London Universities and Colleges Athletics
London Universities and Colleges Athletics (LUCA) is the representative and governing body for university athletics in London.
| Sport | University Athletics in London, UK |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | LUCA |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Location | London United Kingdom |
| President | Emma A. Casey |
| Chairman | Henry G. Murdoch |
| Replaced |
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| Official website | |
| www | |
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LUCA was formed in June 2015 following a merger of the London Colleges League (LCL) and the London Colleges Athletics Series (LCAS) competitions. LUCA is responsible for organising all competitions exclusive to university athletics clubs in London. This includes the United Hospitals Athletics Shield. LUCA also organises development and volunteering programs.
LUCA is a membership organisation open to clubs of higher education establishments in London. The University of Reading and the University of Bedfordshire are the only universities outside London permitted to join LUCA. Only members of LUCA can score points in LUCA competitions but guests can often compete.
LUCA won the England Athletics, London region award for 'Best Project' in 2016.
History
LUCA was established by a merger of the organising committees of LCAS and LCL in July, 2015 in London. A constitutional committee consisting of LCL secretary, Jonny Laybourn (University College London), LCAS chairman, James Findon (King's College London) and AYAG chair, Jacob Hood (University of East London) was immediately established to draft the LUCA constitution.
Mission and Role
According to the LUCA constitution, the objectives of LUCA are:
a) To improve the sport of athletics and promote it within the higher education sector in London in light of its unifying, educational, cultural and health values.
b) To organise its own competitions in London and strive to cover all disciplines of athletics
Competitions
LUCA organises four main athletics competitions. LUCA is also responsible for maintaining championship records at each of these events.
| Competition | Format | Established |
|---|---|---|
| LUCA Cross Country League | Five races in different locations around London. Held every year | Circa 1960 |
| LUCA Indoor Championships | Held every year. Incorporates the UofL Intercollegiate Track and Field Championship and UH Athletics Championship | 2015 |
| LUCA Outdoor Series | Three track and field meets. Held every year. | 2015 |
| LUCA London Students' Run | Mass participation 5k and 10K | 2016 |
LUCA Cross Country League
The London Colleges League (LCL) is the long-standing cross country league for higher education institutions in London to compete in. From 2017 it became the 'LUCA Cross Country League'. The league is normally made up of five or six races held across two terms. Each race is hosted by a different university/college. Traditionally, the first race is hosted by UCL at Parliament Hill and the final is hosted by St Mary's University, Twickenham at Bushy Park. In the 2017–18 season, the final fixture was moved to Wormwood Scrubs.
Athletes are awarded points at each race. The athlete with the most points at the end of the league wins the championship. Points are also counted towards team totals. Starting in the 2018/19 season, a new trophy will be awarded to the team with the most points across men's and women's races. This trophy will be named in honor of the late Mike Baggs, who was the league's longest serving secretary.
LUCA Indoor Championships
The Indoor Championships is an indoor track and field event established in 2015 for higher education institutions in London. It replaced the University of London Intercollegiate Track and Field Championships ('UL Indoors') as London's indoor fixture for university track and field. The event includes three separate championships that are run together; The LUCA Championships (David Morgan Cup), the University of London Intercollegiate Track and Field Championships and the United Hospitals Athletics Shield.
LUCA Outdoor Series
The Outdoor Series (previously known as the 'London College Athletics Series' (LCAS)) is a track and field series established in 2015 for higher education institutions in London to compete in. The inaugural series was won be King's College London. UCL won the series in 2016 and 2017.
Members
There are 23 members in total, including the alumni club Motspur AC.
Barts and the London Running Club
Brunel Athletics
Goldsmiths University Running Club
Imperial College Cross Country and Athletics Club
King's College London Athletics, Running and Cross-Country Club
Kingston University Tri-Club
London School of Economics Athletics and Running Club
Motspur AC
Middlesex University
Queen Mary Running and Athletics Club
Reading University Knights Athletics
Roehampton University Athletics Club
Royal Holloway Athletics and Cross Country Club
Royal Veterinary College Triathlon Club
SOAS Running Club
St George's Hospital Athletics Club
St Mary's University Athletics Club
University College London Running, Athletics and Cross-Country Club
University of Bedfordshire Athletics Club
University of East London Athletics Club
University of Essex Athletics Club
University of Greenwich Athletics and Running Club
University of London Athletics Club