CitySport – City St George’s Clerkenwell sports facility – hosted the inaugural Staff Sports Day on Tuesday 22nd July. Fifteen departments and schools across the university were represented, in which 11 teams competed to be crowned the winners!
Organised by the university’s Sport and Leisure Service, the afternoon of activity consisted of playground-style sports and games, instead of your traditional football or badminton tournaments. This included space hopper noughts-and-crosses races, obstacle courses whilst blindfolded, and netball shooting challenges. The final event was, of course, a multi-event relay race.
Sport and Leisure also partnered with Hado to provide augmented reality dodgeball interactive sessions. The activity was a huge hit and, not needing a dedicated sports facility, it will be something the Service looks to roll out across other university facilities throughout the year.
Although a fun, friendly afternoon was the goal, there was an ultimate winner. Congratulations to the Drysdale Dream Team, who narrowly took victory by a single point.
Drysdale Dream Team winners, from left to right: Evangeline, Shannon, Matthew, Nick (Captain), Josh, Giulia, Sophie, and Carly.
Sophie Howlett, Student Success Manager and winning team member, said:
"Staff sports day was a great opportunity to meet and compete with new colleagues. We of course plan on retaining our title next year, and are already in training. See you on the space hopper!"
The podium was completed by LEaD of Legends (PPPP) in second place, then followed by BUGs Life. A special mention to some great team names too: Change Support United and S(up)port Stars!
Dylan Edwards, Leisure Supervisor (Development) and event lead, commented:
"It was great to have so many staff attend the first Staff Sports Day event under this new format. Everyone had smiles throughout and seemed to enjoy the time running around and being active! Hopefully many return next year, with even more colleagues and teams from across the university."
For many staff, this was there first team visiting CitySport. Next year, Sport and Leisure will continue to offer the hugely discounted membership £120/12months, as well as launch more programmes to support staff health and wellbeing. Keep an eye out for our Wellness Wednesdays free gym access, new staff-only free weekly sport sessions, health screening roadshows, and more sports events and tournaments!!
If you were a Sports Day participant and had any feedback about the event, or a colleague within the university and would like to request or discuss more opportunities for our university community, please contact Tom Edwards, Head of Sport and Leisure, tom.edwards@citystgeorges.ac.uk.