Registration for 2020 National Schools Lacrosse Championships Goes Live

The annual National Schools Lacrosse Championships has been confirmed to take place between Saturday 29th February and Tuesday 3rd March 2020.

And registration for the competition is now live and is open until Wednesday 20th November 2019.

Taking place at Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre, Aldershot, the National Schools Lacrosse Championships has several age categories including Under-19, Under-15, Under-14, and Under-13.

It sees schools from all around the country battle it out to be crowned National Schools Lacrosse Champions with Berkhamsted being the 2019 Under-19A winners.

For more information on how to apply click the button below:

Box boys ready to take on the world in Canada

England Box get their World Championship campaign underway tonight as they take on hosts Canada in their opening match of the 2019 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship in Langley, BC.

After being one of the odd teams given a rest day for the opening set of fixtures, the team are raring and ready to go after experiencing the opening ceremony yesterday.

The squad have been together in Canada since Saturday and have had two warm-up scrimmages against Germany and Australia, winning the first and losing the second both by a two-goal margin, as all the teams shook off the jet lag and ring rust ahead of the matches that matter.

It will be a fearsome task for the England side against reigning World Champions Canada who beat USA 16-6 last night and are 24-0 at the World Indoor Championships since the first edition back in 2003.

But the side will relish the challenge in front of a big partisan home crowd and will look forward to testing themselves against the best in the world in the blue division.

Tonight’s match along with every single game from the Championship can be watched at laxsportsnetwork.com with the face-off at 12.30am UK Time/7.30pm ET/4.30pm PT.

England Pool Fixtures

v Canada - (Evening of) Friday 20 September - 12.30am
v Israel - (Evening of) Saturday 21 September - 12.30am
v Iroquois Nationals - Monday 23 September - 3.30am
v USA - (Evening of) Monday 23 September - 12.30am

England Squad

Goalies

89 - Eliot Pugh
92 - Frank Scigliano

Field

2 - Caius Jefferies
9 - Jamie Sutton
12 - Matt Marsh
13 - Tyson Roe
15 - Will Walker
16 - Chris Wainer
17 - Nate Clare
21 - Dave Cluney
22 - Brandan Smith
24 - Ben Colville
25 - Caleb Kueber
29 - Tony Joseph
36 - Matt Tatton
40 - Will Allsop
48 - Albert Whitehead
49 - Dan Eckersall
51 - Tom Roche
87 - Dom Fitzgerald
88 - Gavin Abrahamson
93 - Sam Clare
97 - Lyndon Bunio

University of Bath and Hillcroft Win 2019 Bath 8s

On Saturday (7 September), the University of Bath and Hillcroft LC won the 2019 Bath Eights competition.

Both teams claimed their first title, with the University of Bath becoming the first ever team from Bath to win at the Bath Eights.

They also become just the third team to win the women’s tournament after Stockport Lacrosse Club (2017) and Bristol Bombers (2018).

Bath beat last year’s winners, Bristol Bombers, 7-6 in a nail-biting final which took sudden-death over-time to decide as it finished 4-4 after regular time and 6-6 after over-time.

In the men’s competition, Hillcroft overcame Hitchin in their semi-final before defeating Mellor 6-1 in the final to become the third new name on the trophy in the past 10 years and just the 14th different side to win the men’s competition in its 34-year history.

The 2019 Bath 8s was the biggest yet with 32 men’s and 10 women’s teams taking part.

This is pretty remarkable as Bath is outside the traditional lacrosse heartlands of Manchester and the South-East and started from virtually nothing way back in 1986.

It’s since become a staple of the pre-season and is always a highly competitive and sought after trophy.

Well done from England Lacrosse to all the teams and players that took part and we can’t wait for the 2020 tournament!

Take a look at some photos from the day below:

2019/2020 University Lacrosse Officers Complete Training

England Lacrosse’s second cohort of University Lacrosse Officers have been sworn in and completed their training last week.

The two-day training session, held at Nottingham Trent University, allowed the 35 officers to get to know each other and the England Lacrosse team and included seminars about communications & marketing, officiating, and growing the sport of lacrosse.

