Stacks of papers had been missing from Vision’s archive for years and were considered ‘lost’.

Described as a “revolution on campus,” Vision was first published in 1987 and was York’s first fully independent student newspaper.

The first 10 editions of Vision are now available to read online by following the links below, and they give a fascinating insight into the history of the University of York.

Digitising is a slow process, but we hope to continue uploading more issues over time. Watch this space! However, there still remain several issues missing from the archives.

The very first issue of York Student Vision is now available to read here:

To explore more of the editions from the 1980s, follow the links below:

Issue 2
Issue 3
Issue 4
Issue 5
Issue 6
Issue 7
Issue 8
Issue 9
Issue 10

Or view all our archives here.

Many thanks to Steve Teal for providing the originals.

This year we’ve included a number of secretive Hes Hall big wigs such as the elusive Keith Lilley, to offer a real perspective on who does what. But position isn’t everything, this year there’s been a real emphasis on knowledge with regular students like Miles Layram easily making it into the top 30.

So sit back, relax and get to grips with York University’s real movers and shakers…

As director of facilities management Keith Lilley is in charge of the entire non-academic side of the University. This broad role means that Lilley rules the roost in the distribution of key services areas such as cleaning, catering, security, timetabling and University bars.

With the campus doubling in size, inside sources tell Vision that Lilley has been charged with carrying out Hes Hall’s masterplan which will see the Heslington East project through the recession.

However Lilley’s mighty plans are not always student friendly, it is alleged that he personally pushed through the portering cuts in key Hes Hall meetings and as director of York University Pensions Funds Ltd., he is also responsible for the University’s continued investment in unethical investments such as BAE systems.

Although he describes himself as the University’s “most senior administrative officer”, Cantor has substantially more power on a national scale, and thus has less influence on the student body than one might imagine.

Despite this, his actions do affect the student body, with one anonymous YUSU insider describing him as the University’s “chief salesman”.

If anything Cantor’s power lies in what he can do for himself, lets not forget Vision’s investigation last month which exposed Cantor’s enormous expenses.

David Duncan is relatively new to the job, joining the University in 2008.

Duncan has become an influential figure in the multi-million pound library renovation, a project which has seen whole floors of the library cut-off causing chaos in peak exam periods.

Duncan will continue to reign over the project next year as the library works look set to continue.

Duncan also controls computer services, human resources and health and safety in the University, as well as a taking a key role in the quality and assurance of academic assessments. A source close to the University described him as “a very, very busy man”.

When Ngwena won his first term as president, he entered the union as a very non political individual, however over the past year Ngwena has positioned himself in the mainstream of campus politics, swiftly embedding his authority.

Tim has pushed through YUSU’s ambitious ‘strategic plan’ which sets the stage for YUSU objectives over the next 4 years.

Another term as president next year will further cement his already powerful position in not just campus, but University politics. However, this has led some to question his authority – is Tim too close to University bosses?

Having said this, Ngwena seems to have defied troublesome set-backs in the portering campaign and even avoided a motion of censure.

Poor old Grenville hasn’t had the best of years, and it’s reflected in this year’s ranking – number five as the Pro Vice Chancellor for STUDENTS ain’t great. Over summer she is said to have buckled under pressure to cut portering hours, a further exposé on the front page of Vision didn’t help her reputation.

It isn’t all bad news though, Grenville continues to have major sway, chairing influential bodies like the Special Cases Committee and the Student Services Committee. She is also in charge of the college Provosts.
6. TREVOR SHELDON
Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of learning and information.

7. YUM
Campus’ eyes and ears. The coolest kids in town, or so we’ve heard.

8. STEPHEN TOWN
Director of University Library and Archives.

9. LEWIS BRETTS
YUSU D&S Officer/promise breaker. Bretter luck in your next job.

10. GRAHAM GILBERT
Director of Finance. Keeping his hands on the purse-strings in this time of recession.

11. ELIZABETH HEAPS
Most important figure for Hes East besides “The Beast”.

12. BEN HUMPHRYS
Welfare officer Humphrys has shown himself to be an assertive sabb this year, leading relatively successful campaigns such as ‘Keep Your Cool’ and ‘Crime Week’. His successful bid to become next years’ academic affairs officer confirmed his strong support base and has further boosted him up the power list.

