University Championships This Weekend

THE 2012 British University Handball Championships takes place this weekend, with dozens of teams from across the country coming to Manchester to do battle.

The two-day event takes place at Sugden Sports Centre, with some of the matches also being played at the nearby Energy Box and Belle Vue.

Saturday’s games begin at 9am and go right through to 6.30pm, while Sunday sees handball action from 9-5pm.

The teams are split into five male groups and four female groups, with group matches on Saturday and Sunday morning, before the knockout stages on Sunday.

For more details, please go to www.abuhc.com

University Champs, Deadline Approaching

DON’T forget! Entries for the British Universities Handball Championship next month have to be in by February 1.

The event, at Nottingham University, is over the weekend of February 19-20 and includes Championship and Trophy events for both men and women.

Entries - and enquiries for further information - should go to admin@britishuniversitieshandball.com

Universities Challenged by Handball!

MORE than 70 handball newcomers took part in a highly-successful inaugural British Universities Beginners Tournament in Nottingham last Saturday.

There were more than 100 goals in 13 close-fought mini matches, but the newcomers weren’t limited to the court, with 11 new trainee table officials overseeing the games.

Eight goals from Beaumont helped Loughborough Arrows win the BUH Men’s Beginners Event despite being held to an exciting five-all draw by Rickie Baileys' Lincoln Blitz in their last game.

Blitz also matched the Arrows' 25-goal total over their four sixteen minute mini-matches, but fell one goal short of overall victory despite taking a 3-2 halftime lead.

Lincoln Riot beat Lincoln Blues in a weather-affected Ladies series with eight players sharing 18 goals, whilst the spirited Carnegie Alphas, Loughborough Bombers & Lincoln Abbots completed the men’s rankings.

All the matches were ably overseen by experienced delegate Colin Wills, who had earlier led 11 volunteers through their paces on a table officials course. The TOs then got their chance to put theory immediately into practice by working with five of the top EHA referees throughout the Beginners Tournament.

With the British Universities Handball Championships looming on February 19-20, the university teams still have a little time to polish up fitness and skills before vying for the BUH title and a chance to compete at the European Universities Championships in Croatia later in June.

More information on British Universities Handball is available from admin@britishuniversitieshandball.com

Universities: Embrace Handball!

BRITISH Universities Handball are offering aspiring table officials and new players an opportunity to experience Tournament Handball at Nottingham on Saturday, December 4.

Aimed at those new to the sport or looking to learn how to officiate, the Beginners Tournament underlines a desire to promote and enhance handball at our universities.

Further information is available from admin@britishuniversitieshandball.com