People

BUSA success

Two of the University's sports bursary students secured medal positions at the British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) championships.

Abbie Thorrington completed her three years of BUSA cyclo-cross championships undefeated by retaining her title on a windy day in Swansea. In her closest race to date, Abbie, a third year sports science student, eventually emerged the winner by half a lap. She had raced in the BUSA cross-country the previous day, finishing as highest Essex woman. The women’s cyclo-cross team of Abbie and Claire Batterham was placed third behind Cambridge and Loughborough.

Abbie has now accumulated four BUSA individual titles and a team gold during her time at Essex. With this year’s triathlon, modern biathlon and cycling time trials still to come she'll be looking to add to her BUSA achievements in the coming months.

Also at the BUSA championships, clinical physiology student, Abi Embling took home the bronze medal in the singles table tennis championships. She lost out in the semi-finals to the current world number six player in a closely fought match.

Legal eagles in the making

Schoolchildren across the county battled for the title of Essex Street Law champions recently with the Colchester Royal Grammar School coming out on top for a second consecutive year.

The Grammar School faced tough opposition from Tendring Technology College in the final of the mock trial competition which was co-hosted by international law firm Eversheds LLP. Best Barrister prize went to Lucy Cook of the Tendring school.

Teams of up to 12 pupils took part in the annual competition which involves taking part in a series of mock trials based on real cases.

Founded by law students in 2003, Essex Street Law is a voluntary organisation which aims to teach local secondary school pupils that the law is something that shapes every aspect of their lives. Bora Kurti, one of the Essex students responsible for this year’s competition, explained: 'The vision of Essex Street Law is simple: if young people understand the laws and systems that surround them, and have the skills to use that knowledge effectively, they can be more successful in their transition to legal adulthood. Some school pupils cite their Street Law experience as motivation to become lawyers.'

Also in the printed March edition of Wyvern:

• Dialect day for sixth formers
• New lecturer for CPS degree
• Can you help Africa's displaced people?