13. JON GREENWOOD
Director of Commerical Services. Not barred yet.

14. BAILEY OLIVER
It’s been a tough year for our Security Operations Manager Bailey Oliver, with a restricted portering service and increases of crime on campus. Oliver was, however, instrumental in ensuring that Prince Andrew’s visit ran smoothly earlier this term.

15. CHARLIE LEYLAND
YUSU’s leading lady after two years at the top.

16. PHIL KEMBER
As head of the Conference Office, which looks after the University’s most important visitors, Phil Kember wields enormous power over the University community by securing vital revenue. Outside term-time, his conferences effectively take over campus completely.

17. RHIANNA KINCHIN
Steering societies and wrangling RAG

18. EMILY SCOTT
YorkSport President – lost Roses but won our hearts

19. KATE DODD
Should you get into trouble, Kate Dodd, the University’s Academic Registrar, is the person who will decide whether or not to kick you out. She also plays a pastoral role for the university.

20. UNION TRUSTEE BOARD
Guiding YUSU and making the big decisions

21. SUE JOHNSTON
Head of Campus Services. A very im-porter-ant figure

22. SAM ASFAHANI
YorkSport President elect and Bluto from “Popeye” lookalike

23. TIMETABLING OFFICE
Keeping tabs on who goes where, when and why

24. MILES LAYRAM
He has no position in YUSU, yet English Ph.D student Miles Layram has used his years of YUSU knowledge to assert himself on campus. A cleverly timed censure on Tim Negwena and Ben Humphries didn’t succeed but had a lasting impact on the way students viewed YUSU sabbaticals in action.

25. CHRISTIAN UNION
Spreading the word whether you like it or not.

26. SUSIE FOTHERGILL
Fundraising for societies just like us. Wonderful!

27. NICK SCARLETT
King of Kids Camp and Student Activities Sabb elect

28. STEPHEN KENNEY
Legendary 21+ Rep with sway

29. CHARLIE ROWLEY
Cheesy Pop fan and Council Chair

30. HOLLY BURTON
Darts Darling and Derwent Chair

31. DAVID CLARKE
Environment and Ethics for a second year running, David Clarke is building up contacts and gaining momentum in YUSU. He has is tipped to be an intergral player in campus campaigns next year.

32. JASON ROSE
Still a prolific meeting attender and insatiable UGM proposer

33. LYDIA BLUNDELL
Halifax President and yet another cheese fan

34. GSA – RUI HAUNG
Helping the aged

35. YORK ENTREPRENEURS
Thanks to their various events, these campus Del Boys are easily one of the richest societies.Their competition launch parties often run into the thousands and feature some of the most expensive speakers on campus.

36. TIM ELLIS
Leading students over in Hes East

37. LGBT COMMITTEE
Having a gay old time

38. DAN WALKER
D&S Officer elect and apparently the son of a hegdehog

39. RACHEL HESSELWOOD
Volunteering Veteran – well liked by YUSU and others

40. CHRIS ETHERIDGE
May not be in YUSU anymore but recently proved he can stir up quite a bit of trouble

41. TAHIR SHETTY
Vanbrugh Chair

42. MATT BAILEY
Influential Chemistry Course Rep

43. YUsnow
Snowbotherers and Yeti lovers

44. YUSU ENTS REPS
The union’s wannabe party boys

45. LAURA BO
BO ‘electa!

46. YUSU WOMENS OFFICERS
YUSU women’s committee are planning big things for freshers next term, the committee features a well connected bunch and they are looking more and more influential.

47. RUGBY CLUB
Scrum chums

48. SAM WESTROP
NUS Delegate and Freedom Society founder

49.GREG DYKE
BBCause he has a bit of sway with the VC

50. RAG

The scene of the stabbing, Shell garage, Hull Road

Students have been left “shocked and appalled” following the attack of a student outside the Shell Garage on Hull Road last Friday.