England Lacrosse originally launched the University Lacrosse Officer (ULO) Programme ahead of the 2018/19 season and it was a great success.

Over the past year, the ULOs have been working hard to grow lacrosse at their university and in the surrounding area.

26 University students at 24 different universities were appointed in the first year but this has grown to a massive 35 across 31 universities this year.

In addition to encouraging new students to give lacrosse a go at university, the ULOs will also be forging strong links with local clubs to give players more experience of the game outside of the university environment and presenting a pathway for students to stay in the sport post-education.

England Lacrosse’s legal partner, RPC Law, and equipment supplier, STX, have committed to be partners of the ULO Programme for the second year in a row, providing backing and support to the ULOs.

Mark Coups, England Lacrosse Chief Executive, said: “We are extremely excited for the second year of the University Lacrosse Officer programme.

“The new ULOs are a strong and enthusiastic group of individuals who are passionate about developing the sport.

“With support from EL staff, as well as the backing of our partners, STX and RPC Law, the ULO Programme will continue to build upon the rapid growth of lacrosse in the university sector and look to establish genuine links to also benefit the club game across England.”

Stay in touch with the programmes and initiatives set up by our team of ULOs at www.unilax.co.uk

2019/2020 University Lacrosse Officers

Madison Jones - University of Bath (bath@unilax.co.uk)
Amandeep Bhogal - University of Birmingham (birmingham@unilax.co.uk)
Ben Costin - University of Bristol (bristol@unilax.co.uk)
Sophie Bitton - Brunel University (brunel@unilax.co.uk)
Harry Hammond - Canterbury Christ Church University (canterbury@unilax.co.uk)
Lydia Silcock & Tom Sturtridge - Coventry University (coventry@unilax.co.uk)
Joey Richardson - De Montfort University (demontfort@unilax.co.uk)
Danny Fagan - Derby University (derby@unilax.co.uk)
Poppy Waller - University of Exeter (exeter@unilax.co.uk)
Scott Palmer - Falmouth & Exeter University (fxu@unilax.co.uk)
Curtis Hibberd - University of Gloucestershire (gloucestershire@unilax.co.uk)
Harry Coulthard - University of Hull (hull@unilax.co.uk)
Charles Thomson - University of Kent (kent@unilax.co.uk)
Lydia Sear - Kingston University (kingston@unilax.co.uk)
Rebecca Hakim - University of Leeds (leeds@unilax.co.uk)
Victoria Ackford - Lincoln University (lincoln@unilax.co.uk)
Hattie Abbott - Loughborough University (loughborough@unilax.co.uk)
Alexandra Molton & Joel Clark - University of Manchester (manchester@unilax.co.uk)
Annabel Simpson - Newcastle University (newcastle@unilax.co.uk)
Katie Mcshane - University of Northampton (northampton@unilax.co.uk)
Grace Tanner & Jasmine Waite - University of Nottingham (nottingham@unilax.co.uk)
Georgie Green - Nottingham Trent University (trent@unilax.co.uk)
Danny Wykes - Oxford Brookes University (brookes@unilax.co.uk)
Ollie Brown - University of Plymouth (plymouth@unilax.co.uk)
Alice-May Partridge - Portsmouth University (portsmouth@unilax.co.uk)
Izzy Matthews - Reading University (reading@unilax.co.uk)
Alice Watts - Royal Holloway, University of London (royalholloway@unilax.co.uk)
Frankie Sheard - Sheffield Hallam University (hallam@unilax.co.uk)
Amy Thomas & Rory Heydon - University of Southampton (southampton@unilax.co.uk)
James Gaunt Roberts - University of Sussex (sussex@unilax.co.uk)
Mohja Amer - Warwick University (warwick@unilax.co.uk)

Centaurs and Hampstead Lacrosse Clubs Win Ken Galluccio Cup

Centaurs and Hampstead Lacrosse Clubs both won the Ken Galluccio Cup this weekend.

