UK Student Archery Association

Sullivan to vacate SMG Chair [04/Jun/09]

After nearly 10 years in the role, John Sullivan is retiring from his role as Chair of the BUCS Archery Sports Management Group (or SMG) - BUCS Outdoors 2009 will be his last event. There is no set definition of the role but anyone interested could contact John to discuss his experience or email their sporting CV to Aaron Campbell at BUCS.

It is hard now to imagine the student archery landscape ten years ago when Sullivan took over. There was no BUTC, no ELeague, no SWWU, no NEUAL and no SEAL. BUSA Outdoor Champs had yet to go to visit Lilleshall and was attended by a mere 83 people that year. There was also no ACME and of course no UKSAA to report on it all.

Sport Management Groups (SMGs) are responsible for supporting the development of specific BUCS sports. Sport Management Groups normally consist of The Chair, The BUCS Sports Programme Manager for the sport in question, NGB representatives, Ex-Officio FISU Reps of the sport, Representatives to offer technical and developmental advice and Student representatives. The full list of who is on the Archery SMG is available in the Resources section.

SMGs' responsibilities could include advice on:

Domestic Championships

Domestic and International National Teams – advise on team selection of competitors and management staff.

Rules and Regulations – changes in rules and regulations brought about by NGBs and WUGs

Development Issues – Following NGB and BUCS business plans and development plans.

NGB Partnerships – developing links

Funding from external sources

Technical Advice

In other leaving news, after three years running BUTTS, Alex Stuart is stepping aside, although his replacement - Birmingham's Steve Johnson - has already been elected. Stuart oversaw BUTTS' first ever change of structure to accommodate Derby in 2007, the first new club since the league started in 1995. BUTTS is also unquestionably the hardest league of the five - in the last two seasons an average of around 2100 has only been god enough for sixth out of seven.