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In joining the University of Portsmouth you have just entered a world of new opportunities to take part in a wide range of sport. There are sporting opportunities to suit all levels of ability.The Nuffield Sports Centre is the go-to point for sports with your mates. It is sports centre for indoor games, such as football, badminton, basketball, volleyball, netball and squash. It also hosts over 35 exercise classes a week, such as yoga, boxercise and spinning. At Nuffield, you can sign up to intramural leagues – which are tournaments that run throughout the year in most major sports. And best of all, they play on weekends giving you something to enjoy to at the end of the week.Most intramural sport will be played at Langstone, the University’s impressive sports grounds complex. The UoP also boasts St. Paul’s Sports Centre, the University gym, for which an annual membership can be bought for a bargain £135. You can find out more about sport at university at http://www.port.ac.uk/yourportsmouth/your-support/your-sport/.The Athletics Union offers membership of over 30 clubs, ranging from Netball to Dodgeball, Ten Pin Bowling and Cricket. If you are serious about your sport and want to take on the best the rest of the country has to offer, then this is the route for you. You can visit all the sports clubs at their stands at Freshers Fayre, have a chat and sign up for the trials.

But firstly, here are seven Pompey sportos to give an account of their respective clubs.

Club: Equestrian – Horse Riding & Polo

Natalie Draper, Media, Marketing and Fundraising Secretary

Joining the Equestrian Club at Fresher’s Fayre was one of the best choices I have made in my time at the University. The club asks one of the lowest membership fees of all the clubs in the Athletic Union, and also boasts of heavily subsidised riding and polo lessons; available both as a group and privately. This enables members to learn to ride and play polo whilst not spending all of our loans!

The club welcomes anyone from total beginners (like me!) to those who begrudgingly left their horse at home (guys too, it’s not just for the girls!). There’s also plenty of opportunities to socialise at the clubs various socials, trips, competitions, polo taster days and on our summer holiday.

If you are interested in trying something new, returning to riding, or the fast pace of polo, then joining the Equestrian Club is a must. Find us at Fresher’s Fayre, on Facebook and at www.portsmouthequestrian.com.

Club: American Football

Sam Astley, Social Secretary

American Football is one of the greatest, most aggressive, most physically demanding sports that the University has to offer. The Portsmouth Destroyers are currently national champions after going unbeaten last season and beating the Birmingham Lions in the final. Head coach Russ Hewitt has turned the team around from 0-6 in their first season six years ago into the most hard working, tough and physical team that the BUAFL (British University American Football League) has ever seen.

For me personally, everything about last year was a highlight – training is hard and competitive giving us an edge on other teams, and our socials are amazingly messy, giving us a bond that no other team has in the league. And of course winning the championship was the greatest day of my life. If you join the Destroyers you’re not just joining a team, you’re joining a family.

Club: Dance

Rhiannon Watkins, President

Joining Dance Club was definitely the best decision I have made while being at Uni. There are so many benefits to signing up, not only can you keep fit and improve as a dancer but the people you meet along the way become great friends. You don’t have to be an expert to join, just have a passion for dance, we offer classes in both hip hop and lyrical and hold auditions to be part of the hip hop squad which takes part in both competitions and performances.  We have performed all over Portsmouth including Liquid, Varsity and Fratton Park. We make regular trips to competitions and have received 3 first place Hip Hop, 1st place Jazz and Tap and 3rd place lyrical trophies. Being a member of UPDC also gives you a great group of
people to go out with on socials, which become the highlight of everyone’s week – and not forgetting creating brilliant memories on tour!

If you want more information email dance@upsu.net or check us out on Facebook!

Club: Hockey

Hayley Ford, Hockey 1st XI

With three women’s teams and five men’s teams, the University of Portsmouth Hockey Club (UPHC) is one of the biggest in the Athletics Union and with a strong will to succeed and a stronger will to socialise, UPHC can offer something to everyone.

Whether you’ve been playing for years or just fancy trying something new, we’ve got a place for you as we offer both competitive and social teams to suit all levels.

This year, UPHC is hoping to build on the success of last year, which resulted in two promoted teams, two cup finals, and one cup win. And after all the successes? We at the UPHC know how to celebrate, with big nights out, dress-ups and TOUR!

So if you want to be part of the best club, community and family that the University of Portsmouth has to offer, make sure you get yourself signed up to the Hockey Club.

Club: Football

Ed McCambridge, Third Year Footballer

The University of Portsmouth Football Club are national champions! And to be part of a club that is not only extremely popular but also dedicated to succeeding as we have done is an honour.

With close to one hundred players making up the six travelling men’s squads it’s the perfect way to meet loads of people as soon as you arrive. Once initiated into the team (which is quite unforgettable in itself) you’ll be part of a club that trains hard, wins for fun and absolutely bosses nights out in true style – the tight-and-bright dress up being a particular favourite of mine.

As soon as the Wednesday afternoon games are won we’re straight on the beers and celebrating in style. That goes for the women’s teams too. Possibly the best perk of all is the chance to go on tour. And speaking from the perspective of a back-to-back Fresher and Man of Tour let me tell you: you have to get involved!

Club: Wakeboarding

Thomas ‘Stella’ Wright, 2010 Media SecretaryIn a nutshell, wakeboarding is the coolest thing a human can do on water.For those who are not familiar with the sport, it is a cross between surfing and snowboarding, with the added bonus of being pulled along behind a boat or cable for speed/stability and launching yourself off an assortment of obstacles. For this reason it is one of the fastest growing extreme sports around.One massive highlight in any wakeboarder’s yearbook is the UNIWAKE Student Nationals; a 5 day long party which includes camping, competitions, and huge prizes. Pompey Wake tend to dominate here so it’s a huge recommendation!

Pompey Wake has had a reputation for being active off the lake as well as on. Make sure you attend the ‘WHITE-OUT’ social around fresher’s week for a chance to meet the crew and have a drink; it’s always a great chance to meet the other freshers who are interested in joining up.