it’s really good.
So what are your predictions for Coventry vs Warwick?
We’ve come closer the last 2 years but it’s been a while since we beat Warwick HockeyWe’ve got a new coach, which has really wise. So hopefully this year we can at least made an impact. In terms of results, across get 2 wins out 4 games the board, 3 of our 4 teams are in the top 3 places in the leagues so that’s a real positive. How much of an opportunity is varsity
How are the new recruits fitting in?
for the young players?
It’s the penultimate game really for most of For the Men’s team we have two players who us. It’s something we build up until the whistle have played the highest levels in this country goes. We just hope it lives up to expectations and one of the girls has too, so it’s a really and we get the win. promising season for us.
What are your aims for the season? To win as many games as possible really, hopefully 2 or 3 promotions would be nice also. In last year’s league positions all teams fell really close to being promoted so hopefully we’ll push out this year with the new coaching. That’s the ultimate aim.
What’s the most rewarding thing about Hockey?
The success not only as a team level but on a personal level too. We make sure everyone gets involved, no matter what their ability, age or any other factors. We make sure that everyone is having fun by the end!
TENNIS
Varsity Edition Source 29 SATURDAY 31ST JANUARY & SUNDAY 1ST FEBRUARY
By Jennifer Smith
I
n between practice sessions the team talk turned to their predictions for this years Varsity, we joined in and spoke to Jamie Frearson, Tennis secretary, for an update:
I’m guessing you are very excited for Varsity, how is your preparation going? Of course we are all very excited for Varsity! We consider it possibly the most important game of the year! Preparation is going well, with all teams training and attending Strength and Conditioning sessions twice a week. As Varsity is so soon after the Christmas break it is important that we stay fit over the holidays so we have all been given a 5-day workout programme to continue at home, working on a combination of endurance, interval and high intensity exercises. Despite enjoying our Christmas to the fullest we will be more than fit for our game day!
Have you played any games recently? I play for the men’s 2nd team who are currently sitting pretty in 3rd position in our league, though we are aiming for promotion and will not rest until that is achieved. Our last two games were against Loughborough, who knocked us out of the cup run and De Montfort who we beat at home a solid 5 matches to 1. We have only lost one fixture in our league this year and we believe that we can keep it that way until the end of the season.
Is this your first time playing in Varsity? I participated in Varsity last year, playing for the 1st team, due to injuries. We suffered a defeat in all teams, but despite the loss, the day was very enjoyable and the atmosphere was electric. I consider it a privilege to represent my University and I am very proud to wear the Coventry University logo on my chest, so to be able to do it again this year is thrilling.
more than just a fixture against a neighbouring University, Varsity is an event that unifies our own University. I look forward to trying to beat Warwick in my match, but I also am looking forward to beating them at Basketball, Ice Hockey, Netball and Rugby. I will support my University in every sport, and what I learnt from last year is that never have more people celebrated together than during the two weeks of Varsity.
How is it balancing your studies and Tennis commitments? I am a committee member so tennis takes up a lot of my time, then again as a second year student so does University work! I have found that the two can be balanced as long as it’s my free time that is reduced rather than time doing coursework or match days. By not spending entire weekends in front of the TV or lying in bed for hours, a lot more time is available to me to be productive and get on with more important things such as organising events for the club or doing coursework.
Finally, what is the best thing about playing Tennis? Tennis is an individual sport which means although it can be slightly lonely when losing it brings high reward upon winning. More than this though, I like the fact that Tennis is not a sport that anyone can play to a high standard, and there is no better feeling than hitting a shot past a player that you know only a finite number of people could pull off.
Any final words to send over to Warwick?!
If no, what did you learn from that No final words that could be printed in a public experience that you can take forward article unfortunately! to this year? What I can take forward into this year is that
30 Source Varsity Edition
RUGBY
Varsity Edition Source 31
RUGBY LEAGUE
SUNDAY 7TH FEBRUARY By Charlotte Dyett
‘WE’VE ALREADY PROVEN WE’RE BETTER!’
T
he boys may have suffered a bitter defeat at last year’s Varsity, but this isn’t holding them back. With some fresh meat on the squad the team is now stronger than ever!
With the first team topping the table and their second team sitting comfortably in the middle, in fact, the first team has already smashed Warwick this season, with an easy 48-4 win! I met up with club President and Disaster Management student, Luca Cheung and the new first team Captain, Chris Barratt, who is at the University on a sports scholarship.
Are you doing any special training in preparation for Varsity? Chris: No because we play against Warwick in the league anyway, we’ve already beaten them quite easily this year. We just take every week as it comes and can hopefully secure the big win.
COVENTRY’S SECRET WEAPON: CHRIS BARRATT
Despite being fresh to the squad, Chris Barratt, first team
Are there any team tactics in place for Varsity?
Captain is ready to lead his team to
Chris: We’re just going to spot their main players because they’ve got one or two outstanding players compared to the rest of them, so we’re just going to tire them out.
What’s your prediction for the score this year? Chris: An easy win, 30-0. Luca: I’ll say a high scoring match; we’ll beat them by 40 points.
What’s your favourite thing about Varsity? Luca: The atmosphere and there’s something special about playing the same team every year, it’s like a local derby!
Why should people watch Rugby League? Luca: We’re in the top three sports in the University and the atmosphere will be good! Chris: I think Rugby League is a good spectator sport. It’s fast and physical so everyone will have something good to watch if they come down.
victory! He studies Sport Science and has joined the University on a sports scholarship.
What position do you play? Loose forward.
What’s the highest level you’ve competed at? I’m on the Great Britain Student squad, which means playing internationally.
What are your strengths on the pitch? I am a good all-rounder, by my defence is maybe slightly better and I’m a hard tackler.
Any pre-game rituals? A big fry up before every game!
How will the team celebrate the win? A hearty meal on the coach ride home, then the real celebrations will kick off!
