UK Student Archery Association

E-dinburgh win E-League [12/Apr/11]

The 2010/11 E-League concluded last week with results for Round 5, March being published on the E-League website, see also E-League page on UKSAA.

Edinburgh wrapped up their sixth consecutive E-League title with Division 1's top five overall finishing in the same order in the March round. Warwick made sure of second place on 44, ahead of Nottingham, on 42. Loughborough were in fourth place with 31 ahead of Cambridge's 26. Imperial nabbed sixth spot, a point ahead of Birmingham, the two clubs racking up identical aggregate totals over the five rounds. Oxford made it six BUTTS clubs in the top eight.

In the lower divisions, Southampton ran away with Division 2, with a maximum 50 points. Southampton have won the last 9 E-League rounds in Division 2 and were only denied promotion to Division 1 last year because they did not enter a score at all in Sept/Oct '09. This year they made no mistake, deservedly winning promotion with a round to spare. In Division 3 the promoted sides will be Imperial B and Southampton C, whilst Division 4's promoted sides will be yet more SEAL-ites Essex A and Reading A, London A unfortunate to miss out here. In the conference, Nottingham C and Nottingham Trent A were the top two sides and will be promoted.

Remarkably at the bottom of Division 4, three sides, Bradford A, Brunel A and York C, entered no scores at all, so precisely what happens here will be up to the E-League organisers. The absence of results from NEUAL league matches certainly hit NEUAL sides badly again this year.

Novice Division 1 was won comfortably by Edinburgh, with Nottingham second, despite a relative stumble in the last round. Birmingham, Loughborough and Warwick finished 3-4-5, with BUTTS dominating again - Southampton finished sixth. The top A sides in Novice Division 2 were Bath and Essex and they will take their place in the top flight next year. As is the way with novices of course, a new set will take their places in the autumn. Novice Division 3's top teams were Edinburgh C and Imperial A, whilst Nottingham Trent A and Birmingham C won promotion from the Conference.

Individually George Harding (Nottingham) won with 95 points, ahead of a cluster of gents in the 80's. Michael Judd (Essex) was second on 89 ahead of Sam Bird (Southampton) on 88. Mathew Cole (Loughborough) pipped Andrew Shreeves (Warwick) 83 to 82. Jenny Jeppsson (Edinburgh) steamrollered the ladies recurve with a maximum 100 points. Heather Reynolds (Cambridge) was second on 85, ahead of Migle Petruskeviciute, Lizzie Bell and Kyshiea George-Steele (all Edinburgh) on 70, 67 and 64.

Other category winners were barebows James Annall and Amyce Smith-Bannister (both Bath), compounds Stefan Gies and Naomi Jones (both Edinburgh) and longbows James Cram (Birmingham) and Kathryn Evans (Surrey). Jones won ladies compounds with a perfect 100 points, whilst gents longbow was decided on average score, after Cram and Thomas Goodwin (Loughborough) both finished level on 89 points. Novice recurve winners were David Kidd and Imola Cseke (both Edinburgh), with Robbie Crick and Jenn Archibald (also both Edinburgh) runners up.

The E-League by default is the largest student archery competition as it sprawls across the year, sucking in scores and spewing out tables. This year, as ever, it rewards clubs and individuals who make sure they take part in every round. The 2011/12 E-League opens for business in September.

Reports on recent SEAL and Irish IVL matches will follow as soon as they are written.