Society Member Gus Muncaster, a BSc and Masters Graduate from UCLaN clearly has an affinity for his alma mater. Just a few months ago, he took time out of his busy schedule with Injury Mechanics in Bolton, where he is a Director, to travel with UCLan Sports Therapy students and staff to the Nat West International Island Games in Guernsey.
The Island Games is a biannual event with 24 island teams from across the world, taking part. UCLan’s involvement with the Games dates back to 2019 when the university first signed a memorandum of understanding with Gibraltar Island Games 2019 Ltd to provide a range of medical services.*
Covid put paid to the Games taking place in 2021 with the implementation of strict travel restrictions and quarantine rules for Guernsey, but with the return of the event, the UCLan team has once again picked up the mantle. In July of this year, 14 Sports Therapy students and one physiotherapy student, together with Sports Therapy lecturer Pieter Crossley, Sport and Health Sciences Lecturer Rob Hamilton and Gus, travelled to Guernsey for the Games.
Gus said:
‘I had been invited to support Rob and Pieter with the students and was delighted to do so.
‘Each day we divided the students into teams and they had the opportunity to work at different events like cycling, tennis, badminton and athletics. There are 14 sports in all and over two thousand competitors took part.
‘Days were extremely long, sometimes sixteen or seventeen hours, with the team providing pre and post event support and pitch-side first aid. Some of the teams had their own therapists but as the week went on, the athletes all knew who we were.’
Gus felt the students had a really good underlying knowledge and the experience allowed them to grow in confidence. Most of the students were just 19-20 years old, so the chance to work with experienced therapists was a great benefit:
Their Lecturer Pieter Crossley said:
‘The Games proved to be a transformative experience. They offered a unique platform for practical learning and real-world application of sports therapy techniques. Students had the opportunity to work alongside seasoned professionals, gaining invaluable hands-on experience in injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
The students were also able to work on their softer skills. Pieter continued:
‘The event also fostered teamwork, communication, and adaptability skills among the UCLan cohort. They witnessed firsthand the challenges and dynamics of managing athletes in a high-pressure environment.’
And it wasn’t just the students who benefitted. The Games provided Gus with the opportunity to reflect on his own career path. He said:
‘It was interesting to think about the journey I had been on in the 14 years since undertaking my BSc and now my Masters and it was good to have the chance to engage with other professionals and share knowledge.’
Pieter said:
‘The Games provided a networking opportunity for staff, facilitating collaborations and knowledge sharing with other experts in the field. Overall, the Island Games in Guernsey enriched the educational journey of UCLan’s Sports Therapy students and elevated the expertise of the faculty, reinforcing the university’s commitment to excellence in sports therapy education and practice.’
So, what did the students think?
Student Dan said:
‘The week that I spent in Guernsey at the NatWest Small Island Games was a unique and invaluable experience. Being able to spend time on recovery with athletes from a range of sports including athletics, cycling, tennis and more, gave me a huge confidence boost not only in my profession but also every- day life.
With the aid of Pieter, Rob and Gus, it allowed me to have the confidence to professionally treat the athletes, always knowing I had their continuous support and guidance.’
And Student Uma:
‘Being part of the UCLan team at the Guernsey International Island Games 2023, was an excellent opportunity for me to build my skills as a future sports therapist. Working alongside the accompanying staff, we gained valuable practical skills and knowledge. The experience built my ability to work in various different conditions, given the skills to be adaptable, resilient and manage working under pressure. On a personal level I was able to use my own initiative to become a resourceful member of the team. As a mature student, this allowed me to see I had transferable skills to offer future employers. Overall, the experience has strengthened my confidence and self- belief in my ability as a future Sports Therapist.’
*You can read about how Andy Cunningham, Society Member and former Principal Lecturer at UCLan’s School of Health Sciences, started this fantastic relationship for UCLan and the Island Games:
Leave a Reply