32 Source Varsity Edition
WOMEN’S RUGBY UNION SATURDAY 7TH FEBRUARY
By Jennifer Smith
S
peaking to Bryony Downes Women’s Rugby Union President we got to find out about their ambitions for this years Varsity:
Did you win Varsity last year? If not, why? No, because we let the pressure of ‘Varsity’ stop us from playing to our full potential, we’d already beaten Warwick once in the season.
Are you feeling confident this year? Yes, we had a really good recruitment campaign and we’ve been progressing well as a team at training.
How will you celebrate the win? Since we’ve never won Varsity, it will be a huge achievement for us so we’d plan to celebrate in a big way.
Why should people watch Women’s Rugby?
Are you in special training for Varsity?
Women’s Rugby is an up and coming sport and does not receive the recognition and support that it deserves. It is developing quickly, training and games are becoming as physical and skilful as the men’s game.
Not in particular, after last year we plan to play as though it is a normal match, execute our game plan and play our game.
Do you have any pre-match superstitions?
Do you have any special team tactics to win Varsity? We plan to keep a cool head, not let the pressure get to us and play as well as we know we can.
What’s your secret weapon? If we told you, it wouldn’t be a secret!
We believe that they key to a good game is a good warm up so that will be key for us.
What’s your favourite thing about Varsity? Varsity unites all members of the University, players or not, together with one common goal, to beat Warwick.
Varsity Edition Source 33
MEN’S RUGBY UNION SUNDAY 1ST FEBRUARY
A
fter 24 years of Rugby Varsity woe, Coventry University ended their losing streak to the University of Warwick’s 1st XV at the Butts Park Arena in a thrilling encounter that ended 21-20 and this year Coventry University Rugby Football Club (CURFC) look to establish their dominance amongst the Midlands University teams by repeating this accolade. CURFC are currently six from six and have attained bonus points in all five of their league fixtures, placing them top of the table going into the New Year and whilst being the highest seeded team in the BUCS Midlands Cup. CURFC are likely to be promoted for the first time in seven years! CURFC are one of the newest editions to Team Phoenix and have stormed out of the blocks this year, priding themselves as one of the most dominant teams Coventry University has to offer. CURFC 1st XV Captain, Freddie Mills has stated that, “An influx of young talent from new members of the team combining with the experienced seniors is proving to be a winning formula.” Freddie also went on to say, “[Our] aims for the ongoing season are to remain unbeaten in all competitions including Varsity and judging by our performances so far, this is very much an achievable task.” Despite losing several players who played in last year’s victory, as Freddie stated new members have really strengthened the team. The club has even brought in players who have represented their country at an international level with Lithuania’s Vaidotas Gaubas and Poland’s Piotr Wisniewski. CURFC’s attributes a powerful, strong backline focused on breaking the gain line and scoring tries, that being said CURFC’s 1st XV have scored a total of 40 tries in six competitive fixtures this season already and this doesn’t look like it will be stopping anytime soon! CURFC’s second XV also come up against Warwick during Varsity and despite an injury ridden start to the season, Captain Fergus Ridge believes that, “All the
By Luke Beasley
training and hard work will be worth it when we bring home the win” and despite a loss at last year’s Varsity, Ridge believes that, “His team can cause an upset and defeat a team that was humiliated in their game against Coventry’s 1st earlier in the season”. Last year, Coventry’s 1st XV were slightly shaken going into Varsity only narrowly defeating their rivals 3rd XV by a point, but despite this CURFC still went into battle with their heads held high and walked away as champions! Victory was even more rewarding due to WRFC president, James Gwatkin putting the offer about, “That he will personally buy each [Coventry] supporter a pasty from Greggs for every point Coventry put past our boys in blue”… For anyone who doesn’t recall, that was 21 pasties that we are all owed and we’re still waiting! So make sure you get down to cheer on the lads as both the 1st and 2nd XV’s look to send the Warwick boys back to their Coventry based campus and show that despite being a ‘poly’, we’re still better than them where it matters and why this City is ours (the overdue pasties may also actually come our way!)
34 Source Varsity Edition
FISU WINTER WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES 2015 By Ellis Ajoku
W
hilst Varsity is just beginning for us, the end of January 2015 marks the start of the Winter Universiade in the city of Granada, Spain and Strbske Pleso, Slovakia. 52 countries attended the 2013 Winter Games which were held in Trentino, Italy. In this upcoming tournament which is the biggest winter multi-sports event in the world, students will be competing in Granada in Snow and Ice Sports such as Ice Hockey, Figure Skating, Cross-Country and Alpine skiing, as well as Snowboarding. Strbske Pleso will host a Biathlon; Ski Jumping and Cross-Country Skiing.
The competition is organised by the Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire (International University Sports Federation in English). FISU and this year’s competition is open to students between the ages 17-28 enrolled in degree and diploma programmes, who are current students or graduates of the year preceding the event. The Universiade is known in English as, the World University Games or World Student Games and has a summer event which is normally held around the middle of the year. Competing countries include: Japan, Czech Republic, Norway, Great Britain, Canada, Switzerland, USA and Sweden.
AMERICANS,
INSTAGRAM & A WHOLE LOT OF STADIUMS By Ellis Ajoku
A
lmost a third of all states in the United States of America have their sports stadiums as their top Instagram geotagged locations, according to data released by the Facebook-owned app which has over 200 million active users and gained popularity and use with brand marketers. The Big Apple’s Yankee Stadium which cost $1.5 billion to build and is the world’s most expensive baseball stadium, is the most tagged stadium on Instagram, although Times Square is New York’s winner. Fenway Park, the home of the 2013 World Series Champions Boston Red Sox, which is also on the list of the United States National Register of Historic Places, takes the crown in Massachusetts. Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs- Illinois), Mohegan Sun Arena (Connecticut) and Comerica Park (home of 2006 American Baseball League Champions Detroit Tigers- Michigan) also boast of this “feat”.
