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Kent Pole Fitness Host Inter-University Pole Competition

On Saturday, 19th of February, the University of Kent hosted the first ever Inter-University Pole Competition. The event attracted competitors from across the country, and over 26 people competed.

A sport and a society that has been surrounded by a lot of bad press, the University of Kent’s Pole Fitness Society are continuing to prove themselves to be a society who take reputation seriously. Pole Fitness requires a lot of dedication, skill and practice and the amount of work that goes into running the society and a national competition is commendable.

University teams from York, Sussex, East Anglia and Roehampton all travelled to Canterbury to compete and there was an impressively high calibre of talent at the competition. The University of York won the award for Best University over all.

The judges who were composed of Jeni Gooch, Cat Denning and Lou and Faye Gardiner, awarded places in the following categories: best tricks, best entertainer, 3rd, 2nd and 1st place in each category of beginners, intermediates, advanced, men’s and doubles.

The University of Kent entered a strong team for the competition which involved stunningly choreographed routines, beautiful performances and impresses moves. Competitors from Kent included Sam Baker, Lucy James and Georgi Corke in the women’s individual rounds. Anna Meekums and Lewis Riggall competed in the pairs and Lewis Riggall and Sam King both competed in the men’s division.

Not only hosting, arranging and competing in the event, Kent did incredibly well and won awards in the following categories:

Lewis Riggall: 1st place

Sam King: Best Entertainer

Lucy James: Best Entertainer

On winning Best Entertainer in the women’s intermediate division Lucy James said she was surprised and thrilled to win: “Thank you to everyone for the support and well done to everyone who entered, you were all amazing!”

X-Pole generously provided two dancing stages and six X-Poles, one for the winner of each category and helped to promote the event. Pole Passion also contributed discount cards for their products to those who won awards.

Anna Meekums, President of Kent Pole Fitness, said: “We’re very proud to have created the first Inter-University Pole competition and I’m glad it went so well. It was brilliant to have so many universities compete and to have so much support.”

Contrary to the usual animosity that exists during inter-university sports competitions there was a friendly atmosphere with all of the universities getting on well.

Not satisfied with just organising a competition and winning a good share of the awards, the Kent Pole Fitness girls also raised money for Macmillan Cancer Support charity, through a bake sale.

The first Inter-University Pole Competition was a resounding success and plans to repeat the event for next year are being discussed. This competition builds on earlier achievements gained by the University of Kent Pole Fitness Society who won first and third place in the Miss Pole Dance UK Amateur competition in October 2010.

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