Summer of sporting success for Newcastle alumni and students
We’re celebrating a jam-packed summer of competition which saw our university community come out on top. Congratulations all!
12 September 2025
Read our wrap-up of all the tournaments Newcastle University sports stars competed in over the summer break, from dodgeball domination to athletics acclaim.
Newcastle University is renowned for its sporting prowess, and last academic year we celebrated being ranked 8th nationally in the annual BUCS league – out of 160 institutions! Following triumphs from 20 Team Newcastle league-winning teams and excellent performances from over 2,190 individual student athletes (3 of whom won gold in BUCS 24/25), the season ended on a high. But for some of our sporting superstars, the competition wasn’t over.
Throughout the summer months, many Newcastle University students and graduates have been defending their title in their chosen sports on the global stage. Find out more below.
Running for Joy
Pharmacy student and athlete Joy Eze anchored Team GB&NI to victory in the first heat of 4x100m relay at this year’s U23 European Athletics Championships, clocking in at 43.07 (just 0.03 off the championship record!) In the final, Joy and her fellow runners took gold in a time of 42.92 – the first team to complete the relay race in under 43 seconds at the Championships ever – helping Team GB&NI finish second in the medal table overall.
Following this outstanding performance, Joy was selected to represent Team GB in the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, taking place from 13-21 September. Good luck Joy!
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Shooting for the stars
Current Sport and Exercise Science student Toby Aberdeen is the no.1 ranked junior pistol shooter in Britain and holds seven Junior British Records. In May 2025, he represented Great Britain at the 2025 ISSF Junior World Cup in Suhi, Germany, finishing 21st overall against the world’s top juniors, and is building momentum for selection for the 2028 Olympics in LA.
Fellow Newcastle student and pistol shooter Francine Gilmore, who has recently completed the first year of her Marine Biology degree, represented Britain in the European Championships in Croatia. Here, Francine ranked 51st against the world’s top juniors.
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Dominating in Dodgeball
Three current and former Newcastle Kings dodgeball players competed in this year’s European Dodgeball Championships, which were held in Limerick, Ireland, from 26 – 29 June 2025.
Class of 2025 graduate Fak Faisal brought home the title in the Men’s Cloth category, representing Northern Ireland and stepping onto the international stage for the first time. He was joined by fellow graduate James Ingoe (MEng Chemical Engineering, 2023), who captained Newcastle University’s team in the 2022/23 season and represented Wales at the tournament, and current student Zsofia Simon, representing Hungary.
Making every stroke count
Back in June, recent graduates Will Stewart (MPhys Physics, 2019), Lola Anderson MBE (BA English Literature, 2019) and Dan Graham (BA Ancient History, 2020) basked in glory rowing for Great Britain’s Senior Team in the European Rowing Championships and World Cup 1.
In Poland, Will and Lola were crowned European Champions winning Gold in the men's eight and women's quad respectively, whilst Dan raced in the B final in the men's four. And at the first World Cup in Varese, Italy, Will won Gold in the eight and Dan was 5th in the four. All three rowers are currently part of the GB Senior Team, aiming to be selected for Los Angeles 2028.
Then, in July, we celebrated six student rowers representing GB at the FISU World University Games in Germany. Tia Lenihan and Holly Youd dominated in the Women’s Eight, winning gold, with Holly then claiming another gold medal in the Women’s Four on the same day! Rachel Bradley delivered a world-class effort in the Women’s Double Sculls, winning her semifinal and finishing an impressive fourth out of seventeen crews overall. And in the Men’s Eights, Ben Brockway, Lucas Bowes and Ted Ridley powered the Men’s Eight to a stunning gold medal victory.
Finally, on 26 July at the Home International Rowing Regatta at Dorney Lake, Geography student Gwilym Johnson represented Wales, and won in the Men’s Coxless Four.
Stepping up for a PB
Current English Literature and History student, Etienne Maughan, secured a Personal Best (PB) in the 100m hurdles this summer during the UK Championships in Birmingham, completing the race in just 13.35 seconds. Etienne has competed for England domestically on a number of occasions, with ambitions to represent England or Great Britain overseas at a bigger competition in the future.
Etienne was joined in Birmingham by fellow Newcastle student Henry Christer, who competed in the 100m sprint.
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Coaching to Cricket glory
Indian-born German cardiovascular scientist and Class of 2009 graduate Anuradha Doddaballapur is the former captain of the Germany women's national cricket team and this summer, has led the Estonian national team in their T20 campaign and made history!
Anu was announced as Head Coach of the Eesti Lynx back in April 2025, following 13+ years of representing Germany (7 as captain). Anu holds two T20i world records, the first women’s double hattrick and best bowling figures by a captain.
In the 2025 Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Division series, under Anu’s guidance, Estonia have won their series against Czechia 3-0, achieved their highest ever T20i total and secured victory by their biggest ever winning margin. Impressive!
Varsity champions four years in a row
Our summer of sporting success follows on from a super spring in which Newcastle University retained the Varsity trophy against local rivals Northumbia University for the fourth year running, with an overall score of 47.5 vs Northumbria’s 31.5. Can we make it five years in a row? Tune in next spring to find out!