Tours, tattoos and rivalries: Chatting with the presidents part two

Jordan Estefani

What’s been your toughest presidential decision so far? 

The hardest decision was probably picking the next years committee whilst I left for placement. All my committee this year are all really helpful so we all make decisions together really.

If you had to join another Trent society what would it be?

It would probably be Thai boxing because of the similarities, although I doubt I’ll be as good with my legs as I am with my hands!

What’s your society’s best/worst story?

The best story we have from boxing is one of the members getting a tattoo of my face on his ass on tour! He said the year before that he would get it done and kept his word, everyone from boxing chipped in to cover the cost and it was probably the funniest thing to happen to me in my life!

Who’s your biggest rival society at trent?

Our biggest rival is lacrosse, just because it’s funny. It started about two years ago and there’s no reason really, I don’t even think they know haha.

Harris Tzen 

Third year Law with Criminology student, president of American Football

What’s been your toughest presidential decision so far?

It’s been tough juggling everything at once. With my third year law, a part time job, keeping a healthy social life (i.e. Ocean), all the while trying to keep on top of running my club and my committee. But I have a strong committee so they make it all a lot easier.

If you had to join another Trent society what would it be?

I’m tempted to say lacrosse because it’s got a touch of the American aggression and the helmet thing. But I just can’t bring myself to say I’d play with the stick people.. I’d probably try out for the third, fourth or even fifth team basketball, even if they don’t exist they’d have to make one for me because I’m really bad. But I love it and I’m kinda tall!

What’s your society’s best/worst story?

After two and a bit years, two tours and more oceans attended than pounds in my bank account, it’s hard to pick! My personal favourite would probably be my My first year as captain, and we went into the Varsity game having never, EVER lost to Uni Of. So the pressure was on. Needless to say the boys smashed it and we remained unbeaten in the varsity fixture since our founding!

The champagne came straight out, some of the international boys came prepared with their flags, and the speakers were ready in the showers already playing mysterious girl by the time we got in there (team victory song)!
We spent about an hour in the Lady Bay changing rooms just drunkenly screaming our favourite Ocean tunes to each other. Then I showered the champagne and beer out of my hair and headed home for the after party. One of my best days at Uni so far.

Who’s your biggest rival society at trent?

Most people would assume our biggest rival would be rugby union, but we get on well with them, I personally have a few friends from rugby, and I’ve even heard talks of a joint social from my social secs so who knows! But it’s certainly not a fiercely fought rivalry.

If I had to say why we’re better? It’s impossible to compare the sports, despite common misconception our two sports are massively different. I’d say we’re better because we’re technically a unisex sport, you can ask Ellie from The Tab, she had a great time training with the Renegades!

Jade Thornton

 Second Year Forensic Biology student, president of Cheerleading

What’s been your toughest presidential decision so far? 

It’s not just my decision alone but – deciding who made it onto the competition squad this year, unfortunately we had to turn down a lot of talent due to the high levels of interest. (Who doesn’t love a cheerleader?)

If you were to join another society what would it be any why?

Karate – I’m a black belt in shotokan karate, plus it’s fun to be aggressive sometimes..

What’s your society’s best/worst story?

During pre drinks on one of the tour night out one of the old girls got a some gardening tools quite far up Ross’ bum (ex-prez of cricket) photo attached…. (Warning – it’s not a PG picture.) 

Who’s your biggest rival society and why are you better than them?

Obviously our biggest rivalry is the Nottingham Knights (you may know them as the Richmond sausages) but with Trent I’m not sure, maybe dance as we get a lot of girls from a dance background that we try to convert to the cheer world. Although we don’t see any society as competition as it is a completely different society and skill set so we are friendly rivals haha!

I think the NTU Tigers is the best society to join as we have built up a great name for ourselves over the past few years. We are two times national grand champions and have won ICC nationals two years in a row. We combine gymnastics, dance and stunts all in to a high energy three minute routine as well as crowd pleasing routines for Trent varsities, which everyone always loves!

Beth Robinson

Third year Media and Communications, President of Women’s Rugby

What’s been your toughest presidential decision so far?

The choice between spoons or the library for our first committee meeting. It was a tough decision but sadly the library won, apparently we have to be professional now. (Surely you can do work in Spoons.. No? I can.) 

If you had to join another society what would it be?  

Trent Surf, I’ve surfed since I was 11 and have always loved it. Maybe I should have chosen it because then I wouldn’t spend so much time being injured!

What’s your society’s best/worst story?

An old girl of ours took a pee in the middle of the dance floor on tour and then later witnessed people falling over in it – so grim.

Which society is your biggest rival?

We haven’t actually got any rivals at Trent despite people thinking we might be an aggressive club! (It’s only on the pitch that we break people).

Raj Bhogal

Third year Coaching and Sport Science, President of Badminton

What’s been your toughest presidential decision so far?

My hardest decision as president has been telling keen freshers they have not made the squad, but I told them to join the development squads so they are still part of the squads, but play in local league so everyone wins!

What’s your society’s best/worst story?

The best tour story was when all us lads were on the beach and we played volleyball and added all kinds of silly rules, let’s just say everyone came to dinner that night with little, to no eyebrows! (did anyone leave tour with eyebrows though?) The worst story was definitely the journey back from tour, it took us 36 hours to get back and everyone was throwing up!

If you had to join another society what would it be? 

If I had to join another society, it would be dodgeball because it’s always funny throwing balls at people’s faces!

Which society is your biggest rival?

Our rival society would have to be squash, we pretend to hate each other but we are all mates. We had our first joint social with them and it was the best Ocean night I’d ever had.

Jake Eden

 Third year Mathematics student, President of Squash

What’s been your toughest presidential decision so far?

Nothing has been too difficult I’d say, we’re a pretty relaxed bunch of guys and girls. I’ve had to have a moan at the captains a few times and felt i’d been a bit harsh, but it’s all in good heart.

If you had to join another society what would it be? 

I was very close to getting back into Rugby when I came to Trent. I remember the League boys were keen to sign me up in Freshers but it just wasn’t meant to be. I have a lot of time for the American Football lads. Seem like they have a right laugh but also have this awesome team spirit.

What’s your society’s best/worst story?

Four of us decided to bath together on tour after the Pool Party . We were in swimwear though so it’s okay! Best Performance story can go to Mark for outdrinking the entire Mens’ Hockey squad on his own on a boat party. True dedication there.

Which society is your biggest rival?

Badminton. No question. Awesome bunch of people – we had our first joint social the other week and it was such a success. There’s always the funny side to the rivalry when we’re screaming at each other on Wednesdays but it’s all a good laugh. p.s. Follow @NTUSQUASH!

Callum Walker

 Masters student in Performance Nutrition “because I wasn’t good at anything except for PE” – President of Cricket

My toughest presidential decision so far had to be whether to find out who started the “Fire of William Joel” or not. (No, we don’t know what that is either..) 

If you had to join another society what would it be?

If I could join another society it would be the Brackenhurst wildlife Soc. so I could seek out as many woofers as possible.

What’s your society’s best/worst story? 

One of our best tour stories has to be when Lucas Swain bottled on a three-some with Sam Oates and got a flop on, WHAT A VIRGIN. Get in the sea slim.

Which society’s your biggest rival?

Hockey like to think that we are their rivals but we are actually much better blokes than them and they can get in the sea.