Strathclyde student Mark Stewart scooped a silver medal in day six of the UCI Cycling World Championships in the Men’s madison event, while several other students and graduates have been competing in the Netball World Cup.
Mark, who is studying Sport & Physical Activity, and teammate Oliver Wood claimed second place in the race at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow with 35 points, just two points behind winners The Netherlands and a point ahead of third-placed New Zealand.
The duo stayed in contention throughout the 200-lap race and moved into third place with one sprint remaining, battling it out in dramatic fashion in the final three laps to secure silver.
Stewart said: “I’ve been away for a few years and the coach, Ben, brought me back in and the team that he’s put around us – obviously he’s got fantastic riders, Ollie, Ethan, Dan, Charlie – but the team that Ben has built around, with Chris the psyche, Sophie our performance analyst, I’ve never come into a race more prepared.
“I’m actually a bit gutted we didn’t win because it felt fantastic to have that support – it’s been such a nice change to be in Glasgow.”
Mark already holds two gold medals (Individual Pursuit and Omnium) a silver (Scratch Event) and a bronze (Team Pursuit) from the European U23 Track Championships, and four bronzes (Madison and Team Pursuit) and a gold (Scratch Event) from the UCI World Cup.
The UCI Cycling World Championships are taking place in Glasgow from 3-13 August. Strathclyde’s campus sits right in the heart of much of the action, with the ‘Mur de Montrose’ Montrose Street hill climb a landmark feature on the city centre road race circuit – one, which according to an article by freelance journalist Trevor Ward on the Cyclist website, is destined to become a ‘classic climb’.
In another sporting competition, the Netball World Cup held in South Africa between 28 July to 6 August, two current students – Cerys Finn and Emma Barrie – and recent graduates Bethan Goodwin and Niamh McColl were part of the Scotland squad that finished in 10th place in the tournament.
All of them are in the Strathclyde Sirens squad alongside several other Sirens players who are part of the Scotland team too. Sirens player Towera Vinkhumbo represented Malawi in the tournament, who finished in 7th place.
Neil Brown, Director of Sport & Active Health and Strathclyde, said: “The summer has once again seen some of our sport scholars and alumni excelling on the world stage, showing the calibre of world class talent attracted to study at Strathclyde.
“We are delighted to support these athletes tireless pursuit of their dual career ambitions and are so proud of each and every one of them. We look forward to supporting Strathclyde student athletes in the coming season, including those working towards selection for the Paris Olympics next year.”