Student and sports teams do University of Northampton proud with award nominations

A University of Northampton student and sports team have both been shortlisted for local prizes after excelling in sporting competition while studying.
Victor Oyesola, a sport development undergraduateVictor Oyesola, a sport development undergraduate
Victor Oyesola, a sport development undergraduate

Victor Oyesola, a sport development undergraduate, is in with a chance of collecting the Sports Personality of the Year gong at the Northampton Leisure Trust Sports Awards 2016, with the Students’ Union’s Men’s Hockey first side being among those that could triumph in the Community Team of the Year category.

As president of the Athletics club, Victor finished first in the 100m at the Team University of Leicester Open Meeting in March and led the relay team to second place at the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championship the following month. The 21-year-old is also the club’s coach, and his guidance has resulted in more than 90% of first-year students achieving personal bests in their events.

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In addition, he has represented the university at soccer, as a consequence of being the top scorer for his intramural side during the last two years, and in American football.

The University of Northampton's Mens Hockeyfirsts have been shortlisted for claiming consecutive promotions and titles in BUCS fixturesThe University of Northampton's Mens Hockeyfirsts have been shortlisted for claiming consecutive promotions and titles in BUCS fixtures
The University of Northampton's Mens Hockeyfirsts have been shortlisted for claiming consecutive promotions and titles in BUCS fixtures

Speaking about his nomination, Victor said: “I was really shocked when I first found out. But it would mean a lot to win the award, as it would show my progress and motivate me to get better. I don’t just participate in sports – for me, it has become a lifestyle. Without sport, I don’t believe I would have fully integrated and made the friends I have while at University.”

Meanwhile, Men’s Hockey firsts have been shortlisted for claiming consecutive promotions and titles in BUCS fixtures. Indeed, such has been their dominance that they have been victorious in every league match at home for almost two years and not lost away since November 2013. Outside of University competition, many of the side have also played for Northampton Saints Hockey Club.

Their president, Max Wilkinson, said: “To win this award would top off what has been a brilliant few years and be an incredibly proud moment for everyone involved. It would also be testament to all the hard work that has been put in to get to where we are today.

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“As a club, we always aim high, and so, this season, we want to continue delivering positive results for the university, as well as enjoying each other’s company on and off the pitch.”

The University of Northampton's Mens Hockeyfirsts have been shortlisted for claiming consecutive promotions and titles in BUCS fixturesThe University of Northampton's Mens Hockeyfirsts have been shortlisted for claiming consecutive promotions and titles in BUCS fixtures
The University of Northampton's Mens Hockeyfirsts have been shortlisted for claiming consecutive promotions and titles in BUCS fixtures

Students’ Union president Liam Bligh added: “Victor and Men’s Hockey firsts have taken advantage of our offer as being one of only two Students’ Unions in the country to offer free sports and societies membership, and produced some fantastic results. Their nominations are well-deserved and I am very hopeful that both will claim their respective prizes.”

The winners will be announced at a special ceremony at the Guildhall on October 20. For more information about sport at Northampton, please visit the Students’ Union website.