The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, following a night out. The victim remained in hospital through the weekend.

One second year Maths student was stunned to hear the news: “It’s crazy that something like this can happen so close to campus, especially in a city as safe as York.”

Another student described walking home with the victim at around 5am, and parting with him at the Barbican Centre. It is estimated that the incident took place between 5 and 5.30am.

North Yorkshire Police were unavailable for comment, but Vision has learned that an ambulance was called soon after the crime by a third party and the police were informed in due course. It is understood that police have launched an investigation, though the precise circumstances of the stabbing are yet to surface.

After being treated at York District Hospital, the man was said on Sunday to be making a steady recovery by friends.

YUSU Welfare Officer Ben Humphrys said of the incident: “I can’t stress enough the need to take care of your personal safety. Crime may be comparatively infrequent in York but it does happen, taxis, the YUSU late night minibus, the night bus and the security escort service are all there to ensure you get home safely; please use them.”

Most striking about the event is that it is the culmination of a spate of student related violence and crime over the last academic year. Earlier this month, Vision reported on the suspected assault of a student in the Duchess nightclub by a bouncer. Similarly, an article on Vision’s website reported a week later of three muggings taking place in as many days, all on or around campus. Laptop theft has also taken place throughout the year in the library and directly from students’ rooms.

Another incident involved Mickal Grabarczyk, who in the Autumn Term was on bail for assaulting a police officer and drunk and disorderly behaviour and was offered temporary accommodation by sympathetic students. He also broke into secure accommodation blocks and stole food from student kitchens on multiple occasions, claiming that this was only possible due to poor security on campus. A condition of Grabarczyk’s bail was that he didn’t enter University property.

In a similar vein, ex-Women’s Officers Amal Ali and Ellie Kuper Thomas organised a march around poorly lit areas of campus last December. The march, named “Reclaim the Night” highlighted the risks posed to students from such areas of the university. More recently, students have complained of the security threat posed by many broken front doors to campus accommodation blocks.

All of these are summed up by a Vision investigation in March that revealed that crime on campus had risen by 72%.

For many students the increase of on-campus crime has been blamed on the reduction in portering hours this year, leaving many colleges without 24-hour or weekend porters. However, the University has claimed that the security presence has increased on campus, and denied this assessment.

The victim of Friday’s attack remains in recovery, though Vision cannot provide full details of the event.

In this week, more than most, it is easy to remember that there is more than one way to exit a cup competition. France did so stroppily at the World Cup, with ignominy bordering on disgrace. Nicolas Mahut did so at Wimbledon, something of a hero, albeit a knackered one. But rarely will an exit have left a feeling of stunned bemusement as that which Halifax must have experienced after this hammering by an irresistable Alcuin side.

From the outset Alcuin appeared to want the win, and the resultant berth in the final more than their opponents. Their effort and team unity were second to none, chasing every ball and in general giving 110% for the cause. Fax on the other hand  were on the back foot after merely one minute of play when Joe Cooper’s tap in made it 1-0.

More misery was to come to Halifax before half time. Firstly Miles Mcdermott’s corner somehow managed to find the head of Ali Laird, the smallest player on the pitch, who planted a firm header past Mark Lund in the Halifax goal and there was a sense of deja vu when Sam Reiss rose unmarked to make it 3-0. At the other end Alcuin goalkeeper Michael Wynd was little more than a spectator, though he did show himself more adept than Rob Green at handling a Jabulani struck from distance.

Halifax did turn up the effort after the interval but it was unfortunate for them that Alucin took the opportunity afforded them by a 3 goal cushion to turn up the skill. Their 4th goal simply oozed class. Jack Crane played an ambitious ball down the right hand side which the impressive man-of-the-match Laird did well to keep in after he had chased it down with whippet like pace. The forward then followed this up with a composed pull back which found Dan Cox whose neat footwork was followed by a deft finish.