The sports stadium of Mississippi State University, Davis Wade Stadium and Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Maryland) which hosted Pope John Paul II in 1995 and has a good view of the downtown Baltimore skyline, top the spot for their respective states. Other states with stadiums as their number one geotagged locations include Kentucky, Missouri, Alabama, North Dakota, Texas, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Oregon, Oklahoma and Indiana. Interestingly, in a year when the most diverse of locations make it to the overall list of the top ten geotagged locations, the wedding portrait of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian wins Instagram’s most liked photo for 2014.
Varsity Edition Source 35
WHY IS THERE AN INEQUALITY TOWARDS FEMALE SPORTS COVERAGE? By Maariyah Zaheer
T
his is probably the most debated question amongst sports (along with footballer’s pay of course). Over the years there have been doubts and wonders about why there is a lack of coverage on female sports. Not only is inequality discussed over women’s sports coverage, but about wages, lack of career development in sports journalism and lack of sponsorships. A recent article in The Guardian has argued that women sports are ‘treated as second class citizens’, which indeed argues that this inequality between men and women is growing more and more obvious day by day. But why is that? Why is there an inequality towards females in sports? Well there are arguments that women’s sport is just not as exciting as men’s. In fact there have been discussions that women’s sports lack the pace men’s sports have. A recent report from Australia was that women’s sport makes just about 9% of news coverage in the Australian news which is absolutely shocking. If you think about it, when was the last time you heard about women’s sports? In fact it often seems to me that the only times we get to see them play sports is during the Olympics.
A recent uproar happened in Costa Rica when the national’s women team won a spot for next year’s FIFA World cup in Canada but were indeed not given a financial reward for their outstanding performance. To make matters worse, the FIFA secretary was quoted to have said ‘FIFA only hands out rewards to the national men’s football team’. In fact, it seems to me that we only ever hear about women’s sports when there is controversy. Moving onto another point, is there a lack of coverage about women’s sports because of the lack of female fans? This could be due to the smaller proportion of females who are as interested as their male counterparts or because male fans are generally louder and rowdier so we are more aware of them. Things are slowly improving however, for the first time a woman was nominated for FIFA’s goal of the year award, well done Stephanie Roche. However in this day and age where society is theoretically more liberal than ever, surely both genders who love sport and have turned their passions into a career should be treated equally.
36 Source Varsity Edition
GOAL OF THE YEAR’S FIRST FEMALE NOMINEE:
By Daniel Raza
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tephanie Roche is the first woman to be nominated for the Puskas award – awarded to the scorer of the best goal scored in the calendar year. It will be presented at FIFA’s exuberant Ballon D’or ceremony on January 12th amongst numerous other fantastic awards. Making it into the final three, it is a goal that you would not be disappointed in seeing however it does pose the question as to why it has taken until 2014 for a goal from a women’s game to be amongst this prestigious selection. I was lucky enough to catch up with Stephanie, who as a Republic of Ireland international is an inspiration to all young footballers. How important is this nomination? It means a lot to me, it’s brilliant that my goal has been recognised by FIFA. Being in the top three means people have been voting hard for me so I’m really happy. How does it feel being nominated next to Robin Van Persie and James Rodriguez? The top ten goals were all fantastic goals and scored by fantastic footballers so this nomination is something that I’m really proud of. Being relatively unknown compared with some big fotballing names, shows how my goal was picked on merit which is a real sense of achievement. It’s great for women’s football to be recognised for such a prestigious award. Things are improving for women’s football. The sport still needs more spotlight, there are fantastic players in the women’s game and it doesn’t get shown live on TV. Recognising the achievements of females in this industry really must get more coverage too. Is the women’s game getting better? There has been a massive improvement over the last couple of years. Now every club in Ireland has a women’s section to the club which is fantastic. It’s been given a great push and is the fastest growing sport in Ireland at the minute Of course it’s not on the same level as the men’s game but if we keep pushing who knows. How did you get to the level you’re at today? I’ve always loved football growing up. I was a bit of a tomboy at first, mostly playing with the lads, but now I’ve got the women behind me so we can all relate to each other and there is that feeling of a bit more support from them. I’ve always trained hard and been rewarded getting to play for my national team. So my advice to everyone is work hard and it will eventually pay off.
Who are you most looking forward to seeing? Cristiano Ronaldo, I support Manchester United and he’s a player I have always loved and Robin Van Persie also. There are going to be a lot of big players there and I’m happy my goal has been recognised alongside them so hopefully people continue to vote for me. How do you think Manchester United are doing this season - being a supporter? It’s been a bit of a tough transformation when Van Gaal came in. He’s got some fantastic players like Di Maria. It’s going to take time to turn things around. Hopefully Van Gaal is the best man to do it. How’s your football currently going? I’m playing in France with a professional contract, playing full-time. I’m happy to be here and hopefully I’ll just keep enjoying my football. You’ve mentioned in the past that it was lucky the goal was filmed! It was in an amateur league, it’s a new league with a professional approach but yes I was lucky enough Wexford Youth Manager was filming it. By the time people read this the results will be out. What would you like to say to everyone who voted for you? A massive thanks! Many professionals believe it was the best goal. I hope people voted for the goal for what it is, not the fact I’m a woman. No matter what the outcome, it has been a brilliant experience. Stephanie at the ceremony with legends Ronaldo and Messi
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38 Source Varsity Edition
LIFE AS A POSTGRADUATE By Sheereen Nabi
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s the prospect of staying on at University after graduating something you’ve never really considered before? For many of us, particularly those with graduation looming, the prospect of not knowing what to do next can be a scary thought. Rebecca Beech and Obada Alhabashneh, both studying Postgraduate qualifications at Coventry University spoke to us about why they decided to continue their study and the advice they would pass on to anyone considering this option: So first things first, what are you currently studying? Obada: I’m doing my PHD in Computing, having done a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and my Master’s in Information Systems. I decided to study postgrad, the job market is so competitive in Jordan, where I’m from and so a PHD would give me an advantage. I’ve always dreamt of studying outside of Jordan, so this gave me the perfect opportunity to do so. Rebecca: Similar situation for me, a Master’s degree in Strategic Marketing will differentiate me from other competitors when applying for jobs. It also gives me the opportunity to work internationally in the future with some of the modules I am studying. How do you find Postgrad study compared with Undergraduate, is there a big difference? Obada: The level of information we learn is more indepth, it’s not just about how something works, but also why it works. Another difference for me is the learning style compared with previous study. I’ve learnt to refine our analytical skills and apply them to the technical work on my course. How independent is life as a Postgraduate? Rebecca: When it comes to coursework there is more independence, but we a lot of support too. I can book meetings with my tutors outside of class to go over topics, which really helps. Some students may be concerned about funding for Postgraduate, what support is available? Obada: I was sponsored from a University in Jordan, they provided me with some resources but I still had to provide for myself. Coventry University gave me the chance to work for them on a part time basis promoting Postgraduate study and working on open days. It’s great that they offer support to us and it’s interesting work too. Rebecca: I saved up to pay the fees myself and got £500 off as I had already studied here for my Undergraduate which was fantastic. Also if you pay upfront they give you an additional 5 percent off. There are scholarships available too which are worth looking out for. There is other internal and external funding so do your research!
