Sporting stars support new programme

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An initiative to increase sporting performance and excellence at Sussex had its official launch on Saturday (11 November).

Olympic gold medallist Tessa Sanderson and Romek Kriwald, director of the Brighton Bears basketball club, attended a gala event at the Brighton Centre to celebrate the start of the Focus Sport Programme, which is a joint initiative between the University, the Brighton Bears, Sussex Magic (a women's national-league basketball club) and Lewes Hockey Club.

The programme is designed to raise sporting standards at the University through quality coaching and support services, such as fitness tests and specific training programmes.

Four focus squads in basketball and hockey have been selected. The men's basketball teams are being coached by Bears player Dave Wahl and the hockey squads are fortunate to have secured the services of ex-South African goalkeeper Chris Hibbert.

"The University is well placed to support both hockey and basketball development," says Karen Dunster, Head of Sport (pictured with Tessa Sanderson). "In addition to receiving Sport England lottery funding for a new all-weather hockey pitch, we are one of the few centres in the region able to boast two sports halls."

The long-term aim of the programme, in addition to improving sporting performance, will be to provide scholarships to help attract students who wish to have support to play sport at a high level alongside their academic studies.

The launch on Saturday followed a televised viewing of the Bears game against the unbeaten British Basketball League team, the Chester Jets (who duly won 101-74).

Bears director Romek Kriwald has been particularly supportive of the programme. He said: "We are pleased to provide professional coaching to the University as well as working in partnership to develop grassroots basketball through our joint camps. The Bears are able, as a result, to utilise some of the best basketball training facilities in the south of England, on the Sussex campus."