Alcuin’s day was somewhat marred when Dom Petschak headered a consolation for Halifax, but they ended on a high, Phil Bowers sliding home the 5th. The crowd were left to wonder what had happened to the quality Halifax side we have come to expect, but on this form it would be hard for any side to live with Alcuin. They must surely now be favourites to lift the cup. After this display they’ve probably cleared a space for it in their trophy cabinet already.

Mary*, a second year Psychology student, was made to wait for 90 minutes at the GUM drop-in clinic, only to be told that she would have to make a separate appointment at a clinic on Monkgate as the health centre could not deal with symptomatic Chlamydia. The Health Centre claimed that they could not offer across the counter medicine, but did not even give her a prescription for an off-campus pharmacy, which they are fully licensed to do.

She claims that the medical staff at the Health Centre were dismissive of her concerns. “I felt embarrassed and confused… I was made to feel extremely uncomfortable, but the staff at the GUM clinic in town were really friendly, and understood what I was going through.”

Numerous other students have come forward with similar problems. Third year vegetarian, Sarah*, spoke of how staff at the health centre were contemptuous of her lifestyle choice. “I was asked how long I was planning on being a vegetarian for. The doctor was patronising throughout and continually belittled my belief system.”

Concerns have also been raised over the ability of the Health Centre to effectively diagnose physical problems. Tina*, a first year music student with a history of joint probelms, went to the practice with wrist pain and was told that no tests would be necessary. The problem was persistent however, and on seeking a consultation with her home surgery, she had a blood test that led to fast and effective treatment. “The uni health centre told me just to stop playing my instrument – if I had listened to them I may have had to do so permanently.”

Second year Politics student Alan* sought advice from the Health Centre regarding a lifelong sexual condition. One of the doctors there assumed without asking that he was sexually immature and Alan was told that the problem would “treat itself.” It did not, and Alan has since consulted another doctor, who recommended to him a readily available course of steroid cream that quickly treated the problem.

First year Steve* hurt his thumb playing rugby, and was told by the surgery that it was merely a strain. His thumb turned purple overnight and he was urged to go to A&E by friends, where he was informed that it was in fact broken.

In response to similar complaints from students about the standard of treatment at the health centre last year, YUSU conducted a survey with 89 respondents. Among other things, respondents were asked if they had any positive or negative experiences with the Health Centre. They were also encouraged to give examples of how the service could be improved.

Over half the female respondents to this section claimed they had had solely negative experiences, with one third claiming the service was mixed. Only two women taking the survey said they had had solely positive experiences.

The figures were slightly more positive for the male students who completed this section. One quarter mentioned just negative experiences, one quarter just positive ones, with the rest giving both positive and negative responses.

Furthermore, the number of drop-in and emergency slots was singled out as an area where there was room for improvement. The survey report also stated that there was “noticeable concern” at the need to disclose symptoms at the reception and the lack of privacy that this entails.

Vision contacted the surgery but the Practice Manager, Brenda Mumby was unavailable for comment. The receptionist on duty did however say that it is not standard procedure to ask patients for symptoms at the reception desk.

The practice’s very own year on year survey from 2005 to 2008 shows the University Health Centre consistently scoring lower than the other surgeries in Wenlock Terrace and Hull Road. On most measures the surgery also scored markedly below the national benchmark.

For 2008, the satisfaction with the receptionists was 63%, while the national benchmark was at 75%. Similarly, the target of satisfaction with how well the doctor puts the patient at ease was 78% while it was 74% in the University Health Centre. The biggest disparity was in the service provided when phoning in to the clinic for advice. The health centre had a 38% satisfaction rate in 2008, 18 points less than the national benchmark and 22 and 34 points less than Wenlock Terrace and Hull Road respectively.

“The health centre is contracted to provide a service to students on campus; it has a significant duty of care and complaints that it’s failing in that are worrying,” states YUSU Welfare Officer Ben Humphrys. He recognises that although last year’s survey was a good first step, it did not provide the information needed to make substantial changes. YUSU are therefore launching a larger survey this year, where Humphrys also hopes to hold focus groups to “drill down the issues to provide actions from which we can make progress.”

“We’re pleased they have agreed to take part in a consultation, of which this week’s survey is one strand, to address underlying issues and we look forward to forming a better service for students over the coming months.”