Why did you choose to stay at Coventry University Rebecca? Rebecca: I’ve always enjoyed myself here, the University has really gone up in the league tables, especially for the business school. The engineering building has great facilities too. Having a job and friends all here has made the change to Postgraduate very easy. The student experience here is everything, a central based campus near town, with lots of places to socialise. If you were to give one piece of advice to anyone looking into Postgraduate study what would you say? Rebecca: The University have staff and students who can advise you about the different types of Postgraduate courses available, come along to the HUB for more information. I found it useful to speak to the course directors who helped me prepare for the work to come so I could use part of my summer productively to get ahead. Obada: Having done my Master’s and now PHD I can honestly say I love Coventry University, I find it is the right place to do my Postgraduate, it’s been crowned ‘Modern University of the year’ for the second time which you can see if you look at recent employment rates. It is a multicultural environment especially for students, like myself who like to learn about new cultures. Rebecca: If you are currently an Undergraduate here, you can apply using the fast-track forms which are available online and drop them off to the Student Centre (near the Library). Other students from different Universities or International Students can register on the Coventry University website under the Postgraduate section.
Varsity Edition Source 39 WHAT IS LINGUAE MUNDI? Language courses available for students and staff at Coventry University. There are seventeen languages available from spring 2015 at both beginner and intermediate level including French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Cantonese and many more! Courses usually run once a week at 6-8pm so will never conflict with your studies.
I’M AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT, IS THERE ANYTHING FOR ME? Linguae Mundi provides an English conversational course too. You aren’t just taught boring things like grammar. You’ll learn everything about the language, such as how to order off a menu and answering interview questions so you’ve fully prepared for the dream job you always wanted.
YOU MENTIONED TRIPS ABROAD? Linguae Mundi is already preparing trips to Istanbul, Greece, Jordan, France, Spain and Germany to name a few. It won’t simply be your average tourist experience abroad, your tutors will take you to their hometowns to truly experience life as a local. From authentic dining to local entertainment, you will have constant opportunities to practice your new language skills and immerse yourself in the local culture.
LINGUAE MUNDI INTRODUCING A NEW MULTICULTURAL YOU! By Sheereen Nabi
HOW IS THE COURSE TAUGHT? The course runs for thirteen weeks, over 26 hours. Each session is two hours per week which is split into stimulating exercises. The learning style is very informal so very different to how your degree is taught. Emphasis is put on developing communication skills so everyone will be speaking and getting involved. There may be opportunities to visit local restaurants to practice your speaking skills and of course taste some delicious food! In June there are also intensive language courses available where forty hours of teaching are split over two weeks for anyone looking for a crash course!
WHY SHOULD I DO IT? Learning an additional language comes with many other benefits: • Boost your CV – Employers love bilingual people, fact! • Improve your memory and perception skills as you exercise different parts of your brain. • Explore other cultures- as part of the programme you get to visit the relevant country for massively subsidised rates. • International certification – to recognise all your hard work!
SOUNDS AMAZING! HOW DO I SIGN UP? Classes are free for outgoing Erasmus students and students enrolled on International Experience schemes such as placement abroad. Members of the global leaders programme are entitled to a free course in any language. For everyone else the course costs £75. Sign up on the Coventry Uni website, go to ‘study’ then ‘International Experience and Mobility Service’ and select ‘learn a language with Linguae Mundi’ simple!
40 Source Varsity Edition
HOW TO GYM: WORKING IT OUT By Tristan Gotch
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!
