St Andrews Celebrate Double National Titles at BUCS Big Wednesday
The University of St Andrews is celebrating an historic day of sporting success after claiming two national titles at BUCS Big Wednesday 2026, held at Loughborough University on 24–25 March.
Fencing: Mixed Team Crowned BUCS National Champions
The University of St Andrews Mixed Fencing Team were crowned BUCS National Champions on Wednesday 25 March following a dramatic 122–117 victory over the University of Oxford in the BUCS Championship Final.
The Championship, contested across Epee, Foil, and Sabre, saw momentum swing repeatedly in a tense and high quality encounter. Oxford took an early advantage, winning the Epee round 44–32, before St Andrews came back with a 45–33 Foil performance to level the match at 77–77 heading into the decisive Sabre.
In a fiercely contested final round, St Andrews showed exceptional composure and determination, edging the Sabre 45–40 to secure the title by just five points.
This national triumph caps off a remarkable season for the team, who were also crowned BUCS Premier League North Champions (played 10, won 9). Their route to the Championship Final included a commanding 135–55 victory over UCL in the quarter-finals and a 132–96 win against Durham in the semi-finals.
Saints Fencer Anderson Bull, who won the decisive point and won player of the match, said: “Early on we saw our potential and knew we’d have to prove ourselves against previous champions in the Northern Premiere League. But we didn’t look ahead, we focused on being consistent in every match and taking every opponent seriously. We proved that potential once we’d beaten teams that once were better than us, but we still stayed dedicated to the process and didn’t let our initial success distract us from our goals.”
Fencing Club President, Lachlan Grant said: “When we first imagined winning this tournament at the start of the season, it seemed like a faraway destination. Through commitment and camaraderie, ingenious match strategies and key victories, six fencers achieved what had never been achieved before by Saints Fencing.”
Basketball: Women’s 1st Team Win BUCS National Trophy
Earlier in the day, the University’s Women’s Basketball 1st Team claimed the BUCS National Trophy, defeating Worcester 1st Team 79–69 in an intense and fast-paced final.
In a clash between two undefeated league champions – St Andrews from Scottish 1A and Worcester from Midlands 1A – the Saints built an early lead and held their advantage at half-time. Worcester mounted a strong comeback in the second half, challenging until the final minutes, but St Andrews held firm to secure the Trophy and make club history.
The win marks the culmination of several outstanding seasons for the team, who have now won the BUCS Scottish Division 1 League for five consecutive years.
Their path to the Trophy Final showcased their strength and consistency, including a 97–30 win over Strathclyde 1s (Round 1), a 130–21 victory over Northumbria 2s (Round 2), an 89–35 quarter-final win against Glasgow 1s, and a 94–79 semi-final success over Loughborough 2s.
Women’s Basketball 1st Team Captain, Emma Dunsire said: “Our goal at the start of the season was to win the trophy. We knew it wouldn’t be easy and it has taken a lot of hours on court and in the gym to get us here. Lifting the trophy shows that our hard work has paid off. Callum has dedicated a huge amount of time and effort to developing the basketball club year after year, and this success reflects the positive direction we’re heading in. However, the job isn’t finished yet. We need to stay focused as we prepare for our promotion game next week.”
Director of Basketball, Callum Knox, said: “This Trophy win was a testament to all the effort and energy the team has put in since September. Worcester are a very talented and well coached team—they kept coming at us. I’m incredibly proud of the character we showed to weather the storm and push back. We were proud to represent the University and Scotland today.”
Photos: Hugo Wu