*Names have been changed to protect students’ identities

A Vision investigation, following an anonymous tip off, uncovered evidence of the gruesome initiation, in which students were made to down drinks mixed with dog food and goldfish. Many of the photos discovered were deemed to be too shocking to be shown here.

A video of the initiation, and the majority of the photos of the event that surfaced on the Internet, have now been hastily removed.

The repercussions though have been severe for new UYHC presidents Mark Inman and Laura Pepper, who have found themselves in the middle of a storm of controversy only weeks into their presidency.

In addition to this, ex-UYHC President Rob Newton has angrily described his club as “full of non-professional people”, before going on to say that whilst he takes some of the blame for the incident the new presidents “were responsible for the afternoon’s activities”.

In spite of this Mark Inman has defended the ceremony, which took place on Saturday May 29th, after York Sport President Emily Scott condemned the use of “peer pressure upon individuals in any situation”.

After Vision made Scott aware of the existence of the video last Friday the York Sport President was quick to act, calling a York Sport Committee meeting and swiftly releasing a statement on the YUSU website. The statement denounced the UYHC event and announcing that the club had been fined.

The new UYHC president has come out fighting though, saying: “As far as I am concerned, we have complied with all aspects of the YUSU Social Policy. We do much better than most other clubs on every single point mentioned.”

Those who have seen the video and photos posted last week on Facebook may not be so quick to agree with Inman’s defence of the weekend’s event though.

The hundreds of photos show how a disgusting concoction of dog food, anchovies, gold fish and raw eggs were blended together into drinks that students were forced to down as quickly as possible.

In the two-minute long video, now removed from Facebook, students are seen downing these drinks in front of a frenzied crowd cheering them on, despite their visible physical discomfort. When one student, bowed down and hands on knees, throws up after his drink he is greeted by shouts of “Man Up!”. Another student, unable to stomach finishing his drink, is met with repeated screams of “Eat it! Eat it!”, before eventually pouring the drink over his head.

The reaction around campus has been one of shock, with one student commenting: “I’m astonished that they would do that over here. You only hear of that stuff in fraternities in America.” Another student added: “I didn’t realise that they had these sorts of initiations in York, and I just wonder how willing the students were who took part.” Both students know members of the hockey club, and wished to remain anonymous.

Reflecting on his time as a member of UYHC, ex-hockey President Newton has stated: “Of all the things that I’m going to miss about my time in the hockey club over the last three years, these ‘rituals’ are not amongst them.” He went on to claim that despite last weekend “attitudes are changing” in the Hockey Club.

Meanwhile embattled President Mark Inman was keen to stress that UYHC is inclusive and welcoming, saying: “All socials and any aspects of them are entirely optional and alcohol is never an integral part. This has always been made clear. The welfare of our members is extremely important to us and I believe UYHC to be one of the most socially inclusive clubs on campus. There are numerous members of the club, past and present, who have not participated in anything of this nature and are revered players of teams throughout the club. This is not, and never will be, a requirement.”

Inman’s assurances will do little for the damaged reputation of UYHC though, in a week in which the image of the university’s sports clubs took a severe hit.

Come Saturday, 8pm, the York Vision Eurovision Liveblog will be in full swing.

Don’t miss it.

Cantor's claims

The University of York’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian Cantor, has claimed nearly £135,000 in expenses in the last three financial years in figures obtained by Vision. This represents a startling 50% increase in the amount he claimed in the three years beforehand, where the Vice-Chancellor had already claimed £90,000.

Travel expenses have made up the bulk of these expenses. In the last two years alone, Cantor managed to claim £57,590 in plane tickets, a marked increase from 2006/07 where only £12,252 was reimbursed.

Professor Cantor refused to comment on his expenses. In a statement from the university, the amounts have been justified on the grounds that York is an international institution and that travelling all over the world is the nature of the job.“[T]he Vice-Chancellor lead[s] an organisation with a £225m income, educating 12,000 students and employing 3,000 staff with all the demands that entails. York has a hard-earned reputation as one of the world’s leading universities, which in turn brings significant benefits to our students. International travel is a necessary part of maintaining and developing that global standing.”