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ou know the one, where people make resolutions to change for the better, realise how much work it would be, so decide to back out after a few weeks! No, I’m not talking about a general election, I mean the glorious New Year’s, “I’ll join a gym and get fitter” event that happens annually, much to the despair of regular gym goers everywhere. Packed rooms, no time with the equipment and the usual giving up till next year where they do it all over again. Whether this sounds like you, or you are simply curious to find out what people actually do in a gym, this guide might help. It gets a little heavy (couldn’t resist the pun) near the end but push on through, think of it like a warm up to actually working out. If you’re a student at Coventry University then there’s a chance you’re living in halls, especially if you’re first year. This is a good start, as most halls here come with free gym membership to the local Coventry University Sports Centre, and if yours doesn’t, it’s around £120 which is not all that bad for a full year. There are many other gyms around the City if not so no excuse! Get yourself some loose fitting clothes. There’s no need to go out and buy something fancy to work out in, any old pair of shorts or jogging bottoms and a t-shirt will do just fine (try to aim for something where sweat won’t show up easily). Now that you’ve found somewhere to go and something to wear, here comes the hard bit, brace yourself... JUST WALKED IN THE DOOR, OH NO WHAT NOW? Look to your right, then to your left. 9/10 of the equipment in here will make you sore and grouchy if
used properly, but that’s just for the first few weeks, trust me. Before you throw yourself at the nearest machine and struggle to achieve some rather impossible movements for a vain ten minutes, take a moment to think about what you actually want. Do you feel like losing a little weight, gaining some muscle, getting fitter on the treadmill or improving your flexibility? The list of what you can always change or improve. Whatever you feel like doing, you can always talk to one of the staff (wherever you are), they’re almost always friendly and helpful, so don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t know what to do. It’s always better to ask than go for weeks doing things wrong and risking injury, or getting nowhere and feeling put off. Take a look around while you’re there. In many gyms you’ll see the strong, muscular and rather frightening people gathered in the free weights area, throwing lumps of iron around and grunting menacingly. In the machines section you’ll usually see far more elderly, overweight and average people, working quietly with a look of apathetic boredom on their face and the occasional fit looking person doing a cool-down or warm-up. Yes the machines are far less scary looking: they come with a comfy seat and instructions on how to develop whatever part of your body exactly right, locking your range of motion in place so you can’t do it improperly. There is also a TV on some machines, in case you get bored while exercising, but this comes with a price… If you want to watch TV and flex you can do that far more cheaply at home and get nearly the same results!
Varsity Edition Source 41 GETTING TERRIFYINGLY COMPLEX! It sounds harsh but there are a few reasons why the stronger people are often in the free weights area. If you put the time in to learn a few basic compound or Olympic lifts (don’t worry about the terms, it just means exercising with a bar and weights on the end) then you’ll find yourself getting stronger, fitter and more flexible fast, depending on what you do. Look up a free weights program online if you’re serious about it, or talk to any member of staff at the gym to get started. The exercises that anyone can do with a little practice are squats, deadlifts, bench and pull ups, which between then work almost every single part of your body. If you’re female then I imagine you don’t want to get “Too big” but don’t worry, it takes years of hard work and good diet to get noticeably muscular if your body has high oestrogen and low testosterone. It seems like an obvious point but I’ve had enough friends stick to the machines and get no-where for months because they fear they’ll wake up, break the bed getting out and go, “Oh shoot, I’ve got the body of Arnold Schwarzenegger, should’ve avoided those squats”. I know at this point people will run screaming from this article what with all these technical terms so I’ll leave this topic now and get onto what I know we all want after working out. The good news is if you’re tired, sweating and feeling shaky afterwards then you’ve probably put good effort in at the gym, so it’s time for a reward: BACK AT HOME, TIME TO EAT EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE! If you’ve worked hard you’ll quickly notice an appetite building up over the first few days. This goes back to how exercise works at it’s (and your) core; when you
push yourself you’re tearing muscle fibres, it’s partly what causes the soreness that if this article has had any effect you’re now swearing at me for! If you eat a good amount of food and enough protein (get some milk in you, it’s literally made for helping things grow) then they’ll repair and become stronger, if you stick to a tiny calorie diet and don’t allow that then you’ll just feel weaker and weaker as time goes on. It’s the number one reason people stop going in early January, they feel awful because they aren’t eating and sleeping enough for the body to repair and grow but keep pushing it anyway until they collapse. You’re tired and hungry, so get yourself some food (doesn’t matter what, as long as it has calories and protein) and a good night’s sleep. If you happen to have a ground floor bedroom then you’re in luck, if not prepare to struggle down those stairs in the morning like you’re descending Everest. It’ll take a few weeks before you stop getting sore after exercising but it’ll happen, and then you’ll actually start enjoying it as unbelievable as that is. To wrap this up, I’ll say good luck if you decide to try getting a little fitter this year. Remember to get enough food and sleep, push yourself while you’re in the gym (if you can talk to a friend while you are then you can work harder) and don’t kill yourself. If you need a rest take it, if you’re sore don’t exercise for a few days, never be afraid to ask advice from the internet or people working there and above all else, have fun. If you’re going and getting stronger/slimmer/whatever but not enjoying it, it’s not worth it. Have fun!
42 Source Varsity Edition
THE BIG DEBATE
SHOULD THE PERSONAL LIVES OF SPORTS STARS IMPACT THEIR CAREERS? s Varsity preparations are underway, A more debates have been going on at the Source HQ recently, this time between Chief Editor Sheereen and a regular writer to this feature Keiran.
YES
by Sheereen Nabi
Without a doubt yes it should. These sports men and women are role models for many people. It isn’t just their skills and sporting achievements that are looked up to, but the player as a whole; their determination and motivation to succeed. Doesn’t this also include their character and the how they act outside the game too? These sports stars are often given such a high status that when they do something wrong, things can drastically come crashing down. Take Ray Rice for example, the NFL player who has been indefinitely suspended after TMZ posted a video of him physically assaulting his fiancé last year. Of course this violence was illegal, so there certainly would be consequences. I believe that the sports teams have a responsibly to ensure a standard of behaviour for each team member who is supposed to be reflecting them in the best possible light. This should also apply when the sports star does something that is morally wrong, but not illegal (think back to John Terry losing his England captaincy in 2010 after news of his extra marital affairs were published). A further reason why sports stars should account for their private actions is their salary. For those at the very top of their game earning more in a week than the average person earns in a year, much of this income is generated through both their salary and sponsorship deals. We, the consumers buy into them not just as a person but as a brand. Of course everyone has a legal right to privacy but this has to be balanced with the public’s right to know what goes on. Just as they have to act a certain way on the pitch, this also applies to their personal life as they are essentially being paid (often ridiculous amounts) for this image we perceive them as. All in all, regardless of which sport interests you, they all embody the same principles - teamwork, honesty, integrity and good sportsmanship. So if the game represents all of those values it’s only right the players should too.
