SPORTS

BRISTOL University and West of England spoiled the city’s symbol of free-flowing cider by grinding each other down to a stale 0-0 at the Memorial Stadium on March 15.

UWE’s Lewis Dixon came closest to scoring by firing over an empty net. Bristol’s Russell Kroll kept crafting, darting down both channels but his spirit, like supporters’ hearts, sunk when the final whistle blew, signalling West’s retention of Varsity football honours following their four-goal win here last year.

BEATING the cockerel to the call, Garry Richardson is better than them all. When sport is summoned and 6:25 strikes, Garry has the mike. “John, Sarah, good morning to you,” he says on Today with his mellifluous, west-country voice. At the end of the week big-name guests on his Sunday Sportsweek show speak, where Garry clears rumour away and fills the air with fact and fascination. Overall, the morning marvel stands tall.

MOHAMMED El Shorbagy is not only a mechanical engineer student here at UWE, he is also the 14th best squash player in the world.

18-year-old El Shorbagy from Egypt is looking to break the record books by becoming the first player to win the British Junior Championships for a third time in Sheffield this month (January).

The mens novice VIII+ Boat team won their first medals of the year at the Monmouth Christmas Head of the River race on Sunday 13th December.

Tom Dewhurst, Elliot Clark, Jack Peckham, Adam Kenny, Nick Preston, Alan Morgan, Eleanor Ellis (cox) and Deyan Kenspl were all part of the winning outfit.

Good night, Laurel and Hardy. Hardly deserving for all their patience and prowess, the Soldiers of the West saw two points tease and taunt them, then saw them being sizzled down to a scintilla as Bath Spa’s hockey side salvaged a draw on Wednesday 11th November.

"WE want war, we love war!" roared from the radio around the aerobics-gym-turned-Muay-Thai studio on Wednesday 7th October.

The lyrical line absorbed disputants into fight night training at the Carrefour Bristol City Centre Gym, none more so than UWE student, Harpreet Kalkat.

UWE’s second squad of eight suffered a 5-3 defeat to the hands of Plymouth’s first team in a badminton battle at Frenchay’s Centre for Sport on Wednesday 14th October.

The score was settled after eight games were played out, doubles and singles, along a line of four Badminton Courts watched by friends and travelling Plymouth supporters, but all eyes were on UWE’s Sam Issacs as he huffed and puffed but didn’t quite blow the house down in an intriguing face-to-face finale with Plymouth’s Oliver Critchton.