Exeter College is sending its largest ever team of athletes to represent the South West in the Association of Colleges national championships.

More than 80 Exeter College students will be competing against young people from across the country at the 2016 Association of Colleges National Championships in Newcastle.

The championships is one of the largest annual sporting events in England, involving over 1,800 college students and 200 staff.

The Exeter College team of 82 students will be competing in a wide range of sports, from rugby, football, netball, basketball, cross country, golf, tennis, to badminton, and indoor cricket.

The championships are taking place at sporting venues across Newcastle, Sunderland and Gateshead between 15 – 17 April.

Rob Bosworth, Assistant Principal, said: “We are very proud to have so many talented young sportsmen and women from Exeter College taking part in this year’s National Championships.

“It is an exciting opportunity for our students to compete at a national level and shine. The fact so many of our athletes have made the grade and are competing in the championships is proof of their hard work, training and dedication.”

Students qualify for the championships through regional tournaments that take place in the autumn term. As well as competing in their chosen sport, students compete for points for their region. The region whose teams and individuals accumulate the most points wins the prestigious Wilkinson Sword trophy.

Chris Wall, Sports Academy Manager at Exeter College, said: “The National Championships are unique to the Further Education sector and a fantastic opportunity for 16 to 19 year old students to meet and compete against students from across the country.

“This year we have an unprecedented number of students competing in 11 different sports; this is a testament to the Colleges sports provision and an outstanding achievement.”