The annual three-day tournament was held in Ghent, Belgium this year and the English league champions proved too strong for the rest of the competition, made up of other European domestic lacrosse champions.

Centaurs, who are based in Middlesex, defeated LCC Radotín of Czech Republic 14-9 in the women’s final while Hampstead Lacrosse beat Oslo Lacrosse, Norway, 8-2 in the men’s final.

It was a fairly straight-forward tournament from an English point of view with both sides winning all their groups games as well as a semi-final and final.

Centaurs won their five group games with aplomb and finished top of their group, scoring 92 and conceding just 11 goals in the process while Hampstead, who also finished top of their group, won their three group games, scoring 32 and conceding 11 goals.

Both sides demolished their semi-final opponents with neither conceding a goal and Hampstead cruised to victory against Oslo Lacrosse, winning 8-2.

LCC Radotín gave Centaurs a slight scare in the final quarter of the women’s final though as they sought a late come-back. They won that fourth quarter 5-3 but Centaurs held on for a 14-9 victory.

It means that the men’s tournament has been won by an English side for two years in a row after Poynton’s victory in 2018.

Centaurs proved third time’s a charm, after finishing second in 2017 and 2018, finally bringing the trophy home against last year’s champions.

The Ken Galluccio Cup victories continue what has been an incredible summer of lacrosse for English sides.

England’s U20 men’s side won the 2019 U20 Men’s European Championships, England’s senior women’s team won the 2019 Women’s European Championships, and England’s U19 women’s team finished fourth at the 2019 U19 World Championships.

Results for the English Teams:

Centaurs

Group
16-5 v Edinburgh University🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
20-3 v Graz Gladiators🇦🇹
21-0 Red Rhinos🇧🇪
11-1 v HLC Rot-Weiß München🇩🇪
13-2 v Poznan Hussars Ladies🇵🇱

Knockouts
11-0 v Domstad Devils🇳🇱 - SF
14-9 v LCC Radotín Girls🇨🇿 - F

Hampstead

Group
11-2 v Amsterdam Lions 🇳🇱
15-4 v Braine Lions🇧🇪
6-5 v Oslo Lacrosse🇳🇴

Knockouts
13-0 LCC Wolves Radotín🇨🇿 - SF
8-2 v Oslo Lacrosse🇳🇴 - F

Official photography can be found at https://shutterlax.com/

Check out some photos from the weekend below:

34th Bath Eights Tournament Preview

On Saturday (7 September), Bath Lacrosse Club hosts its 34th annual Bath Eights tournament.

Last year’s men’s competition winners, Cheadle Lacrosse Club, will be back and looking to win a record sixth title.

After being introduced in 2017, the women’s competition is in its third year with Stockport Lacrosse Club and Bristol Bombers winning in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

Bath Eights 2019 is set to be the most exciting tournament yet with 32 men’s sides and 12 women’s sides taking part.

The men’s competition started back in 1986 when, according to Bath Lacrosse Club’s website, ‘someone had an idea: “Let’s have a pre-season tournament in September”. It would be unlikely to attract many teams, being so far from the lacrosse heartlands of Manchester and London, but it was perhaps worth a try’.

Well, the tournament is now a permanent fixture on the lacrosse calendar and is something teams from all around the country look forward to.

It is also the main source of finance for Bath’s junior development programme.

From 1986 until 2016, the Bath Eight-a-Side Lacrosse Tournament took place on the first Saturday in September on the Recreation Ground in the heart of the city.

However, the tournament moved to Odd Down Sports fields in 2017, Bath Lacrosse Club’s home between 1983 and 1986.

The newly refurbished ground, with floodlit 3G pitch, is a far cry from the original council pitches and it gives the option of expanding both the men’s and women’s tournaments if required in the future.

All funds raised from the event go towards the club development fund, which continues to help grow the sport in the local area. 

For more information regarding the Bath 8s Tournament click HERE.

