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Annual Report of the Sports Syndicate for the year 2000-01

The University Sports Syndicate report to the Council as follows:

1. General

The Sports Syndicate met on five occasions during the academical year with Dr J. R. F. Fairbrother, T, the Vice-Chancellor's Deputy, as Chairman. The Syndicate welcomed Miss Judith Payne, SID, and Miss Laura Brock, F, appointed by the Women's Blues Committee and Mr Rupert Jakes, W, Mr Thierry Gruslin, T, appointed by the Blues Committee. Mr Martin Lucas-Smith was appointed junior representative of the Colleges. Mr A. H. Murison and Dr C. J. R. Thorne represented Senior Treasurers of University Clubs. Other Senior members representing various University institutions included Dr J. K. M. Moody, K, Dr J. Lasenby, T, Dr H. A. Bulkeley, CTH, Dr J. Burch, N, Dr J. A. Little, CTH, Dr R. E. McConnel, JN, Dr A. Clark, F, Mr A. Thompson, DAR, with Mr A. D. Lemons, HH, as Secretary.

2. Administrative and Research Staff

Mr A. D. Lemons continued as Director of Physical Education and Secretary to the Sports Syndicate with Miss Karen Day as Physical Education Officer and Mr A. K. Rodgers, Head of Sports Estates and Building Management. Other members of staff included Mrs Barbara Beckett, Chief Secretary, Mrs Griselda Stuck, Senior Secretary and Mrs Zenobia Tavaria, Clerical Assistant. Dr Stephen Kreitzman, Research Associate, terminated his post during the year.

3. Funding

The Syndicate received funding under the current arrangements from the Colleges and the University Chest. The Colleges' contribution for 2000-01 was £2.74p per junior member in residence, which represented an increase of 4p on the previous year. This realized an income of £44,280. The University contribution remained at £31,132. The Syndicate also benefited from interest accruing to this account of £2,005.

The Sport in Cambridge Fund accrued £6,523 including interest during 2000-01, increasing the Fund to a total of £40,337. The Fund, derived from the University's Licensing Programme under an agreement approved by the Council in 1993, is administered by the Sports Syndicate and is specifically for capital projects.

The Syndicate have reserved £30,000 as a contribution to the costs of a Site Development Plan and Feasibility Study for the West Cambridge Site commissioned from Arup Associates. This report formed the basis for the University's decision making on the future provision for University sport on the West Cambridge Site.

The Syndicate have met the University's obligations to the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) and continue to contribute to the part payment of travel to BUSA events. However, the increasing number of universities in membership of BUSA has led to a substantial increase in the number of competitions and opportunities for this University's sports clubs to expand their competition base

4. Approved University Sports Clubs

Under Regulation 7(c) of the Regulations of the Sports Syndicate, the Syndicate are charged with maintaining a list of approved University sports clubs. This list for 2000-01 is published in Appendix 1.

5. Assistance to Clubs

The Syndicate's Committee on Grants met on five occasions during the year with Dr H. A. Bulkeley, CTH, as Chairman. Other members of the Committee include all junior members of the Syndicate with Miss K. Day as Secretary. The Committee received applications from 48 University sporting clubs and gave a total in recurrent grants of £48,355, non-recurrent grants of £10,130 and grants towards those clubs reaching the last 32 and finals of BUSA competitions of £3,076.41. A full list of grants awarded to clubs is included as Appendix 2. The Syndicate made grants to clubs of £5,163 for use of the facilities at Fenner's Tennis and Cricket ground under arrangements approved by the Syndicate. The Syndicate remain concerned that the grants made to clubs fell below their genuine needs as detailed in their submissions to the Syndicate's Grants Committee.

6. British Universities Sports Association

The Syndicate, acting on behalf of the University sporting clubs of Cambridge, has continued to contribute to the affairs of the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA). The Syndicate nominated Miss Karen Day and Mr Lemons as Vice-Presidents BUSA. The Syndicate paid a subscription of £8,149.28, which represented a per capita payment for a full time student of 53p.

7. Licensing arrangements

No new Licences were agreed during the year, although income and non-cash benefits derived from current Licences, specifically associated with University sports clubs, has been maintained with a total cash income for 2000-01 of £41,000 with additional estimated total non-cash benefits of £30,000. Only a small number of University clubs currently benefit from this income, with the University receiving 15%. Beneficiaries include the nine Clubs involved in the former arrangements in the Adpro Scheme, an expansion of areas and benefits from licences granted by CU Rugby Union Football Club, the CU Polo Club. The CU Polo Club's trademark in Japan is being opposed and funds have been reserved to cover any costs that might be incurred in defence of the current registration. In this matter the University is receiving considerable support from the British Embassy in Tokyo. This Report does not include figures for any club undertaking private arrange-ments negotiated outside the scheme approved by the University.

