About
We are the UK Cube Association and we are a completely volunteer-ran organisation that hosts all cubing competitions in the UK. We are made up of a team of WCA Delegates as well as a team of general staff and additional social media and graphic design staff. We're passionate about giving people as many opportunities to compete in the UK as we can. We have organised over 150 competitions up and down the country with many more on the horizon and are always trying to find new locations to make cubing competitions as accessible as possible.
History of the UKCA
The UK was the 15th country to hold a World Cube Association (WCA) competition, UK Open 2006, which was the 68th competition ever held. In the following years there were only a couple of competitions each year until 2012 when the UKCA was founded by Daniel Sheppard, shortly after he became a Delegate. The UKCA was to act as a central location for all WCA competitions in the UK, as well as a general hub for UK cubing. Since founding the UKCA, the number of competitions in the UK has increased significantly and competitions have been held consistently ever since, including the UK Championships held in October/November each year.
As of the end of 2023, the UK has held a total of 173 competitions. 4504 competitors have competed under the UK flag and collectively they have broken 769 National Records, 31 Continental Records and 19 World Records!
In 2019 the UKCA started looking outside of the main Delegates to get some extra help as cubing community has only been getting larger. The UKCA operates under a non-profit basis, where all the workers are volunteers. To see who helps out, check out the team below!
Check out our social media!
The UKCA Team
Directors
Sam Spendla - President, Regional delegate (UK & Ireland)
Sam's first competition was UK Championship 2015. Since then, he became a Delegate in 2018, is a current WCA Results Team member and has worked on the WCA Quality Assurance, and WCA Data Protection Committees previously.
Oliver wheat - vice-president, delegate
Oliver began competing back in 2016 and was promoted to a Delegate in 2022. Oliver is well versed in the WCA Regulations, being able to recite them in full by the age of 3. He has since joined the WCA Regulations Committee, where his extensive knowledge can be used to its fullest.
Eleanor Sinnott - Treasurer, JUNIOR delegate
Eleanor first competed in 2016 and was promoted to a Delegate in 2022, in which year she also joined the WCA Results Team. Eleanor rose to fame in the community with her rapid lettuce eating abilities, but has since traded salad for a seat at the Directors table, where she now tosses ideas instead of greens.
nevins chan - director without portfolio, delegate
Nevins attended his first competition in 2010 in Malaysia, before attending his first UK competition in 2012, and has been competing here regularly since as well as organising some competitions of his own. In 2022 Nevins was promoted to a Delegate, and also joined the WCA Competitions Announcement Team.
Additional Delegates
Adam Swaine - junior delegate
Adam started competing in 2017 before organising his first competition in 2019. In early 2022 he joined the UKCA team as Community Manager, and was promoted to a Junior Delegate in just over a year.
Bertie Longden - Delegate
Bertie has been cubing since 2014 and joined the UKCA team to assist in the upkeep of the website. Since then he was promoted to a Delegate. He has also served as a member of the WCA Quality Assurance Committee.
EDWARD HOLLINGDALE - delegate
Edward has been competing in Australia since way back in 2011 and he became a Delegate there in 2018. A move to the UK in 2023 has led to him joining the UKCA team. Stay hydrated, everyone!
Oliver Hexter - junior delegate
Oliver’s first competition was in 2022, and was made a Delegate just a year later. Oliver joined the WCA Results Team the same year and has since been promoted to Senior Member, as well as joined the WCA Regulations Committee!
AJ Nicholls - junior Delegate
AJ’s first competition was in 2015 and since then he has attended a UK record of 180+ competitions! AJ first organised a competition in 2017 and has been involved in staffing and organising ever since. In late 2023 he also joined the Delegate ranks!
Ben Ridley - Trainee delegate
Ben has been competing since 2016 and is notable for his skills in blindfolded solving, as well as his National Records in the discontinued event 3x3x3 with feet. Upon returning to competitions in 2023, he has been appointed as a Trainee Delegate!
James Golding - Trainee Delegate
James has been competing since 2017 and was appointed as a Trainee Delegate in late 2023. For those of you who love a fun fact, James is the only UK competitor to have competed in Malta!
Rich Casey - junior delegate
Rich has only been competing since early 2023 but he quickly become extremely involved in the staffing and organisation of UKCA competitions, and was appointed as a Delegate in late 2023!
Staff
ryan simpson - graphic designer
Ryan’s first competition was in 2016 and after leaving university with a BA (Hons) degree in Illustration, he started work as the graphic designer for the UKCA in 2019. In 2020 he found further use for his graphic design skills by joining the WCA Communications Team and was promoted to Senior Member in 2021.
Jason harley - social media
Jason’s first competition was in 2016 and in 2022 he became responsible for overseeing the social media presence of the UKCA. He also boasts the fastest 3x3 results of the UKCA team, including a speedy single of 5.26!
Kirsty grainger - General Staff
As a parent, Kirsty's first competition was in 2018 and she was finally persuaded to compete in 2022. She has organised 5 competitions (and counting!) Kirsty also manages the UKCA parent community group on Facebook, check it out at UKCA Parent Community!
Jake Brown - General Staff
Jake’s first competition was in 2020, and since then they have become a talented all-rounder with impressive results in many events. They are an Oxford student, a UKCA staff member and a talented solver. Is there anything Jake can’t do?
Kyle Kayden Hayles - General Staff
Kyle’s first competition was in 2022 (by a few hours!) and since then they have become very prevalent in the running of many UKCA competitions. Kyle also joined the WCA Regulations Committee in 2024. Whether it’s scrambling, data entry, scorecards or competitor tutorials, Kyle is there without a doubt!
MARIA HOLTON - General Staff
Maria's first competition was in 2022 and she quickly became known for the help she offered at competitions. She is studying Maths & Physics at University of Glasgow and is our only Scottish UKCA General Staff member!