Following a season of phenomenal success on the track, road and mountains, the University of Birmingham Cycling Club have been crowned the new British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Champions.
After coming in a close second place behind Cambridge University for the last two seasons, the team began the year determined to make history.
At the first BUCS event of the year, Josh Miers took bronze in the BUCS Hill-Climb event in Curbar, Derbyshire. Alongside Robbie White and Oliver Wilson, Miers’ performance helped the men’s team take bronze in the event, putting the club 3rd in the overall BUCS Rankings.
The team continued to improve throughout the year, and at the Cycling track Championships in March, Ciara Horne shaved 10 seconds off a 13-year-old record in the women’s individual 3000m pursuit with a time of 3.46.13, as Birmingham picked up 68 BUCS points and four medals from the Championships.
In late April, Birmingham were virtually neck and neck with their nearest rivals Cambridge at the top of the BUCS Championships, but two memorable weekends helped Birmingham push towards the title.
At the 10-Mile Time Trials in Cambridge on April 21, Horne led the Birmingham charge taking gold in the women’s event, as the team earned team silver medal positions in both the men’s and women’s categories.
And the following weekend, Horne once more showed her class as she earned gold at the 25-Mile Time Trials, helping the women’s team to an overall gold as well to push Birmingham clear of the opposition.
These performances helped Birmingham complete the season in a resounding first position with 211 points overall, 27 points ahead of rivals Cambridge.
Due to their success, many of the team were recognised for their performances at the third Annual Sports Awards Dinner with Robbie White, Oliver Wilson, Xavier Disley, Laura McCormack, Lara Nyman and Josh Miers obtaining half blue colours, whilst Ciara Horne won a full blue.
The team will be hoping to continue this incredible success next season, and look to build upon their performances to retain their title and produce more stunning displays.