8. Eric Evans Fund

The bequest from the Trustees of the Eric Evans Memorial Fund to establish the Eric Evans Fund produced interest of £2,600 during 2000-01, which was made available for awards. The Syndicate appointed Dr J. Burch and Dr J. A. Little to act with the Director of Physical Education as Managers for The Fund. The Managers made the following awards:

Mr Jonathan Bull EM Rowing
Mr Cahir King T Modern Pentathlon
Mr Andrew Culling EM Fencing
Mr Thomas Hebbert CAI Sailing
Mr Richard Guy EM Sailing
Miss Sarah Cottell NH Rowing
Mr Christopher Haley JN Target Rifle Shooting
Mr Andrew Baddeley CAI Running
Mr Tom Richards T Pole Vault
Mr Mladen Tosic CAI Karate

9. Annual Report of the Wilberforce Road Sports Ground Management Committee 2000-01

The Committee of Management of the Wilberforce Road Sports Ground beg leave to report as follows:

General

The Committee met on one occasion during the year, reporting to the Sports Syndicate, with Dr C. J. R. Thorne as Chairman. Other members of the Committee included:

Chairman

Dr C. J. R. Thorne, CTH

Director of Physical Education (Secretary)

Mr A. D. Lemons, HH

President of Cambridge University Athletics Club

Mr Charlie Boddam-Whetham, PET

Team Captain of Men's or Women's CU Athletics Club

Miss Judith Payne, SID

Senior Treasurer, CU Athletics Club

Mr Chris Pratt, F

Local Athletics

Mr Barry Wallman

Dr Neil Costello

Captain, CU Hare and Hounds Club

Mr David Barker, DOW

Captain, CU Hockey Club

Mr Thierry Gruslin, T

Captain, CU Women's Hockey Club

Miss Verity King, F

Senior Treasurer, CU Hockey Club

Dr R. E. McConnel, JN

Senior Treasurer, CU Women's Hockey Club

Dr S. H. Stobbs, PEM

Introduction

The academical year 2000-01 represented the fifth full year of operation of the Wilberforce Road Sports Ground since the opening of the Athletics Track and Pavilion in May 1995. Although operating well below its full potential due to a lack of any floodlighting provision for athletics or hockey, the sports ground has continued to increase its activities. The number of individuals and groups, both from within and outside the University has increased from 1995-96, many attracted by the licensed bar and catering facilities. Access is offered to University staff and their families or individuals outside the University, (matriculated students having free access to facilities) taking out seasonal or half-seasonal user cards. Group bookings are reported for each facility below.

The Custodian, Mr Parker, assisted by Mr Wilson continued throughout the year. The Department Secretary, Mrs B. Beckett, assisted by Mrs Stuck, undertook all bookings and administration.

Athletics track

The track remains the training and competitive base for the University Athletics Club and also the Cambridge and Coleridge Athletics Club for City members. Many other sporting clubs from different disciplines used the track for training purposes. Group bookings of the track at various times throughout the year included:


CU Athletics Club
CU Cross Country Club
CU Colleges Athletics League
CU Falcons Football Club
Cambridge and Coleridge Athletics Club (regular bookings three times a week)
Long Road Sixth Form College (regular bookings twice a week)
Hills Road Sixth Form College
Achilles Schools
East Anglian League
Eastern Young Athletes League
Southern Men's Athletics League
County Schools Championships
Southern Women's Athletics League
St John's College School
King's College School
Cambridge United Football Club
Eastern Veterans Athletics
Eastern Counties Rugby Union Referees
Cambridge and District Schools Athletic Association
Cambridgeshire Schools Athletic Association
St Mary's School
Jewson Football League Referees
South of England Athletic Association
The Leys School
Wildlife Trust Road Race
Coleridge School Sports

There remains considerable concern at the lack of progress towards the provision of floodlighting for the Athletics track and the consequent limitations on the use of the track that this imposes, despite the receipt by the University of formal planning permission from the local planning authority. There are further concerns that the delaminating of the track surface, predicted by independent tests during construction, was now becoming a reality and that substantial renovation work would be needed to rectify this problem. During this period UK Athletics would certify the track for training purposes only, but not for competition.