NO
by Keiran Raza
The personal lives of sports stars should not have any impact on their careers. Like any a person that works in any industry, professional athletes have a right to have a separation between their career and their personal life. Anything that they do or say outside of their job is completely unrelated to what they do to make a living. Sports stars often get a lot of negative attention in the media due to their celebrity status and the general public pass poorly informed judgements based on what they are like as a person, when what is said about them may not be strictly true. If a rumour is exaggerated or even made up in the media that has an impact on what people think of them, it could in turn have a negative impact on their professional lives and even go to the extent of damaging their career. If what is spread about them is not true and has a negative impact, this is extremely unfair and should not be acceptable. The focus on the success of sports stars and progression of their careers should be solely based on their physical ability and how well they perform individually or as part of a team. There is such a high amount of pressure and expectation laden on them that it wouldn’t be fair to pry and be critical of how they choose to live their life if it doesn’t concern their career. Everyone values a sense of privacy in their life and not having a fear that what they choose to do in their own time could inflict damage on their career, and sports stars should not be treated any differently. Even though they are in the public eye, they are still only human and deserve the basic human right of privacy. However, I do strongly believe that this should never be the case if the sports star in question has convicted a legal felony that would deteriorate career aspects in any other job.
Varsity Edition Source 43
LET’S GET SOCIAL KEEP TRACK OF TEAM COVENTRY VIA SOCIAL MEDIA CoventySU
Coventry Varsity
@CoventryVarsity
magenta_army
magentaarmy
@SourceMedia15
ww w.c us
u.o
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44 Source Varsity Edition
ALL THE FUN OF VARSITY WITHOUT MOVING A MUSCLE! By Kyle Knappett
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ith Varsity just around the corner, Coventry and Warwick will once again be battling it out to achieve sporting glory. That’s all well and good but what if, like myself, sport isn’t really your specialty. So the question is how can people like us take part in the competitive spirit? Simple, Video Games. So here is a top five list of games to play during the Varsity season: FIFA 15 Yet another FIFA game has graced shops around the world. If you’ve been living under a rock and aren’t aware of the games, they consist of virtual football, you can customise a team, come up with a winning strategy and even take control of your favourite player. If you want to beat your friends with an 8-0 victory or even measure up to players around the world, you can do so. Maybe even try organising a tournament against Warwick students and show them who is boss! Wii Sports Can we refer to this game as a classic yet? The scourge of televisions everywhere, Wii sports is the original sports game. Who needs to brace the cold when you can start your very own Varsity in your living room? This game has something for everyone, whether you want to put on your bowling shoes and hit some pins or get in the ring and box against your friends, you’re guaranteed to have a good time. Mario Kart Despite the cartoonish exterior with all your favourite characters, Mario Kart is not just for children. Far from being your standard kind of race, be prepared to have shells, rockets even bananas thrown at you while you speed around the Mushroom Kingdom. Be warned though, many arguments have been started
amongst friends after you hit them with a blue shell (they deserved it right) also don’t be the person who picks rainbow road, just don’t! Halo - Master Chief Edition So this one technically isn’t a sport, but is still very competitive so frankly that counts in my book! Step into the shoes of a Spartan and shoot down your enemies. You can show off your teamwork while protecting your flag from the enemy team or go into slayer as a lone wolf trying to survive for as long as you can. Just make sure you have enough bullets in your clip and grenades on your belt, because this game is not for the light hearted. NBA 2k15 For the vertically challenged who fear that they will never achieve their dreams of basketball glory fear not, NBA 2k15 is the latest basketball game on the market. Not only can you take control of your favourite NBA stars, you can even scan your own face into the game so you can be right there on the court to! You can live the life of an NBA star, not only on the court but off the court as well, by receiving advice from a coach, doing press conferences and managing your career as you advance, without actually doing any of the hard work of course!
Varsity Edition Source 45
ICE HOCKEY VARSITY – IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE SPORT By Christine Ong
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or those who aren’t big on sports you might be asking yourself what else I can expect at Varsity? Well, of course the main focus is the sports but there is so much more than that… Our campus becomes full of winners, losers, an abundance of beer and hotdogs, face paint and some great University spirit across each and every event. To soak up all this atmosphere, and let me tell you there is one hell of an atmosphere, Ice Hockey is where it’s all at – so come on down to The Skydome Coventry (keep your eyes peeled for the fixtures) to experience the rivalry between Coventry and Warwick at it’s finest! The reason why I look forward to Ice Hockey that little bit more than the other events is because there is literally nothing more enthralling than ‘trash talking’ with Warwick’s crowd! It is the biggest event of Varsity and that’s not just down to the match alone. The other hidden gems Ice Hockey includes are crowd wars, hilarious singing and players’ kicking off (to establish who the most aggressive, tough, macho is and the rest of it). Seriously, what’s more exciting than taking cheering on your team in this fashion, it’s all fun and games at the end of it between us and Warwick. My experience from last year… firstly the crowd was massive! The Skydome was packed; the arena was split between Coventry and Warwick supporters. On one side the Warwick supporters were kitted up in light blue, repping the team colours with foam fingers and the other side was Coventry, who as we know like to do things a little differently! With fun t-shirts and matching face paints it wasn’t just the fans that went all out. The players even drew each letters of the word ‘Coventry’ over their six packs. I think the team needs a moment of appreciation for still managing to have a laugh despite the tension before the big game. Before I start with the ‘trash talk’ myself, I should mention that last year we did lose the game in the very last 30 seconds, how close! (And that was clearly down to luck… to any Warwick fan now reading this with an angry snarl I’m joking, both teams did their best and well done for the victory - although it will be short lived!) On the bright side, we definitely won the war of the words. That’s really something having the whole arena dominated by our chants. It really brings everyone
together when we were all singing and shouting the same thing. Speaking of the atmosphere, the heavy music that filled and bounced across the Skydome got everyone in that ‘fighting/Ice Hockey mood’, trust me you just won’t be able to help yourself! From classic hard rock music (ACDC, Motorhead and Foofighter) to dubstep music (Skrillex and Knife Party), the playlist set an electric tone across the arena. What I’m trying to say is that even though we lost, it really didn’t matter! It was more about the experience. It was my first time watching an Ice Hockey game and I had the best time! I fell in love and it’s the best feeling so would definitely recommend going even if you don’t know much about the sport. Here are some Ice Hockey fun facts, popular and unpopular opinions based on what I’ve seen: 1) Crowds seem to cheer louder when players kick off and get into fights than a goal, possibly because we students’ are all just secretly up for watching the other team go down? 2) Coventry and Warwick Ice Hockey teams are actually playing for one team - the Panthers. They are besties, they train together and compete with other Universities, (see I did tell you it was all friendly rivalry). 3) Ice Hockey is the fastest team sport in the world. 4) Only one girl played for the team in Varsity, but she is doing us all proud, girl power! 5) Coventry’s professional Ice Hockey team, Coventry Blaze are likely to make an appearance at the Varsity game. They are one of the best British Ice Hockey teams and currently compete in the British Elite League! Thanks for the support guys. 6) And last but not least, Coventry will win against Warwick this year! (If they don’t I might have to go into hiding!)
