The two-day event, which took place on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th March, is the culmination of months of league competition with over 2,000 student-athletes, coaches, and support staff competing in 60 Championship, Trophy and Vase finals across 16 different sports.
It marks the third successive year that Loughborough has hosted BUCS Big Wednesday, as it showcased the recent multi-million-pound sporting ecosystem investment in facilities across its East Midlands campus.
Once again, it proved to be an occasion to remember as Loughborough teams secured and incredible 13 pieces of silverware across the finals – out of a possible 16.
Standout performances in African Violet included Netball Women’s 1’s, who claimed the Championship title for a staggering fourth year in a row with a 57-50 victory over Hertfordshire.
Badminton and Tennis also maximised their silverware prospects, with both clubs crowned champions across their finals. Badminton Men’s 1’s secured a 6-2 win over Nottingham M1’s to make it three consecutive titles, while Tennis Women’s 1’s went back-to-back with a 5-1 victory over Stirling.
Elsewhere, Hockey Women’s 1’s weathered the storm in a fiercely contested final against Nottingham, earning their National Championship title for the first time since 2018.
In a typically strong display of Loughborough’s collaborative spirit, more than 100 student volunteers from the Coach and Volunteer Academy (CVA) played a vital role in delivering a standout competition.
Speaking about the event Professor Jo Maher, the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport, said: “BUCS Big Wednesday is always a standout moment in the University sporting calendar, and this year was no exception. The passion, dedication and talent on display from students across the country was truly inspiring. Hosting this event for the third consecutive year is a real privilege, and it highlights both our longstanding commitment to sport and the strength of our community. I’m incredibly proud of every athlete, coach and volunteer who contributed to making this year’s finals such a memorable celebration of university sport.”
For more information on sport at Loughborough, visit: www.lboro.ac.uk/sport.