Synthetic hockey pitch

The synthetic hockey pitch in 2000-01 continued to operate at close to its optimum capacity. However, more than any other facility the synthetic pitch suffers from a lack of floodlighting. The potential of this facility would be in excess of twice the current use given such provision. The pitch was predominantly used throughout the year by the University Men's and Women's Hockey Clubs with other groups at various times as follows:


CU Men's and Women's Hockey Clubs
CU College Hockey League
CU Cuppers
Cambridge City Hockey Club (mixed hockey - weekly throughout summer)
St John's College School
Long Road Sixth Form College
Hills Road Sixth Form College
East Anglian Women's Hockey Association
Cambridge Ladies Hockey Club
King's College School
English Hockey (regular coaching courses throughout year)
CU Vet School
Newmarket Hockey Club
Anglia Polytechnic University
Camb U15 Girls Finals
Cambridge South
Eastern Counties Youth

Sports Pavilion

The improved catering and bar facilities have increased the demand for this very attractive facility. The management committee endeavour to maintain a balance between the primary uses of servicing the needs of University sports clubs, and providing a venue for sports conferences, seminars, and training days, and the more commercially attractive social functions. It is particularly pleasing to note the success of the use of the facility as part of the University's holiday play scheme as part of the national play day. Other groups making use of the facilities at various times included:


CU Sports Clubs
The Ospreys Club
The Hawks Dining Club
CU Veterinary School
Cambridge and Coleridge Athletics Club
Coleridge Community College
Action Research
South of England Athletics Association
Sports Council - Eastern Region
Jewson League Referees meeting
Christians in Sport
M4I meeting
UK Athletics Coaching meetings
Sports Aid Foundation Lunches

10. Fenner's Tennis and Cricket Ground

Fenner's Committee

Chairman

Dr C. J. R. Thorne, CTH

Director of Physical Education (Secretary)

Mr A. D. Lemons, HH

Senior Member appointed by

Professor K. Siddle, CHU

Senior Member appointed by CU Lawn Tennis Club

Sir Geoffrey Cass, CLH

Senior Member appointed by CU Cricket and Athletics Club Ltd.

Dr A. Cosh, Q

2000-01 marked the third year of operation under the newly-established Fenner's Committee as a Committee of the Sports Syndicate. Mr J. Moden continued as Head Groundskeeper, assisted by Mr S. Lawrie, Deputy Head Groundskeeper, and Mr Adam Butler, Junior Groundskeeper.

During the year Mr Moden was honoured by the England and Wales Cricket Board and became the first University groundsman to be awarded Groundsman of the Year. Our congratulations to him.

Fenner's remains the club base for the CU Cricket Club and the CU Lawn Tennis Club and during the Michaelmas Term the CU Association Football Club and the CU Falcons Association Football Club. As such its first class facilities were used by a number of County teams for tennis and cricket matches and several professional football clubs whilst playing against the University.

Fenner's remained the home base for Cambridge St Giles Cricket Club in the newly established Eastern Premier League. It is anticipated that this partner-ship arrangement, which retains cricket of quality at Fenner's throughout the summer vacation, will contribute to the future development of Fenner's as a Cricketing Centre of Excellence for the Region.

Groups using Fenner's cricket facilities during the year included:


CU Cricket Club
CU Crusaders Cricket Club
Cambridge and Godmanchester Cricket Club
Cambridgeshire County Cricket Club
Cambridge Schools U19, U14, U13
Cambridgeshire Schools Final
Sancton Wood School Sports Day
St Colettes School Sports Day
Cowper Griffiths
Grant Thornton
Q103FM Charity match

Detailed plans for developing Fenner's as a County Centre of Cricketing Excellence, including an indoor cricket school, refurbishment of the cricket pavilion, new practice and match wickets, and also a residential and social facility for Hughes Hall, were approved by the local planning authority. The scheme, which is supported by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and many other partner organizations, is now actively seeking financial support from a number of sources including the National Lottery. Details of the development are available on http://www.sport.cam.ac.uk/cricket/facilitiesanddevelopments.html and http://www.hughes.cam.ac.uk/development/initiative.html.

