Thu 6th October, 2011
The University of Bedfordshire’s sporty students have continued their winning start in the national dodgeball squads at the European Championships in Sweden.
The men’s and women’s teams featured several University players at the Championships where they swept to victory. Both finals were an all-England battle as the men’s and women’s first teams faced the second teams.
The tournament was played to Swedish rules and was held outdoors in the Stockholm Dodge Cage. National teams from Sweden (2 teams), England (2 teams), Italy, Northern Ireland, Scotland (2 teams) and Wales all returned from last year's inaugural event and teams from Finland and Switzerland joined them in this festival of international dodgeball.
For the first time, Women's dodgeball – with four University players - was also represented with teams from Sweden, England (2 teams), Italy and Switzerland.
The national sides are run by Martin Knight, a final year PE student at the University, with the help of his coaching team: John Rudland (under 19s coach) and Katie Lake (women’s coach).
He said: “The tournament was played in a great sporting spirit, with teams mixing together off the court and all the teams made new international friends as well as renewing friendships from last year. The games in the men's competition were very competitive and no team came through first round group unbeaten.
“England Lions first team were defeated by their second team in the first round but got their revenge in the final, beating them by three games to one.
Martin added: “The Women's Championship had fewer teams but it was no less competitive. England Women were the only team with real competition experience and this showed as the two English teams dominated. England Lions Women first team went through the tournament unbeaten and their second team only suffered defeats at the hands of the final winners.”
Latest news» 2011» October» Bedfordshire dodgeball players help GB team to European victory
