Blues Performance Scheme
Providing support to high performing teams and athletes studying at Oxford

The Blues Performance Scheme supports high performance teams and individual athletes at Oxford University to improve their long term performance in sport whilst balancing their academic commitments. To find out more about the specific support for teams and individuals please use the tabs below.
Selected Athletes 2020/21
The following individuals were selected as part of the performance programme. Click on their name to visit their athlete profile: –
Name | College | Sport |
---|---|---|
Fin Armstrong | Worcester College | Sailing |
Yvonne Chart | Linacre College | Fencing |
Nicholas Civetta | Wolfson College | Rugby Union |
Mollie Densley Robins | St Peter's College | Windsurfing |
Felix Drinkall | Lady Margaret Hall | Rowing |
Zara Everitt | The Queen's College | Netball |
Freddie Foster | St Cross College | Cricket |
Alex Greenhalgh | Lincoln College | American Football |
Magnus Gregory | Lady Margaret Hall | Canoe Sprint |
Babar Haq | St Peter's College | Golf |
Zac Hudd | The Queen's College | Orienteering |
Laura John | St Catherine's College | Triathlon |
Manon Johnes | St John's College | Rugby Union |
Alexa Kiminski | St Anne's College | Volleyball |
Jozef Klimcak | St John's College | Wrestling |
Esther Leong | University College | Pole Vault |
Ben Lloyd | St Edmund Hall | Athletics |
Izzy Marshall | New College | Tennis |
Polly Maton | Lady Margaret Hall | Athletics |
Grace Molloy | St John's College | Orienteering |
Annika Möslein | St Anne's College | Sailing |
Laura Neill | Merton College | Squash |
Finley Norton | Magdalen College | Judo |
Eoghan Totten | Hertford College | Athletics |
Jake Watson | Brasenose College | Pole Vault |
Phillip Xiao | St Catherine's College | Table Tennis |
Support Offered
All selected performance athletes will receive the following support: -
- Weekly strength and conditioning training (small groups or 1-to-1)
- 1-to-1 sports nutrition sessions
- 1-to-1 sports psychology sessions
- Recognition as a performance athlete and promotion of success
- Access to fundamental support
The following sport scholarships and funding are also available to a limited amount of successful applicants:
- Richard and Eliza Blackwell Scholarships - £500
- BP Scholarships - £500
Application Process
The application window opens in mid-August each year and closes in mid-October. All applications should be made online and once performance athletes have been selected there will be no further places available for the academic year. All applicants must meet the following requirement to be considerer for support: -
Athlete Requirements
- Applicants must be a current University of Oxford undergraduate or postgraduate student, undergoing full-time or part-time study
- Applicants must be able to show evidence of outstanding ability within their chosen sport
- Applicants must provide a supporting statement from their coach or National Governing Body to confirm the details of their application
- Applicants must contribute to the success of Oxford University in both BUCS and Varsity competitions. This can be achieved either through competing or adding value to your specific sports program
- Selected athletes must represent Oxford University Sport and the performance scheme to the highest standard at local, national or international competitions
- Selected athletes must keep communications with coaching and other support staff open and inform staff if they are unable to attend allocated sessions
- Selected ahtletes must provide regular updates on results from competitions or sport specific selections
How to Apply
Applications for 20/21 are now closed. Applications for 21/22 will be accepted in summer 2021, usually opening in August.
