British University Gymnastics

Past & Present Gymnastics reports on BUCS (British Universities & Colleges Sport) gymnastics competition.

I had not even realized that it existed in the U.K.

Gymnasts can compete in Grade 1 or grade 2.

Grade 1

Grade 1 operates under the FIG code of points and gymnasts can only enter individually (there is no team event). Gymnasts compete on all four events and only all around medals are awarded. There are no individual apparatus finals. Last year, four gymnasts entered into the women’s category, while eight entered into the men’s category.

The women’s champion was Nina Dearman of Manchester University, who finished with a score of 53.500. Nina is also a member of the English National Squad. …

The men’s champion was Steven Jehu, of Leeds Met University who finished with a score of 86.400, who went on to represent Britain at the World Student Games in Bangkok. Steven has now graduated and hopes to compete in London 2012, so look out for him!

Grade 2

Grade 2 operates under a modified version of the difficulty+execution code of points. …

Gymnasts compete on three apparatus only and all around, apparatus and team medals are awarded. Gymnasts competing in grade 1 must also compete in grade 2 to represent their team but are not eligible to win individual medals.

Last year, the winning team on the women’s side was Loughborough, the all around champion was Vikki Johns of Leeds University.

The vast majority of gymnasts compete in grade 2, with 68 entries last year, including 14 teams. Sadly, gymnastics in Universities is very badly funded in most universities, with the vast majority not having their own gyms. The only Universities with their own gyms (that I know of) are Loughborough, UWIC and Leeds Metroploitan (correct me if I’m wrong). Further problems include a lack of sponsorship, scholarships and publicity.

Loughborough

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Official University gymnastics in Canada is long dead. I dream of the day Canadian schools may compete officially in the NCAA. Currently, University of Calgary competes in the States at least once a year. Unofficially. Last year the Canucks competed at Minnesota.

Leave a comment if you are aware of other University gymnastics competitions around the world. We’d like to link to them.