46 Source Varsity Edition
NOT YOUR STEREOTYPICAL SPORTS FAN? THINK AGAIN. By Ellis Ajoku
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egardless of whichever sport interests you, you can always spot a few distinct types of fan. From the loud mouth diehard fan to the one who thinks they’d do a better job (and makes everyone aware of this fact), these characters are amongst us all. If you have shrugged this off and consider yourself a ‘normal fan’ have a read and think again, which traits apply to you? The Amusing Fan: Yeah boy! These are the fans that crack jokes on their rivals in the stands or have face paint, with their team jerseys on. The responses they are guaranteed to get from the crowd are enough to keep them coming with their jibes. They follow their team everywhere they go and are at almost every game, adding a lot of spice to the viewing experience of the other spectators. The ‘Feigns Their Enjoyment’ Fan: She backs a random team to show off how unique she is or to show solidarity with her boyfriend, even when she really finds the sport boring. All through the game she may be found screaming “shoot!” or spending the whole half period taking that perfect selfie for that stunning profile picture update coming right after the final whistle. Boys you aren’t off the hook too, we know some of you use this technique on your sporty girlfriends to not get caught ogling at the players in their ever so short shorts. The Lecturer-Master Fan: These fans spew colossal amount of sports statistics during the course of the game that you begin to feel their amazing powers of fact retention are all they have to offer. Always watching matches with that mix of seriousness and wonderment in their faces, these fans were probably at their sporting best during their school PE classes and have long outlived their best. Don’t be surprised to hear them tell you stuff about how the game works and that before you celebrate, they will
remind you that it is all about the athletic ability and it’s the taking part that counts (of course that is true but I’m here see a big win.) The ‘Thinks he is the Coach’ Fan: They are utterly convinced that they could do a better job taking the team to tournament victory! Often the crowd chants drowned out their voice. Yet, their lack of sense of self-control makes it an uneasy experience sitting beside them and it can be downright weird hearing them call the player names like they are people whom they’re quite chummy with. The uninitiated ones around may begin to take their words as a creed or standard. Why are we irked by you, instructor? The Leisure Fan: “A monkey’s what? And when don’t you give it?”- I found myself asking these questions to this type of fan when I met one at the last Bog Snorkelling Race I watched while in Wales. These set of enthusiasts who follow sports for social purposes may or may not have a special team, and when the game starts to get boring, turn their focus on the other types of fans so that the game stays exciting for them. Leisure fans conduct themselves pretty well and they don’t get bothered when they miss games because for them, it is Ça m’est égal and there are always more pressing issues for them to be bothered with. They like the buzz in the arena, but after that it is back to normal business.
Varsity Edition Source 47
TEAM FASHION!
By Olivia Williams StyleSpotter.blogspot.co.uk
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ave you seen how fabulous our sports teams look in their new kit? You sure can’t miss them when they’re walking around campus in their flamboyant coloured clothing? The kit is brilliantly designed to showcase blue, which is Coventry University’s themed colour; and the gorgeous magenta that represents Coventry University’s sports! I’m sure all the teams will all be donning their kit at the upcoming games, but how can you show your support for the SU sports teams if you don’t necessarily own their kit? Well that’s easy! Here’s how we can wear the sports magenta when we go along to cheer them on in Varsity.
Some fans, sports fans paint their faces. Use this as your inspiration to incorporate these colours into your everyday makeup. Something as small as a dash of bright purple lipstick, or painting your nails contrasting magenta and blue can show you are rooting for your team. I like to use MAC’s Violetta (£15.50) for bold lips, and Barry M’s bright purple (£2.99) for eye catching magenta nails! * If you’re feeling really creative you can even customise your nails and add ‘CUSU’ lettering to your nails with a nail art pen.*
You can add a hint of magenta to any outfit just with accessories too. For instance at an Ice Hockey game – you’re going to need to keep warm. A scarf like this one from Henry Holland (£14), is a must! Incorporating a bright purple or blue scarf into your outfit will do one of many things: 1. Keep you warm. 2. Make you look stylish. 3. Show support for your team! What’s better is, when we win (which we obviously will) you can whip it off and hold it in the air to show your excitement! The small details count! Even sporting (see what I did there) a backpack in the colour of your sports teams is a great way to spur them on!
If you’re feeling particularly bold then GO ALL OUT! You are sure to grab everyone’s attention wherever you go in one of these fabulous pieces. The purple shift dress (River Island £30) is my favourite. It can be worn for the game, with black tights and flat boots. Or for the celebratory after party with sparkly heels and a fluffy bag!
