UK Student Archery Association

E-League, NEUAL Round 1 [13/Nov/15]

Southampton took top spot in the first round of the 2015/16 E-League ahead of Warwick in Division 1. Between them, Southampton and Warwick have won the E-League the past three years and both sides have set their E stalls out early. A little way behind, Liverpool and London were third and fourth, with Birmingham A taking top spot in Division 2 Round 1. In a double for the south coast side, Southampton also took maximum points in Novice Division 1, Napier narrowly second.

Individually, Robert Gray (Nottingham Trent) got the defence of his title off to the best possible start ahead of Andrew Howe (Southampton) 590 plays 587. Ladies recurve was decided on golds with Ally Miller and Sara Rubio (both Southampton) both getting 573. Miller scored 36 golds to Rubio's 34 to take top spot.

Following a drive from the League Organisers, more clubs have taken part in the E-League so far this year, which is a very positive development. Scores for Round 2 must be shot during November and submitted by 5th December. If you haven't entered a score in round 1, then it's too late for that, but you can get started in Round 2. Full info in the E-League section.

NEUAL has been the first of the regional leagues to get in to the action, with Sheffield Hallam victorious in NUTC, beating hosts Liverpool in the final. Lancaster beat Bradford in the bronze medal match.

The following weekend NEUAL's 3 conference system kicked in to life for the first time. Sheffield are top after winning their Eastern conference match against Bradford and Leeds, with 2168. Keele and Newcastle both posted scores in the 1980s to win the other matches, whilst 2103 only earned Bradford a second place. Top scorer across the matches was Jessie Slater (Leeds) on 564, but she was the only archer to break 560 out of the eight clubs who shot this weekend. Bradford won their novice match comfortably with 1325 and sit top on aggregate from the other winners. Freddie Marshall (Bradford) was the top novice across the matches on 478. On their NEUAL debut, Central Lancashire's novices took maximum points as did Sunderland.

You can see the early season NEUAL tables. There is another set of NEUAL fixtures this (14th/15th Nov) weekend. The smaller Northern conference does not have a fixture, but there are matches in the East (Hull v Sheffield v York) and West (Lancaster v MMU Cheshire v Central Lancs).

At the same time, BUTTS begins at Oxford and Nottingham as does SSS at Dundee and West of Scotland. West of Scotland have their home in the town of Hamilton and are the first new club to join SSS Archery for 10 years. They will be assisted in the hosting of their maiden fixture by Strathclyde.

SEAL will break new ground of a different kind this weekend with a Non Recurve fixture hosted by Surrey. There won't be a team element and therefore it will have no impact on the league. However it is intended to be the first round of a series for individuals in the smaller categories less well served by the recurve team format.