2019 BATH 8s TOURNAMENT CONFIRMED TEAMS

MEN

Bath
Bangor University
Bristol Bombers
Camden Capybaras
Cardiff Harlequins
Cardiff University
Cheadle
Cheadle (Coffin Dodgers)
Cheltenham Cougars
Cheltenham Cotwoldians (Cheltenham Cougars 2nd team)
City of Stoke
Epsom
Guilford Gators
Hillcroft
Hitchin
Kings College London
London Raptors
Loughborough University Alumni
Mellor
Military Lacrosse
Milton Keynes
Nottingham Trent University Alumni
Reading
Reading University Rainbows
Ruthin & Alicante
Sheffield
Spencer
Swansea University
Trowbridge
University of Bath
Welwyn
Wilmslow

WOMEN

Bath
Bristol Bombers
Cheltenham Cougars
City of Stoke
Guildford Gators
Hillcroft
Kings College London
Reading
Reading University Rainbows
Swansea University
University of Bath
Walcoutian Blues

Centaurs and Hampstead to Represent England at the Ken Galluccio Cup

Friday 6 September marks the start of the Ken Galluccio Cup in Ghent, Belgium which sees 12 women’s and 8 men’s club lacrosse champions from around Europe battle it out for the annual trophy.

This year, England’s representatives are Hampstead Lacrosse Club (men) and Centaurs Lacrosse Club (women) after they won their respective leagues.

Hampstead won the South East Men’s Lacrosse Association (SEMLA) Premier Division, winning all 12 of their matches, while Centaurs also took their South East Women’s Lacrosse Association (SEWLA) Premier Division title at a canter, remaining unbeaten and winning 13 out of their 14 games.

The cup has been running since 2008 and is organised by the European Lacrosse Federation (ELF) and gathers domestic champions from several countries, including Germany, Netherlands, and Sweden, to decide which team is Europe’s best.

Originally named the Champions Cup, the tournament was renamed the Ken Galluccio Cup as a tribute to its creator after his death in 2009 and it is the largest European lacrosse tournament with teams from over 15 countries taking part.

For the first four years, the tournament was held in Hamburg, Manchester, Hamburg, and Prague but since 2013 it has been held in Ghent, Belgium.

English teams have traditionally performed well at the tournament, winning seven out of the 10 titles in the men’s competition, including last year’s which was won by Poynton Lacrosse Club.

In the women’s competition, Oxton Lacrosse Club won the title in 2014 while Centaurs were runners-up last year; they’ll be hoping to go one better this year!

The pool stages take place on the first and second days with the knockout stages on day three.

The men’s final will take place at 12pm and the women’s at 1pm on day three.

For more information about the Ken Galluccio Cup click HERE.

POOL PLAY SCHEDULES (UK TIMES)

Hosting Bids for BUCS Lacrosse 8s Now Being Accepted

Hosting bids for the 2020/21/22 England Lacrosse University 8s tournament, officially sanctioned by British Universities & College Sport (BUCS), are now being accepted.

First appearing in the BUCS competition calendar in 2016/17, the event has seen a consistent increase in popularity and enjoyment for the teams taking part over the past three years.

While BUCS retain overall event ownership, England Lacrosse continue to manage, organise and deliver the event.

The 2019 event was held at Bristol University where Durham (men) and Oxford (women) University won the titles.

But England Lacrosse are now seeking a host University to stage the BUCS 8s competition for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 events, and will consider applications for 1 or 2 year hosting.

The event is a single day competition after the conclusion of the normal BUCS season, with the last weekend in March (28th and 29th) being the preferred date, but dates in April will also be considered dependant on facility availability.

Lacrosse 8s is a fast-paced and high-scoring version of the game: it is played on reduced size pitches, allowing more teams to participate with minimal impact on facility requirements.

The event has both men’s and women’s competitions and provides significant BUCS points for teams who attend and achieve.

It provides an opportunity for the host university to demonstrate their hosting capabilities and capacities to the organisers of the largest University sporting program in Europe, whilst also allowing the University to engage with a wider cohort of students.

For more information about how to put in a bid click visit the BUCS website HERE.