However, in the last financial year, the £50,542 claimed by the Vice-Chancellor dwarves other top public sector workers. Mark Thompson, the Director-General of the BBC, a corporation with an income of £4.6 billion, claimed just £15,919 in the last nine months gone. In fact Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, Professor Andrew Hamilton, managed to get by on only £26,957 in the same time period as Cantor; yet Hamilton is in charge of a higher-ranking university with an income in excess of £676 million and with a massive student population of 20,330.

Cantor’s expenses data was received after Vision filed a Freedom of Information request to the university demanding a “Full breakdown of all expenses, both paid for directly and those reimbursed by the university, of all staff at the University of York with the word “Chancellor” in their title … for the last three financial years available.”

Cantor’s claims from the University also paled the other top members of staff. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and the six Pro-Vice-Chancellors claimed, all together, £92,225 over three years, compared to £134,857 for the Vice-Chancellor alone.

* Figures for Mark Thompson are for Q1-Q3 2009/10

York University uses a travel management company located near campus called NYS Corporate, to arrange a large amount of their air and train travel, as well as to book accommodation for staff. We presented our findings to a former lecturer at the university who regularly used the service. She stated: “The fact that the travel costs are so high doesn’t surprise me in the least bit. There was no incentive to book things cheaply. I would often buy train tickets the day before a journey, knowing I would be fully reimbursed. Plane tickets would often cost an astronomical amount when they were booked soon to the departure date.”

As part of this investigation Vision filed the same request to several other universities. Unfortunately York failed, unlike these other universities, to list specific claims, and are deferring their full response for at least another month.

Sue Wynes and the Lancaster Roses Exec lift the trophey

The weekend is over and York have finally returned from the battle; our players are battered, bruised and, in some cases, even bloody. We may be coming back with our hands empty but it was by no means a wasted trip.

It’s very tempting to make excuses as to why our Lancastrian rivals won out the end but really there’s no need. Considering that the home team pick, schedule and weight all the various events the odds are more than favourable for them to bring home the Carter-James trophy. York went in as underdogs and although we couldn’t quite manage a historic fourth consecutive win we certainly didn’t capitulate to Lancaster’s pressure.

York walked into Roses 2010 with a 12 point deficit; clearly this weekend was always going to be a challenge. Despite this we still started positively, the Men’s Cricket 1sts grabbed 4 points on the Thursday afternoon sending Lancaster a message that York have no intention of surrendering.

Friday began with a slow start. Early losses in the indoor football, a sport rarely played in York, threatened make this day a one to forget. However the Men’s Indoor Football 1sts, led by Alcuin’s own Jack Crane, halted a whitewashing with a 4-2 win over the home side. The game was put to bed in somewhat spectacular fashion by late goal volleyed in from deep inside the York half by Crane. Take a bow son!

York achieved mixed results in the Indoor Hockey matches but managed to take the majority of the points

The indoor hockey was blighted by strange refereeing decisions, the Women’s 1sts being denied 3 goals, turning what should have been a comprehensive York victory into a frustrating 1-1 draw. The Men’s 1st team provided some closure on the subject when they came back from a 2 goal deficit to win 5-3. The sight of a Lancaster player throwing down his water bottle in fit of hysterical anger was enough to send the York support away from a disappointing afternoon with just a hint of a smile.

Out on the sports fields the Ultimate Frisbee team impressed the gathered crowds with some flamboyant passing and breathtaking catches. Performances from Steve Eyre, Captain Jamie Abernethy, and Simon Fox, better known as ‘Womble’, caught our reporter’s eye as they did everything in their power to halt Lancaster from just strolling to victory. Despite losing the points the team suffered no loss to their pride.

Controversy in the Snow Sports meant that Lancaster was able to sneak away with 2 points though York, through the talents of Marleise Neuner and her team, took home the lions share. Those competing in the Judo weren’t so lucky; with York unable to field competitors for 2 of the weight categories Lancaster had something of a head start. York fought back and won their first two matches, Men’s under 81kg and the Women’s over 57kg, but Lancaster managed to win the Men’s under 73kg category to add 3 points to their tally.

