By Ava Featon, Sports Deputy-Editor
When you think about University sport societies your mind immediately floats to the big three: football, rugby, and hockey, but there are so many more sports that the University of Bristol students choose to devote their time to.
Here is the Epigram's list of the top three unique sports societies you should get involved with this upcoming season:
- Korfball
Korfball is a fun, beginner-friendly society with both a social and competitive side, allowing members to be involved as much or as little as they like. The club hosts four training session a week, as well as running a club social every Wednesday evening for those who'd prefer to exercise their liver rather than their lungs.
For those looking to get involved with the society in the upcoming season, the club hosts multiple 'Give It a Go' sessions at the start of the year. You need no previous Korfball experience to attend and these sessions provide a great opportunity for freshers to try out the sport, meet the members, and get a feel for what the club is all about.
After the 'Give It a Go' sessions, the club then hosts trials for anyone who wants to play Korfball competitively for the University. Last season, the first team made it to the National Trophy, which they went on to win, while the second team reached the National Plate - two very impressive accolades.
Club Captain Saskia Hekkelman spoke to the Epigram about what the club meant to her;
"I am so grateful for what Korfball has given me - it really has made my university experience the best experience ever! The Wednesday socials are always the highlight of my week and I love that playing competitively doesn't come with huge amounts of pressure. Everyone is always so supportive and you really do feel part of the team. Getting to play the sport I love with the people I love is amazing."
- Shooting
Whether you've shot at school, with your family, or never at all, Bristol's shooting society could be for you. They are a shooting club who exclusively use clay pigeons and shotguns, and never shoot game - meaning the club is animal cruelty free!
If the society catches your eye at the Freshers' fair or you've been thinking of joining for a while, then head along to one of the 'Give It a Go' sessions. All of the sessions are relaxed and are always run by an instructor, who will coach you regardless of your ability.
If the 'Give It a Go' sessions seal the deal for you and you decide to join Bristol's shooting club this season, you can join them on their weekly shoots on Wednesdays or Saturdays. Usually starting around midday and typically carrying on well into the afternoon, the shoots are a great way to develop your skills but also socialise. If you are looking for a more challenging edge to the sport, there are trials for those who'd like to get involved with the competitive side to the club.
One of the club's finest, Ava Summer, highlighted her experience with the club;
"The club has brought so much fun to my University experience! Shooting is a really social sport and doesn't have to be competitive at all, in fact it's a very friendly society. There's lots of interaction with other universities, and traveling for the competitions, but getting dressed up for the black tie dinners after the competitions is definitely a highlight for me! Our club also gifts a great opportunity to explore the countryside around Bristol and explore different environments at different universities."
Whether you choose to break it down on the dance floor on a Wednesday night or commit to the club competitively, Bristol's Shooting society welcomes you with open arms.
- Ultimate Frisbee
Ultimate Frisbee is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK, and Bristol is no exception! It is a non-contact, self-refereed sport that truly relies on sportsmanship. Having no neutral referee or umpire to manage the games, this community prides themselves for their 'Spirit of the Game'. The University of Bristol's Ultimate Frisbee team offers three different divisions of the game: Open, Women's, and mixed.
For the majority of the current club, they had never touched a disc before university, but that did not prove an issue at all when it came to learning and understanding the sport they now love.
"We are a beginner-friendly and inclusive club, open for everyone and anyone of different backgrounds and abilities to join." - Ruth Lim, President
Most of the club members' first interaction with the sport came from one of the university's 'Give It a Go' sessions, which are always held both before and after the Freshers' Fair. If the 'Give It a Go' sessions satisfy your sporting itch, then go along to the weekly training sessions. The club hosts both indoor and outdoor training four times a week, plus a weekly Wednesday social, of course. There is no pressure to attend all of the training sessions, the club allows you to train as little or as much as you like.
Follow the societies on their socials:
@bristolunikorf
@bristolshooting
@bristol_uni_unltimate_frisbee
