Juggling university & rowing Suzi Perry took silver at European University Games

Suzi Perry, 23, powered home for BPP University in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Championships women's lightweight category (less than 59kg) in Nottingham earlier this month.

Despite the demands of juggling her Legal Practice Course with BPP University, Putney’s Perry continues to train hard to achieve her dreams of competing in July’s European games in Croatia, and is striving for GB selection to take part in this September’s World University Games in Poland.

“It feels great to win silver but much more of a relief than anything because it was very similar to the GB Final Trials I took part in two weeks prior and I again managed to beat my top two competitors,” said Perry.

“The BUCS victory is my best competitive performance to date. It was also the first time that BPP University had representation at a Regatta and won a medal meaning the door is certainly open there for more success to come.

“When I first started to row at the University of the West of England, my best results came in the intermediate category and always in crew boats so it was nice to have some solo success. However, it will be somewhat overshadowed if my year continues to have the success I hope for.”

Suzi is not the only successful rower in the family which boasts a junior international dad, a recent Henley Royal Regatta-winning brother, a Henley Royal Regatta-winning uncle, a GB Women's eight-rower aunt and a Sydney and Tokyo University-coaching uncle.

“You could say the pressure is really quite high to have a result actually considered good!” joked Perry, who rows for the University of London Boat Club.

In preparation for her summer competitions, as well as studying for her part-time legal course at BPP University’s Holborn site, Perry is continuing to train for at least 12 sessions each week.

She also remains realistic when it comes to her career aspirations, adding:
“I'd love to continue to dedicate my time to the sport but equally I think everyone needs a life and profession outside of it. That’s why my goals, following this summer's competitions, are to start some legal work and obtain a training contract to kick-start my legal career.”

Until then, she’s very much focused on competing in more events – in particular at June’s Metropolitan Regatta at Dorney Lake, Reading Regatta and the infamous Henley Women's and Henley Royal Regatta, prior to representing BPP University at the European University Games in two months’ time.

Suzi is appealing for sponsorship, if any Putney companies woudl like to back her please email: suziperry_uk@yahoo.co.uk.