Celebrating ten years of LUCA
By James Findon, LUCA Chair
Ten years ago today, LUCA came into existence. Club captains from across London University Athletics clubs met at Student Central, Malet Street to unite the fragmented university athletics competitions under one banner. And from that meeting, LUCA was born.
Earlier that year KCL, UCL and ICL, with the support of the now defunct ULAC, had established the London Colleges Athletics Series (LCAS) as the track and field equivalent of the long running cross-country league, the London Colleges League (LCL). Separately, ULAC hosted the UL Indoor Championships. LUCA would unite all these competitions under a single banner, rebranding and expanding the portfolio to create a more unified and visible student athletics network.
Since 2015, LUCA has grown into a federation of 22 university clubs. Together, we’ve created something truly special – a student-led community that celebrates competition, inclusion, and the spirit of university sport. LUCA is a unique innovation in the sporting landscape and one that we are proud to have kept alive for so long.
A Decade of Races, Records, and Rivalries
The organisation has evolved significantly since 2015. Competitions have come and gone, formats have been refreshed, and new events have taken root. At the heart of this evolution has always been a guiding principle – to break down barriers and bring more students into athletics.
From the beginning, LUCA aimed to be more than a competition provider. We saw the potential for collaboration beyond the track – to grow the sport, train leaders, and strengthen clubs. Over the years, we’ve trained officials, funded coaching courses, hosted specialised training events, and created a forum for clubs to share knowledge and resources. Our Club Hub now brings together practical guides and templates to support clubs and encourage best practice.
Our efforts resulted in early recognition from England Athletics when we won ‘best project’ at the London regional volunteer awards in 2016.
But it has not always been plain sailing.
The COVID Impact
The COVID-19 pandemic deeply affected university life – and with it, university athletics. Clubs struggled to stay afloat, and LUCA lost both momentum and income. It’s no exaggeration to say that, in the aftermath of the pandemic, we were close to folding.
With dwindling entries and losses mounting, an emergency general meeting was called.
A new committee stepped up. Abhilash (XC), Christian (Athletics), Paddy (Treasurer) and later Alastar (Officials) joined me in setting a pathway back to growth. We were joined by organising committee members from across the student and alumni community.
Our mission was threefold. To become financially sustainable, to simplify our organisational structure and to focus on our core offer.
Slowly, LUCA was rebuilt. By 2023–24, we were once again returning a surplus, allowing us now to establish a reserve fund. Our operations became leaner and more efficient, and our core events ran smoother and more professionally than ever before.
This stability opened new doors. We began partnering with clubs to create new opportunities – such as the LUCA Road Relay Championships, hosted within Imperial’s Hyde Park Relays, and more recently, the first London XC Relays with UCL.
A look to the future
As we celebrate our 10th anniversary, we’re also looking forward to the next decade.
Our Vision 2030 strategy will set out a plan to grow participation, strengthen our member clubs, and create new opportunities for students across the region.
A key milestone in this next chapter will be our transition to charity status. We’re currently recruiting Trustees to join our new Board – an important first step towards formal registration as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
We’ve also launched the LUCA Community Cup – a new year-long competition recognising and celebrating the incredible contributions clubs make to their communities, both on and off the track.
How we will celebrate
To mark our 10th anniversary, we’ll be sharing memories from the past decade across our social media channels.
In early 2026 we will come together in central London for a 10 year anniversary party. This will be an opportunity to unveil new trophies, including the LUCA Community Cup, the Arthur Wint United Hospital’s Outdoor Shield and the Mo Farah Trophy for the highest scoring Indoor Championship athlete.
To be the first in the know, join our supporters club today.
It has been a special journey, shaped by extraordinary people. LUCA has always been about the power of sport to inspire and unite, expanding opportunities, bringing together communities and celebrating our diversity. That message rings louder now than ever as we transition to charity status and plan for the next decade. We hope you’re stick along with us for the ride.
