Durham University are blessed with an abundance of students who have gone about and beyond in their respective sports, flourishing in their talents and representing their respective countries to the highest of levels. This year's no different; Durham are exceptional proud of the sporting efforts of all their athletes, including those who have been called up to represent their countries across a range of different sports.
We have compiled a list of Team Durham's athletes who have represented their countries on the national stage this year, showcasing their exceptional efforts and commitment to their sports. To name a few...
Pip (Natalie) Konnerth is a PhD student here at Durham, and after years of hard work and determination, was selected to represent the United States of America in women's hockey. Pip has shown true grit and courage to achieve this goal, achieving her first cap for the U.S Women's National Team in June 2022 against Spain. Props given to the coaching team here at Durham, for working exceptionally hard with all of their hockey athletes, supporting Pip on her journey to success. Follow Pip's future steps on the Team USA website.
Christina Cuming of Collingwood College has been selected to represent Great Britain touring Canada in the summer of 2023 for 3 weeks. Christina is an avid rifle shooter, specifically full bore rifle shooting. She will be competing in the Dominion of Canada Rifle Association Meeting (Canadian National Championships), the Province of Quebec Meeting (Quebec Regionals), followed by two international competitions including the Canada and the Commonwealth. Team GB will shoot against countries from around the world including America, Australia, New Zealand and Kenya. Christina also shoots smallbore, coming second in the BUCS individual championships last year for Durham University.
Josh Waddell, also representing Collingwood College, is a well known face within the Sport and Wellbeing Park. Josh has currently paused his studies at Durham, to concentrate on making his debut at the Paris Paralympic Games 2024. Josh, a local lad, learnt to fence through the Durham City Community Club, coached by Durham's own coaching team including renowned Laszlo Jakab. Josh has soared on his sporting journey as a senior GB fencer, with 16 finishes in an array of World Cups, and is also a member of the #1 ranked foil team in the world. Josh keeps his Instagram following up-to-date with his decorated successes @jwaddellgbr. We hope to see Josh on the big screens in Paris 2024.
The rest of the fencing team have been busy preparing and competing for Team GB's under 20's team. Mike Maclennan of Collingwood College, currently studying History in his second year, accompanied by Sophie Peat of Mary's College, a first year business student, competed the weekend of the 7th-8th January '23 in the Junior World Cup in Udine. Sophie and the team were awarded third place for their stirling efforts against Spain. Another representative of the Great British team is Darcy Holdsworth of University College, studying history in her second year. The team were accompanied by Jamie Briggs last term, a Van Mildert undergraduate, studying theology and religion in his second year.
Another Collingwood College star, Seren Redmond, is a second year Geography student and enthusiastic netballer. Seren was selected to compete for The Republic of Ireland Senior Netball Team at the Nations Cup held in Singapore December 2022. Netball Ireland’s Open Squad are navigating their way up the international ranking table, competing against teams such as Fiji, Singapore, Botswana, and Malaysia. Millie Cox, Seren’s university teammate and fellow Collingwood student, was also selected to play for The Republic of Ireland as goal shooter / goal attack. Millie is a 4th year MLAC student, and was selected in October for the World Cup qualifiers.
Alexandra Gatt of St Aidan's College is a first year student here at Durham, and has marked her success in the sporting world, being selected to represent her home country of Malta in the 2023 UEFA Women's U19s European Championship Qualifications. Malta made history gaining their first promotion for the first time in history, after drawing against Northern Ireland, and securing two wins against the Faroe Islands and Azerbaijan. Alexandra and the rest of her football team will begin their campaign against 3 of the strongest teams in European Football; Norway, Belgium and Portugal. Alexandra has been a part of the Maltese National Academy since the age of 11, and has captained the Team from U16's level; currently captaining the U19's team. She has earned 20 International Caps at youth level, scoring two international goals during her debut. In September 2021, Alexandra was selected for the Malta Senior National Squad to play against Denmark in the FIFA Women's World Cup UEFA Qualifiers - Group Stages. Pernille Harder of Chelsea and Stine Larsen of Aston Villa were amongst the Danish Team competing.
Bailey James, a Law student at South College, travelled to Turkey in October to compete in the IPF/FISU World University Powerlifting Cup; his first international representation. After a tremendous performance at the British University Championships, where Bailey achieved a 430kg total he was one of 16 people to be selected to represent Britain at the World University Powerlifting Cup. Bailey hit 8/9 good lifts, achieving a 460kg total (new personal record) and an overall 3rd place. Read the full breakdown of Bailey's performance here.
Levin Graf's sterling performance at Henley Royal Regatta 2022 competing in the Temple Challenge Cup Men's 1st 8, coupled with his exceptional performance at Under 23 trials, landed him an invite to crew formation and selection to compete in the stroke seat of the men's quad, in the Under 23's European Rowing Championships in September 2022.
Durham Volleyball never fail to disappoint, exceeding expectations and consistently performing at the top of the table; reflective of their talented athletes and coaches. Three of the women's team's athletes have been competing in Luxemburg this year for the Novotel Cup with Team England; Sofia Nicholson of Hatfield College Geography student, Bethan Appleton-Jones of John Snow College studying Psychology, and Alice Brand of St. Cuthbert's Society studying Sport and Exercise Science.
Ophelia Vesely, a first year student studying Geography at South College, is also a Team GB representative triathlete. Ophelia represented GB at The World Sprint Championships in Montreal, and The European Sprint Championships in Munich (coming 10th & 7th in the U20s respectively). Her recognisable efforts have lead to further qualification for the GB Sprint Distance Team again this year.
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