Team SCU ready for Northern University Games

Southern Cross University is fielding its largest team ever for the 2012 Northern University Games which kicks off in Lismore on Sunday, July 1.

Team SCU is made up of more than 250 students and team managers from across the University’s three campuses and those studying externally, which is more than double the size of the team sent to the Northern University Games (NUG) in Armidale last year.

Around 1200 student athletes from Queensland, northern New South Wales and Northern Territory will be in Lismore for the Games.

Team SCU will be competing in all 13 sports across the five-day event from July 1 to 5.

The home team is also out to defend its title at the national surfing competition, the Australian University Surfing Championships, in Lennox Head.

“Local knowledge will give our surfers a huge advantage at Lennox,” said Southern Cross University team manager, Dave Graham.

“Last year, SCU finished in the top 12 overall at the Australian University Games, no doubt boosted by our excellent surfing results.

“Team SCU is hoping to equal or better that result in 2012.”

The University will be hosting two sports at its Lismore campus: rugby union 7s (Monday July 2 and Tuesday July 3) and women’s waterpolo (Monday July 2 to Thursday July 5).

The Games’ medal ceremony and closing presentation will be held at the Lismore campus in the Zest Function Room from 5.30pm, Thursday July 5.

Thirteen sports will be played in venues across Lismore during the Games: baseball (open), basketball (men and women), football (women), golf (men’s singles), hockey (women), lawn bowls (open), netball (women and mixed), rugby union 7s (men), surfing (national event, men and women), tennis (singles) (men and women), touch (men, women, mixed), volleyball (men and women), waterpolo (women).

The last time Southern Cross University and the Lismore City Council hosted the NUG was 1995. In 2010 the University partnered with Coffs Harbour City Council to host the Eastern University Games.

The Northern University Games was established in 1991 to provide a friendly but competitive environment for student athletes from all over Queensland, northern New South Wales and Northern Territory.

Mr Graham said he was pleased to see so many SCU students involved in the Games.

“Competition managers for many of the sports are either SCU students or SCU graduates. Competition managers are in charge of recruiting of officials, managing volunteers and the overall running of their sport, so it’s a huge responsibility.

“As well, many SCU students are volunteering their time in roles as diverse as logistics, first aid, officiating, event management, and media coverage.”

Photo: Netball is one of 13 sports at the Northern University Games. Sports and events at SCU Lismore campus, Military Road, East Lismore WOMEN’S WATERPOLO Monday July 2 to Thursday July 5 from 10am to 3pm at the SCU Pool MEN’S RUGBY UNION 7s Monday July 2 and Tuesday July 3 from 10 am to 2pm at the Maurie Ryan Oval MEDAL PRESENTATION & CLOSING CEREMONY From 5.30pm Thursday July 5 in the Zest Function Room