Selected Teams 2020/21
The following teams were selected as part of the performance teams programme: –
American Football (Mixed)* | Lawn Tennis (Men’s and Women’s) |
Athletics (Men's and Women's) | Modern Pentathlon (Mixed) |
Badminton (Men's and Women's*) | Netball (Women’s) |
Basketball (Men’s and Women's*) | Orienteering (Mixed)* |
Boxing (Women’s)* | Polo (Mixed) |
Cheerleading (Mixed)* | Powerlifting (Women's)* |
Climbing (Mixed)* | Rowing - Lightweight (Men's and Women's) |
Cross Country (Men's and Women's) | Rugby League (Men’s) |
Cycling (Men's and Women's) | Rugby Union (Men's and Women’s) |
Equestrian (Mixed) | Ski and Snowboard (Men's)* |
Fencing (Men's and Women's) | Squash (Women’s) |
Football (Men’s and Women’s*) | Swimming (Men’s and Women’s) |
Golf (Men’s*) | Table Tennis (Men’s and Women’s)* |
Gymnastics (Men’s and Women’s)* | Triathlon (Men’s and Women’s) |
Hockey (Men’s and Women’s) | Ultimate Frisbee (Men’s and Women’s)* |
Ice Hockey (Men's and Women's*) | Volleyball (Men’s and Women’s) |
Judo (Men’s and Women’s) | Water Polo (Men’s and Women’s) |
Lacrosse (Men’s and Women’s) | Yachting and Dinghy Sailing (Mixed)* |
*These teams are not receiving all areas of support.
Support Offered
Performance teams, once selected, will be contacted via team captains to arrange the following support: –
- Weekly strength and conditioning sessions
- Team nutrition session(s)
- Team sports pscychology session(s)
- Recognition as a performance team and promotion of success
- Access to fundamental support
Application Process
To find out about the application process to become a performance team, visit our club support pages using the link below. Please note to access our club support resources you must have a single sign on username and password from the University of Oxford.
Fundamental Support
Fundamental support is available to performance teams, performance athletes and all other blues teams (first teams of Oxford University sports clubs). Blues teams who are performance teams should register their team for their members to get access to the fundamental support package.
Subsidised Injury Treatment
Note: This support is currently being reviewed due to Covid-19 and the ability for the injury treatment clinic to treat athletes. We are working hard to resolve this but there may impacts on our injury treatement offer for 2020/21.
Injury treatment is subsidised for athletes registered on the scheme and is delivered through The Bodymaster Clinic, based at Iffley Road Sports Centre. Initial consultations are £23 and follow up appointments are £20. To be eligible for the subsidy you must book an appoint via The Bodymaster Clinic, collect a token from Iffley Road Sports Centre reception (proving you are registered on the scheme) before your appointment and present it to the member of staff at the clinic. For athletes not registered on the scheme, the clinic also offer a discount to all Oxford University students. For all services, the full price list or to book an appointment please visit the Bodymaster Clinic's website.
Subsidised Psychology and Nutrition Sessions
Psychology and nutrition sessions are available, fully funded, as part of the Performance Teams programme and the Performance Athletes programme. In addition, student athletes who wish to book individual sessions can do so at a reduced cost of £50 per session. To book an individual session please contact one of our specialists using the ‘our support staff’ section below.
Free Group Fitness Classes
Note: This support is currently unavailable due to Covid-19. Once full capacity classes are able to return, athletes will have the opportunity to use this support again.
Registered blues athletes have access to one free group fitness class per week. You can pick from the wide range of classes available through Oxford Universisty Sport including; Stages Cycling, HIIIT, Yoga, Pilates and more. A full list of the group fitness classes available can be found here.
Our Support Staff
The Blues Performance Scheme is delivered by a team of Oxford University Sport staff, consultant coaches, consultant specialists and the injury treatment team from the Bodymaster Clinic at Iffley Road Sports Centre. Find out more about the team below: –
Name | Job / Role | |
---|---|---|
Andy Taylor | Sports Services Manager | performance@sport.ox.ac.uk |
Dan Tibbitt | Sports Coordinator - Competitions | performance@sport.ox.ac.uk |
Tiahan Eeles | Head Strength and Conditioning Coach | performance@sport.ox.ac.uk |
Duncan Bennett | Strength and Conditioning Coach | duncan.bennett@sport.ox.ac.uk |
Warren Beattie | Strength and Conditioning Coach (Consultant) | performance@sport.ox.ac.uk |
Matt Croyle | Strength and Conditioning Coach (Consultant) | performance@sport.ox.ac.uk |
Mark Bellamy | Sports Psychologist (Consultant) | mark@performt.com |
Helen Money | Sports Nutritionist (Consultant) | helen@helenmoneynutrition.com |
Frances Carroll | Sports Nutritionist (Consultant) | oxford@nutriciseoxford.co.uk |
Contact Us
01865 611490