Rose Thomas is joined (L-R) by Kompan's Thomas Harrison, Director of Estates Simon Neale, Head of Sport Simon Tunley, Alumni's Ben Loxton and Deputy Head of Sport Terry Cooper

Sussexsport welcomed former Sport Scholar and Sussex alumna Rose Thomas (Biomedical Science 2010) back to campus yesterday (Tuesday 17 October) to officially open the University’s new Outdoor Fitness Area.

Rose, who has played international hockey for Wales since making her senior debut in 2011, was called up for the Great Britain hockey squad earlier this year, becoming one of only two Welsh women to receive GB recognition since 2012.

Whilst at Sussex, Rose played for the University’s hockey club and received an alumni-funded Sport Scholarship to develop her potential as a talented student athlete. And current Sport Scholars and student sport clubs were treated to a session on the new Outdoor Fitness Area and a hockey masterclass from Rose during her visit to Sussex, honing their hockey skills ahead of the season’s fixtures and learning how to use the new functional area to develop their athletic ability.

Installed at the Falmer Sports Complex over the summer, the outdoor facility provides a unique space to develop performance sport at Sussex, with some Sport Scholars and student sport clubs already using the site to prepare for a busy season of competitive sport.

The new training space has been built with the generous support of Sussex alumni and friends of the University via the Sussex Fund, and will help to develop the University’s burgeoning student performance sport programme.

Sussex’s student sport clubs have been consistently climbing in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) rankings year on year - finishing 41st nationally in the 2016-17 season, the University’s highest ever season-finish that places our clubs far ahead of many other universities on the south coast.

The Outdoor Fitness Area provides an exceptional space for student athletes to develop their strength and conditioning form, something that Rose believes is key to developing athletic potential. Commenting on her Sport Scholarship, Rose said: 

“The scheme at Sussex to support student athletes is incredible. It supported me throughout my international career while I was at Sussex, allowing me to play for my country first and foremost.

“On top of that I was introduced to the world of strength and conditioning, which provided an amazing platform for me to be able to progress further in my career when I left the University.”

Discussing the benefits of the new training area, Rose added: 

“It’s a fantastic use of space, which allows sports teams to exercise together and motivate each other in a group. 

“Teams can improve their knowledge and development of strength and conditioning with the support of each other and guidance from specialists at the University. This facility will assist the University’s continuous climb in the BUCS league, get people more active and enjoying exercise together. A huge thank you to the Alumni’s Sussex Fund for supporting this project.”

The Outdoor Fitness Area will enhance all areas of performance sport at Sussex, but is also free for the campus community to use during general use hours. And Sussexsport are offering group exercise classes using the space so that staff and students can learn how to best use the facility with the guidance of top instructors.

Ben Loxton, from the University's Development and Alumni Relations Office, said: “The Sussex Fund was founded on the values of inclusiveness and opportunity and that’s why we’re committed to supporting the University’s Sport Scholars and wider student body. 

“The Outdoor Fitness Area, which was made possible thanks to donations from our alumni and friends of the University, will allow us to take this support to the next level. It seemed only right to have Rose, who is both an alumna and a Sport Scholar, here to open the space.”

Meanwhile, the Women’s Hockey Club are taking what they’ve learned from Rose's coaching session into their upcoming fixtures. Eva Rikaart, postgraduate student in the School of Global Studies and President of the University’s Women's Hockey Club said: “The training session was extremely helpful for our goalies, who can use Rose’s tips in our BUCS fixtures.

"She has played against the best hockey players in the world, which is just crazy - I hope she will come back soon!”

For more information on Sussexsport’s Outdoor Fitness Area, visit the webpage or get in contact via Twitter or Facebook.

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