UK Student Archery Association

London calling... for help [16/May/13]

This season has been a successful one for London as they won 4 out of 5 matches on their way to their maiden SEAL title, with the London novices second in their championship. They matched their best ever run at BUTC, making the quarters before going out 12-13 to eventual winners Oxford. They finished 9th at BUCS Indoors, missing out fractionally on BUCS points and won E-League Division 3 in both senior and novice categories.

So how is it possible that they could be 12 months away from dissolution?

Current ULU AC president Sherman Ip: Board members at University of London voted to close ULU down and replace it with a student service centre (swimming pool, gym, cafe etc.) in July 2014. There are many reasons for this.... [but] this leaves a lot of uncertainty for our archery club. The worst case scenario is that our archery club will cease to exist and all our members will disband. If they want to do archery, they will have to set up their own archery club with their constituent student union.

ULU AC attracts students from University College London, King's College London, Royal Veterinary College, Royal Holloway, London School of Economics, School of African and Oriental Studies, Birkbeck College, Royal Academic of Music and even Queen Mary. Two QM students did set up a separate club, however funding and facilities have been difficult to come by. This season, QM only have one novice in SEAL competitions.

ULU published the following Press Release and Open Letter on their own website, which also provides a link to the Online Petition which is aiming for 5,000 signatures. At time of writing, it is over 90% of the way there.

The University of London's Trustee Board is meeting to decide on ULU's future on Monday 22nd May.

There is brighter news elsewhere. Sheffield Hallam are forming a distinct club and competed in their first BUTC this year. Coincidentally their first round match was a defeat to London. It also looks as though a completely new club will appear at Bournemouth, organised by 3 time individual BUCS champion for Bournemouth, Andrew Callaway. They would join SWWU in 2013/14.

Please contact UKSAA if you see out of date information in the Club Directory.