UK Student Archery Association

The B of BUTTS [24/Mar/16]

Birmingham won BUTTS Indoor Championships and in the process took the overall BUTTS league title for the first time in 20 years. They also won the same combination of novice titles. Warwick and Loughborough took all the other Indoor Championship team and overall League medals.

The B of BUTTS stands for Birmingham because it was Birmingham who helped put the league together (and won it) in 1995/96, but have finished no higher than 4th in the meantime. Birmingham have now won the novice BUTTS league title seven times, including three of the last four. This is more than any other club.

BUTTS Indoor Champs were held at Nottingham Trent on 19th March. Birmingham scored their second consecutive 2287 to win. Loughborough were second on 2264, just ahead of Warwick who scored 2255. Seventy points behind the leading trio, were Trent, Nottingham and Oxford, all in the high 2100s, Trent took fourth spot, just seven points ahead of their city rivals, 2185-2178 who they also beat at BUTC. Oxford scored 2161.

For the second match in a row Ashe Morgan (Birmingham) made the difference for his side as his impressive 593 made sure Birmingham would finish above Warwick. Tom Hall (Warwick), Rob Gray (Nottingham Trent) and Arthur Coveney (Loughborough) all hit high 570s - 578, 577 and 576 respectively. Rebekah Tipping, Francis Berti and Christopher Avins (all Birmingham) all shot in the 560s, Tipping's 567 also winning her ladies recurve gold. Sherman Ip (Oxford) scored 569 whilst there were 566s for both Louis Richardson (Loughborough) and James Jeffs (Warwick). Also over 560 were Charlie Birch (Oxford), Adams Peers and Wozencroft (both Loughborough) Madeleine Meatyard (Warwick) and Michael Hall (Nottingham).

Birmingham finish the BUTTS league season on 37 points, with defending champions Warwick second on 35, following a tremendous campaign from both sides. This is becoming Birmingham's best ever season with three sets of team medals from Telford and BUTC. Having re-engaged with the E-League they are certain to be promoted back in to Division 1 next season. For their part, Warwick can add the E-League to the BUTC and BUCS Indoor gents team titles they have already won in 2016.

The late season surge from Loughborough did not alter their final league position but meant that they finished closer to second than fourth, with 31 against Nottingham's 23. Perhaps surprisingly, Loughborough have only won the BUTTS senior league crown once - in 1996/97, the year after Birmingham.

Birmingham were already virtually assured of winning the BUTTS novice title, but won the Indoor Championship by 90, with (team of 4) 2052 against 1962 from Warwick and 1933 from Loughborough. Tim Spankie (Birmingham) was top novice on 527, with James Lamprecht (Loughborough), Tupa Silva (Birmingham) and Antonio Rubino (Cambridge) all at 520+. Birmingham secured a second consecutive indoor BUTTS clean sweep with 40 points, Loughborough ending on 32 and Warwick on 29.

See the BUTTS standings.

Elsewhere, SWWU have confirmed that scores taken from BUCS Indoors will be used as SWWU match 3. Swansea's seniors and Exeter's novices were victorious and stretch their respective league leads to four points, see the current SWWU standings. SWWU matches 4 and 5 are scheduled to be held in Bath and Swansea towards the end of April.