Showing 97 results

Authority record
Cross Country Society
Corporate body · fl. Jan 1976
The first mention of the Cross Country Society was through a list of the sports societies in the McGarel in January 1976. The society had training on Wednesdays at 2pm-4pm in Regents Park.
Women's Darts Society
Corporate body · fl. Oct 1980
The first mention of the society was through a list of the different sports society’s available during the academic year of 1980/81, in the McGarel in October 1980.
Fencing Society
Corporate body · fl. Mar 1977
The first acknowledgement of the fencing society is through a report in the McGarel in March 1977 on Cary Zitcher, who was representing the British Fencing team at an international fencing competition.
Football Society
Corporate body · fl. Feb 1970

In February 1970, the Polytechnic Football Club kicked off the season in a low league position as their predecessors. The football club went on to play nine games bringing only one win and two draws in throughout the season. The club participated in Seetech football competitions. In October 1971, the society had established 5 different teams within the club.
The polytechnic played in the first round of the national polytechnic club in October/November 1971.

The academic year of 1973/74, saw a very disappointing start to the football society for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th teams. In November 1973, the Polytechnic’s first team became runners up in the British Polytechnic Cup, after losing against North London Polytechnic in the first stage of the cup. The Polytechnic’s 2nd team competed in the quarter finals of the BPSA Cup in February 1974, but had lost in the quarter finals. Along with this, the first team competed in the Premier Division of the league, however they lost in the first fixture of the season to Ealing. The Polytechnic’s first team in March 1974, won their first league match against Shoreditch Training College.

In November 1975, the society competed in a BPSA Cup. Throughout the academic year of 1975/76, the society competed in several four a side football competition. At the end of this year, the first team reportedly did reasonably well in both league and cup matches, and consequently had seven wins, one draw and eight defeats; and finished halfway in the league table. Whilst, the second team had achieved seven wins, three draws and seven defeats. The third team managed to attain ten wins, three draws and six defeats. However, the fourth team had four wins, one draw and unfortunately nine defeats. This was similar to the fifth team’s results.

In November 1978, the society's third team was knocked out of the second round of the Seetech Regional Cup by Loughton College.

Since 1979, the society every year went abroad on tours to Brussels, Germany and Amsterdam, whilst winning every tour they had been on. There was also a five-a-side tournament within the Polytechnic, where 40 teams competed in a knockout competition.
In January 1979, the first team maintained a 100% record of their league programme, beating their rivals at the time, Thames Polytechnic. During this time, the polytechnic hosted a five-a-side tournament, with over forty teams participating in the tournament. In March 1979, the first team beat Kingston Polytechnic, which meant they were one point away from the ultimate championship. Whilst, the third team competed in the Seetech Seven-a-side Tournament in Richmond Park, with them only reaching the quarter finals however, they finished with the highest points of the day. In April 1979, the first team eventually became champions after beating Brussels British Football Club in Brussels.

In February 1980, the society participated in a 5-a-side tournament which took place at the Jubilee Hall, Covent Garden. In March 1980, the team managed to reach the quarter finals of the Seetech 6-a-side tournament, eventually losing to Borough Road College.

In November 1980, the third team entered the second round of the Seetech Cup. However in January 1981, the first team had been knocked out of the qualifying round of the B.P.S.A Cup. Whilst, the third team started to topple from the league leadership. In February 1981, the first team had many victories moving them closer to becoming the champions of the Seetech Division one league.

In January 1982, the club for the first time won the trophy for winning the Inter-London Polytechnic 5-a-side competition at the Britannia Sports Centre, after winning all five of their matches.

Towards the end of the academic year of 1981/82 in June, the third football team to exist in the society was the most successful that year, whilst the second and fourth were not too far from being relegated. However, the biggest disappointment that year was the demise of the first team, which saw players not playing anymore matches after one or two disappointing results.

Golf Society
Corporate body · fl. Feb 1976
The Golf Society reformulated again in February 1976 in hope of entering the BPSA Golf Championships. In May 1976, both Stuart Masson and Colin Braum entered the Seetech Golf Championships in Middlesex. However, Masson won the individual Championships Cup after scoring a 75-76, which was the lowest score in the competition’s history. A few days afterwards, again Stuart Masson, Colin Braum and with the addition of Richard Routledge, all competed in the British Polytechnic’s Sports Association’s Golf Championship in Bedfordshire. Stuart Masson won the B.P.S.A Individual Champion’s Award, after tying for first place on a score of 151 with last year’s champion. Overall, the Polytechnic Golf Society throughout the academic year of 1975/76 made its mark both locally and nationally, which allowed the society to formulate the Poly Gold Society for the autumn term later on that year. The aim of the Gold Society was to defend the titles and championships that the society had achieved. A year later in May 1978, the Gold team was able to defend the Polytechnic’s winning of the Seetech Golf Team Championship.
Men's Hockey Society
Corporate body · fl. Nov 1973

The first mention of the Hockey Society in the 1970s, details the events of the society’s first win of the season against Sussex University in November 1973.  
During this time, the society was running two teams that season, as well as arranging mixed matches. In January 1976, the society was officially a men’s hockey society, which often trained at the Quintin Hogg Memorial Ground in Chiswick.

From October 1978, the society played in Seetech league division two and league games on Wednesdays. In March 1981, the society competed in a six-a-side tournament at Chiswick. In May 1981, the society participated in a mixed basis at the Motorway Cricket Festival.