If like me you can’t resist a fluffy jumper then this jumper from Topshop (£45) is just for you! It’s comfy, warm and stylish. What better item to cheer your team on from the side lines in?
Of course, if you have a Coventry University hoody or Varsity T-Shirt then it is ESSENTIAL that you wear that! And when you’re cheering away looking gorgeous, be sure to give yourself a pat on the back. Looking good is a sport too….
48 Source Varsity Edition
SPORTS CHICK to
Chic...
What’s HOT this winter? I
by Neelam Khan
f you don’t know much about sports that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the Varsity fun, it’s time to drop those bats & pick up the hats! Beat the winter blues by rocking a glamorous chic look that will never go out of style. ‘Get the cosy confident look!’ Ashlie Knitted Jumper Dress Light Grey £24.99 (Missguided)
Raziya Faux Fur Hat Grey £10.99 (Missguided)
Ice Hockey esse ntia l
Varsity after party idea #Score Parker High Neck Velvet Midi Dress Black £19.99 (Missguided)
Lips in Sash ay away £8.00 (Topsh op)
Pair with floppy hat for extra chic
ts
Boo her t a Le M) ck Bla (H& 9 9 . £24
r Boots Margot Leathe op) sh £75.00 (Top
Textured Tailored Wool e qu ti Coat by Bou op) £195.00 (Topsh
at py H p o l F ) Rim ide r Island W k e c Bla (Riv .00 5 2 £
Textured CutOut Collar £12.50 (Topshop )
Varsity Edition Source 49
EQUESTRIAN H FASHION
by Sheereen Nabi
Country girl- with an urban twist ot
... get the look
orse riders are well known for sophisticated dress sense, fact. You too can channel their heritage look by tailoring a few key pieces to suit everyday trends. Saddle up and brave the weather in style!
Brown Tweed Heritage Turn Up Blazer £29.99 (New Look)
Bl £6 ack 5. M 00 et (R al T iv rim er Isl Rid an in d) g
Bo
Work a classic without breaking the bank!
lf… rse zer u o Bla s) at y tre berry k Will r O ter Jac s Au .00 ( 9 £17
Tan Leather Skinny Belt £7.99 (New Look)
tchel en Sa sorize) d s l l i W ce 0 (Ac £35.0
Team an oversized blouse with a thin belt and knee length boots for a casual look
g sh a de s in st ra t n o c Tea m u p int e r loo k w h s li y st fo r a Blouse with A Bow £19.99 (H&M)
Bargain your price down! The perfect finish to your lookTan Gloves £15.00 (Camden Market)
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som with ! t s i tw utfit uren your o i e s) a L ff alph et o s ki n n he R urs to s a vo u rit e t r p f fo jodh Go r y ou r O rful ( u o l co
50 Source Varsity Edition
SPORTS STYLE
What’s HOT this winter? G
by Sheereen Nabi
uys get the on trend with a horse riding inspired look aimed to tackle those winter blues; who said it’s only girls who have all the fun. It probably isn’t best looking like you’ve just stepped off a horse so we’ve toned it down and gone for casual meets dapper…
Brown Leath er Warm Lined Boots £50.00 (Riv er Island)
Ralph Lauren Navy Rugby shirt £49.99 (T.K.Maxx)
h ste Stretc Green Ca ns Slim Jea ) TOPMAN ( 0 £40.0
Works well with grey pieces too
Fine Knit Jumper £14.99 (H&M) Dark Gree n Herringb one Flat Peak Cap £15.00 (R iver Island )
Slim Fit Waistcoat in Tweed £32.00(ASOS)
t Boots p Deser u e c a L Black land) (River Is £50.00 dall Brown Mini Hol land) Is £38.00 (River
Add some colour to be stand out!
Blend Wool d e t l e Coat ndy B Trench AN) Burgu PM 0 (TO £90.0
Varsity Edition Source 51
SECOND TERM IN YOUR STUDENTS’ UNION… Hope you all had a great Christmas break, either earning some money, revising for exams or eating lots of Turkey! It’s been very quiet without you all here so now you’re all back, it’s time to get involved in all the fun activities we’ve got planned for this term… Remember this term is very exciting. Election time happens very soon where you choose who takes over and runs YOUR SU!! Don’t forget to cast your vote, have YOUR say.
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
NSS opens Exam Conduct Housing campaign Plagiarism campaign Varsity
LGBT Month Go Green week campaign Exam Stress campaign Give It A Go Varsity
19th Refreshers 27th Student Council 26th – 9th February Give It a Go 2 30th Varsity opens
7th Varsity closes 9th Election Nominations open 10th – 7th March National Student Money month 13th ‘Elections in a Nutshell’ - Workshop 16th - 22nd One World Week 18th University Mental Health Day 19th Chinese New Year 20th ‘Elections in a Nutshell’ - Workshop 20th – 22nd BUCS Nationals 23rd Housing Fair 23rd - 27th Student Volunteering Week 23rd Election Nominations close 23rd ‘Elections in a Nutshell’ - Workshop
MARCH Elections Rep Applications open Healthy Eating campaign Benefits of Sport campaign International Women’s Day Campaign 2nd Reclaim the Night March 5th Candidate Question Time (6pm) 9th Voting Opens (12 noon) 10th Your Ideas 12th Voting Closes (12 noon) 13th Results Announcement 24th Student Council
EASTER BREAK MONDAY 23RD MARCH – SUNDAY 12TH APRIL
Any questions about any of the events or information, please don’t hesitate to contact me (your Communications and Commercial Officer) on jennifer.smith@coventry.ac.uk
www.cusu.org sourcenewspaper@outlook.com Snap Chat: magentaarmy • Instagram: magenta_army Coventry Students’ Union, The Hub, 4 Jordan Well, Coventy, CV1 5QT