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Sports
FEBRUARY 2020
GET YOUR 10 REASONS READING UNIVERSITY JOG ON! NETBALL CLUB (RUNC) WILL WIN VARSITY 2020- A WARNING TO BROOKES:
Izzy Einon | Print Sports Editor
Meg Timmins | Part 2 Human Geography
1. We are immensely lucky to have such a large RUNC family of BUCs girls and dedicated social girls who will be shouting, cheering and supporting from the side lines, ready to roar when we get a goal, interception or turnover. The intimidating sight of our mass numbers will prove our superiority on and off the court in itself. 2. Our year-round commitment to 8am fitness sessions is prepping us for the biggest sporting event of the year. We will be able to run circles around Brookes, sprint down the court when we turnover and maintain our high stamina levels throughout, without breaking a sweat. 3. No amount of defence or distraction, from Brookes, will stop our RUNC shooters getting those goals in, they pride themselves on their high
shooting stats, rarely missing a goal. Our goal difference will increase so far into the distance that it could reach Oxford. 4. RUNC defenders have the ability to have their intimidating arms over every single ball, combined with the longest leans, topped off by their phenomenal interception skills. Brookes’ shooters shouldn’t even begin to think about beating them to those rebounds. 5. Brookes won’t be able to keep up with our speedy centre court players who are here, there, and everywhere. They have some of the highest reaches around and will be ready to intercept and turn play at every opportunity; ensuring they get the ball into the circle. 6. RUNC have the privilege of being
led into Varsity this year by our ace President, Jess Samways, who is the most dedicated and determined President around – meticulously devising our training schedule to ensure we come out on top. 7. As a close-knit RUNC family, who’ve trained together for years, Brookes’ play will be no match for ours with our telepathy-like communication skills we have developed within our units and teams, ensuring we execute every interception and goal. 8. We will have an advantage before we even step on to the court at Varsity in our eye-catching kit. Our Kit Rep, Bea Turner, has kitted us out in arguably the best, and most envied, kit on campus. Brookes’ speed will be no match for our fast feet in our
matching personalised RUNC socks. 9. The enthusiasm of our Social Secs, Emily Kendon, Ellie Munday and Holly Ryan, have earned RUNC socials quite a name for themselves on campus. As varsity is fast approaching, you better believe they are already planning our victory social. So, watch out for the mass group of girls, in our fetching netball dresses, who will undoubtedly be dominating cheese room all night long. You can’t miss us. 10. We have made a Varsity teaser video, to show the rest of campus our immense netball skills, but most importantly, warning Brookes of what’s coming their way on the netball courts. So, come on then Brookes, do you think you’re ready for the RUNC Knights?
Reading University Rugby League Nat Wood | Part 3 Environmental Studies
Reading University Rugby League are a welcoming society that competes in South Eastern 1A. We understand that due to the sport not being huge in the South, many may not understand the rules or have any experience playing – and the reality is, most of us hadn’t too. Having never played before university, I now see it as a faster paced, exciting form of rugby.
“Having never played before university, I now see it as a faster paced, more exciting form of rugby” Having won our league three times in a row, and narrowly missing out on promotion last year, we are very pleased with our progress this season. We currently sit second in our league, with four mustwin matches left to play, making the remainder of this season very exciting. On top of our league commit-
ments we also have the varsity fixture against Oxford Brookes, a game that has become a closer affair ever since my first year. Considering our last game against them ended with a 4-point difference, it should make for a tense fixture. Several of our players have represented national teams. Last summer, two players went on tour with the Great British Lions, whilst another played for Scotland in the University Four Nations.
This season, several players played for South East, with four of these players making the South squad. Their match against North England will be played soon. On top of the high standard of rugby that we play, we are a very friendly society with lots of social opportunities. We are going on tour to Budapest in April, with rumours of playing the Hungarian national team. On top of this we regularly go and
watch professional rugby league teams and even had the opportunity to play against London Skolars development side last year, a day out that was made even better by being invited to watch their 1st team against Newcastle later. I hope this has revealed a little more about the Rugby League society at Reading. We train on Tuesdays and play on Wednesdays, all are welcome. See you soon! Photo by Felix Clarke
The Reading University Student’s Union have created jogging/running routes on campus for students who want to stay fit for free! There are several different routes, ranging from 945m to 1,750m which you can combine to run an overall distance of 4,000m. You are encouraged to stay hydrated while you exercise, using the free water refill stations around campus. Designed for any running ability, the first route outlines the sports ground, with a water refill station in SportsPark, the second route goes around Child’s, Windsor, Greenow, McCombie and Stenton Accommodation and Park Eat, where there is a water refill station. The third and final route surrounds the scenic lake area, with water refill stations in RUSU and Eat at the Square.
“I DON’T FIT IN” GYM ANXIETY? Taz Usher | Print Editor Whether you’ve just joined the gym or have been going weekly for six months, feeling like you don’t fit in can be really demotivating when it comes to fulfilling your fitness goals. However, it’s important to remember that you’re going to the gym for you and that others’ opinions shouldn’t affect this. If it’s a lack of experience or knowledge that’s putting you off remember to ask for help. Gym staff are more than happy to show you how to use the machines and do certain workouts. Equally, if it’s your appearance or the prospect of others watching you that makes you nervous, remember that everyone is here to reach their own fitness goals so just focus on your own workout and others should do the same. And girls- remember the gym isn’t a beauty contest so doing your workout makeupless and with a scraped back bun is completely normal (and sensible!).
