Unbeaten run sees Cardiff Met claim BUCS wheelchair tennis titles

Cardiff Metropolitan University’s rising wheelchair tennis star Lilly Folland made a historic debut at the 2026 British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) National Championships, becoming the first Cardiff Met student to win a national BUCS wheelchair tennis title. Competing in the event for the first time, the first-year student delivered a flawless weekend, claiming both the singles and doubles crowns and firmly establishing herself as one of the standout young athletes in British university wheelchair tennis.

Folland’s singles campaign opened with a decisive 4-0, 4-0 victory over Loughborough University’s Jamie Greenwood and continued in equally dominant fashion against fellow Loughborough players Lily Bignell and Abigail Marshall, completing a perfect run of three consecutive 4-0, 4-0 wins.

The success continued Sunday as Folland partnered with Nottingham’s Evan Hansen in the doubles. The pair showed superb chemistry, powering to consecutive 4-0, 4-0 victories in the opening rounds before securing the doubles title with a composed 4-1, 4-2 victory over Loughborough’s Joe Court and Lily Bignell.

Reflecting on the weekend, Folland said: “It was an enjoyable weekend away with the coaching staff and team and I’m looking forward to defending my title next year.”

The championships also saw a standout individual achievement from Harri Lloyd-Evans, who became the first Cardiff Met male player since 2023 to qualify for the BUCS Men’s Individual Championships. Progressing through the qualifying rounds secures his place among the top 32 university players in the UK.