11. University Centre for Cricketing Excellence

The Management Committee for the UCCE met on four occasions throughout the year under the Chairmanship of Professor Sir David Williams. The Senior Coach, Mr Chris Scott, supervised the development of twenty-four selected students of whom four were students at Anglia Polytechnic University (APU) and three were women. The programme included a range of physiological tests and training supervision provided by APU, skills and techniques coaching, and a number of matches. The scheme is overseen by the ECB.

The total expenditure for the year's programme totalled £66,500 of which the ECB provided a grant of £50,000 and CUCC the balance. APU provided a significant number of services without charge to the scheme.

12. Physical Education Centre - Fenner's

The Physical Education Centre remains the administrative offices and main central University facility. The redevelopment programme planned in five phases and initiated during 1999-2000 continued. Building works included the redesign of the reception areas and security systems; total refurbishment of the men's and women's changing and shower areas was completed during the year at a cost of £250,000.

The Fitness Suite, for which there is a charge to all users, continues to be particularly successful attracting over 2,540 members in the year. Income to offset the running costs totalled £75,677 drawn from Student Members, Staff Members, UCLES/CUP Members, Partner and Family Members, and Alumni.

Miss Jane Cuthbert and Miss Kate Mackenzie continued as Recreational Assistants and Fitness Advisers and generally supervised membership applications (all applicants undertake self-assessing medical screening), maintenance and safety of the Fitness Suite, induction courses, classes in aerobics, and circuit training. Two part-time recreational assistants support them, Mr Sheetal Pandya and Miss Blanca Truyols.

A detailed analysis of the fitness suite membership is given in Appendix 3.

13. University Sports website

This year saw the launch of the CU Sports website, http://www.sport.cam.ac.uk/. Creating an active interface between the University home page and University and College Sports Clubs, the site is designed to provide information to the University community, information to all outside the University on all aspects of University sport, and a news and publicity forum. An integrated e-mail system provides a rapid communication system, cost effectively overcoming many of the inherent communication problems of a collegiate University with a range of semi-independent sports clubs. The site gives details of all sports activities and contains Sports Syndicate documentation. All applications for grant support, BUSA communication, and other administrative matters are incorporated into the system. The site is linked to a number of external sites and provides up-to-date information on new facilities and results of University and College sports teams. Details of contacts are attached in Appendix 4.

14. West Cambridge Sports Facilities

Based on the Site Development Plan and Feasibility Study commissioned by the University from Arup Associates, the Council approved funding for further detailed work on the proposal to build significant new sports facilities for the University. During the year, working with the Director of Physical Education, Arups produced a comprehensive Concept Design report. The report followed a number of meetings with user representatives and University sports clubs. The full report is available for consultation on http://www.sport.cam.ac.uk/westcambridgedevelopment/index.html.

Following public consultation, the University has now submitted a detailed planning application to the local planning authority. Fundraising strategies are now under detailed consideration.

Appendix 1


CU SPORTS CLUBS APPROVED BY THE SPORTS SYNDICATE
CU Association Football Club
CU Women's Association Football Club
CU Athletics Club
CU Badminton Club
CU Basketball Club
CU Women's Basketball Club
CU Boat Club
CU Women's Boat Club
CU Bowmen Club
CU Boxing Club
CU Canoe Club
CU Cricket Club
CU Women's Cricket Club
CU Cruising Club
CU Cycling Club
CU Eton Fives Club
CU Fencing Club
CU Gliding Club
CU Golf Club
CU Olympic Gymnastics Club
CU Hare and Hounds Club
CU Hockey Club
CU Women's Hockey Club
CU Ice Hockey Club
CU Women's Ice Hockey Club
CU Judo Club
CU Karate Club
CU Korfball Club
CU Lacrosse Club
CU Women's Lacrosse Club
CU Lightweight Rowing Club
CU Modern Pentathlon Club
CU Netball Club
CU Orienteering Club
CU Polo Club
CU Powerlifting Club
CU Real Tennis Club
CU Revolver and Pistol Club
CU Riding Club
CU Rifle Association
CU Rugby Union Football Club
CU Women's Rugby Union Football Club
CU Rugby Fives Club
CU Rugby League Club
CU Ski Club
CU Small Bore Club
CU Squash Rackets Club
CU Women's Squash Rackets Club
CU Swimming and Waterpolo Club
CU Table Tennis Club
CU Lawn Tennis Club
CU Trampoline Club
CU Volleyball Club

Appendices 2-4 [PDF] more information on PDF


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Cambridge University Reporter, Monday 8 April 2002
Copyright © 2002 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.