In November 1981, the society came in fourth place in the Seetech 11-a-side tournament. In March 1982, the society was knocked out of the quarter finals of the Seetech 6-a-side tournament against Southall.

Women's Hockey Society
Corporate body · fl. 1974

The first mention of the Women’s Hockey Society in the 70s was in the McGarel in 1974. The column reported the society’s win against Hatfield Poly. In January 1976, the society was competing in Seetech League Matches against the likes of City Polytechnic. The society often used to train at Quintin Hogg Memorial Ground in Chiswick. In December 1976, the society played against Ealing’s Women’s Club who were a tough competition at the time, however the Polytechnic won against them, making this their first victory against them. Often due to a lack of punctuality on the players behalfs, this resulted in the society losing points and being awarded with fines for cancelling matches due to lateness.

On Wednesday 16th February 1977, played a home match against South Bank Polytechnic in their first league match of the term. In March 1977, the society became runners-up in Division 2B of the Seetech League 7-a-side tournament against St Marys.

In March 1981, the society competed in a 7-a-side hockey competition, which they won the opening game, and then lost the next three consecutive matches.

Karate Society
Corporate body · fl. Nov 1977

The first mention of the Karate Society was through an advertisement for students to join the society in the McGarel in November 1977, with training taking place in Fyvie Hall, Regent Street on Wednesdays 1.30pm-3.30pm. The society participated in Kei-Shin-Kan karate, which was affiliated to the All Japan Karate-Do Association and the World Karate Federation; it’s history spans over thirty years.

From January 1981, the karate club had been training in taekwondo every Wednesday in the Hailsham room in Regent Street from 1.30pm to 4pm, with a black-belt instructor and member from the English Taekwondo Federation; who was also a black-belt in Japanese Karate. Following this, the society had devised a tournament team with hopes of entering potentially more tournaments later on. Their first tournament match was against Westfield College, University of London. On Sunday 1st February 1981, the society entered 11 fighters into their first ever tournament which was the London International Taekwondo Championships. At the championships, the society won one gold medal, two silver medals and other contestants won third and fourth place. The society also competed in the London area individual championships and in the Universities and Colleges National Team Championships at Southampton University. The society also went on trips to Holland and Germany to compete in championship events.

Mountaineering Society
Corporate body · fl. Oct 1975

The Mountaineering Society was first mentioned through an advertisement for students in the McGarel in October 1975. The club catered to any student who was interested in mountain walking, rock, snow and ice climbing. The club had several hundred pounds worth of equipment for the use of members, including all the necessary climbing hardware. In January, February and May 1977, the society was able to arrange weekend trips for members to go walking and climbing in Derbyshire, Staffordshire Gritstone Area, LochNagar and North Wales.  
On Friday 3rd November 1978, the society made its first ever outing to the Peak District, where female members of the society were participating in 60 foot long climbs.

In October 1979, the society made another trip to Derbyshire where top ropes were arranged for beginners to have five climbs during the course of the day. From February 1981, the society had training every Tuesday at 6.30pm at Sobell Sports Centre Climbing Wall.

In March 1982, the society had attended a trip to Wales which consisted of sport climbing and walking through North Wales.

Corporate body · 1973-[1992]

The Badminton Society was first mentioned through an advertisement for both men and women to join, as the long-awaited coaching facilities had become available at the Regent Street campus on Saturday mornings from 10 am to 12.30pm in March 1973. In October 1975, training took place on Tuesdays 12pm-2pm, Wednesdays 1pm-3pm, Thursdays 12pm-2pm and Saturdays on 10am-12pm at the Regents Street Gym.

In January 1977, the society was running a men’s doubles team in the South East England Technical League in Division Two, whilst they were aspiring to run a team for Division One. In the same month, the society’s mixed doubles team came in 3rd position in the British Polytechnic Sports Association Cup, after being knocked out in a very competitive qualifying group.

On Saturday 26th March- 2nd April 1977, over 40 participants took part in the Polytechnic Badminton Tournament at the Riding House Street Gym. From October 1977, training and squash facilities were available for the society to use on Mondays at North Kensington Squash Club in Ladbroke Grove, on Wednesdays it was the Paddington Bowling and Sports Club in Maida Vale and on Fridays it was the South Kensington Squash Club.

During January 1979, the society saw a rise of members joining the society, as on many occasions there were reportedly up to 40 members on Saturday morning waiting to use the badminton courts, with only three courts being available at the time.

In March 1979, Ken Chua and Aling Sapi-ie won the Seetech Individual Doubles Competition. Whilst at the Seetech Individual Competition, David Witchell reached the semi finals and was knocked out.

A month later, the first team had won the Seetech League Championship, making this their third consecutive victory in their division, whist the second team became runners-up.

The beginning of the season in the academic year of 1979/80, started off badly which ultimately allowed Brighton Polytechnic to win the national B.P.S.A championships. However in December 1979, Bruce Young and Andy Balchin retained their Seetech League Championship by beating Brunel University that year.

In November 1980, some members of the society competed alongside members of the women’s team in the Seetech mixed doubles competition. However, the society were knocked out of the B.P.S.A mixed doubles and men’s doubles competition.

On 24th November 1982, the society’s Men’s ‘A’ and ‘B’ team competed in matches in the Seetech league that year playing against the likes of Davies College and North East London Polytechnic. In February 1982, the Men’s ‘A’ team became the champions of the Seetech League after winning all together 10 consecutive matches.