Swansea University bikers sprint in first in Cycle Challenge

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Swansea University cyclists have put a spoke in the wheels of their competitors by crossing the winning line first to win the recent Swansea Cycle Challenge.

Cycle Challenge1

Representatives of the 150 staff who took part in the Challenge celebrated their “win” at an event on Friday 18th October in the Refectory at Fulton House.

Cycle Challenge2

 

Philip McDonnell, from the Challenge, presented the jubilant “pedlers” with certificates, the winners cycling cake and gave cupcakes to all of the riders. The Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard B Davies, himself an avid cyclist, cut the cake to celebrate event.

Cycle Challenge3

 

Swansea University cyclists beat off challenges from Admiral Insurance, HSBC Direct, Amazon and NWIS in the 500+ staff category. Staff from the Colleges of Science, Medicine, Engineering and the Admissions department all entered their staff size (numbers not weight) category and performed well.

Along with cycling Swansea University recognises that it has an important role to play in the promotion and practice of sustainability and is leading the way with a number of innovations that have been introduced on campus. For instance, the University was the first in Wales to achieve Fairtrade and to implement Green Impact, and has been awarded a First Class Degree in the Guardian-published Green League. The University has recently been awarded the EcoCampus Platinum award and the international standard ISO 14001 for its environmental management system and been shortlisted for the 2013 Green Gown Awards in the Facilities and Services Category.

Other areas which the University has developed are:

  • The University's approach to Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (ESDGC)
  • Swansea University's Sustainability Policy
  • Fairtrade at Swansea University
  • Green Guide - Sustainability information for students, staff and visitors
  • Brighter Futures Funding- Funding for student sustainability projects
  • Carbon Management - Swansea University's approach to carbon reduction
  • BayCycles

Picture 1: The Swansea University Cycle Challenge winning certificate and cake.

Picture 2: Professor Richard B Davies, Vice-Chancellor, Swansea University receiving the winners certificate from Philip McDonnell, Swansea Cycle Challenge.

Picture 3: Philip McDonnell holds the cake for the VC to cut. 

  • The Swansea Cycle Challenge is a fun, free competition to encourage colleagues to experience firsthand joys and benefits of riding a bike. There are lots of fantastic prizes on offer to tempt the teams; from cinema tickets and local restaurant vouchers, to bike gear to support your cycle journey. It’s all about participation – which workplaces can get the most people to ride a bike for just 10 minutes or more? It’s not about who can cycle the most miles, but who can encourage the most people to give cycling a go. 
  • Swansea University competed against other businesses in the area to see who can get the most staff to ride a bike between Monday 9 and Sunday 29 September 2013.

  • So far 67 organisations have joined the Challenge with 775 participants, 134 new cyclists, 44097 miles were cycled and 8427 KG Co2 saved.  For more information go to http://www.lovetoride.net/swansea/event_results/30?locale=en-GB