The Darts and Pool tournament was, perhaps, the highlight of the day despite Lancaster taking all 16 available points. Our sports staff were treated to over 5 hours of pub games, innumerable pints and an atmosphere that couldn’t have been beaten unless Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor had been competing. The addition of a heavily inebriated and foul-mouthed Lancastrian announcer only served to spur on an already voracious York support.

The day ended with Lancaster on 60.5 while York dawdled behind on 15.5. Not exactly the dream start we had hoped for.

With 125 point up for grabs, the Saturday looked very much like the deciding day. As the dawn broke the Archers had trooped down to college pitches to begin the fight. York’s female archers had the better of the day, winning in both the Novice and Senior team, unfortunately unable to continue this success and succumbed to the accuracy of Lancaster.

York achieve a fantastic comeback in mixed Volley Ball but fortunes were reversed in the Women's event

The mixed volleyball provided the best win of the day, when York who were down 2 sets managed to scrap a win in the 3rd set and stay in the game. Needing to win the final two sets they held firm and beat a shocked Lancaster. The men’s team built on the club’ success and, later that day, won in straight sets to rack up 8 points for the White Rose.

At the football pitches the day didn’t go so well for York, a disheartening day saw all four teams lose their games. Horrendous weather conditions in the Men’s 1sts and 2nds made playing conditions practically unbearable, neither game looked particularly attractive as York went down to two very scrappy defeats. The Women’s Football 1sts fared even worse as the Lancaster A.U. President knocked in her hat trick to make it 5-0. The late addition of our own Sport President, Emily Scott, did little to lift the team’s performance and they eventually staggered off the field well and truly beaten.

York fared a lot better in Rugby Union 7’s continuing the club’s immaculate form into the tournament. The Men’s 1sts, 2nds and 3rds all recorded victories over the Red Rose while the Women played out an exciting 12-12 draw. The Men’s Squash 1sts also did the White Rose proud as they won 5 out of 5 games to make up for the women’s whitewashing at the hands of Lancaster.

The big pull of the day was the Canoe Polo; with 8 canoes in the water at any time, elevated nets at either end and several of the players capsizing the match was rightly called a spectacle. A valiant effort by the women’s team couldn’t stop Lancaster recording a 6-0 victory though the open team managed to pinch a point for York with an embattled 2-2 draw. The day ended with the home side having stretched their advantage to a 60 point lead and York being left perilously close to playing for nothing but pride.

Finally we came to the final day of Roses and, considering many of the matches played weren’t worth any points, it looked like York would have to pull a miracle out of the bag to win.

The day started with Women’s Volley Ball and Lancaster managed to pull off exactly the same feat as York did the day before in the mixed event: coming back from two sets down to claim victory in a tense final set.

York Centurions fell to a more experienced Lancaster side

Elsewhere the Centurions, York’s American Football team, were more or less dominated by Lancaster in their game and, despite valiant efforts, Sam Asfahni’s team were beaten 22-6 allowing Lancaster to pick another 4 points.

York was well represented in the Ballroom Dancing in an exciting and far more amicable competition than elsewhere in the tournament. Luke Malkin and Sarah Cook led the team to an elegant victory and scooped 3 out of the 4 points available for the event.

Unfortunately Lancaster managed to gather the required 132 points for victory just before one o’clock, leaving York frustrated but playing for pride.

Next came was more drama on the sports fields and, after an unfortunate injury which required the attention of an air ambulance, the Women’s rugby was finished early and ended with a five all draw.

The afternoon was not a total disappointment, however, with all three Men’s Rugby teams achieving a whitewash over Lancaster which included a 45-0 thrashing for Lancaster in the 2nds match and a nail-biting 1sts match which saw York win by only the slightest of margins, the final score being 19-17.

York’s spirits in the closing ceremony were very low and even a performance by the Lancaster Dance Society and the comedy provided by various comments sent onto the twitter backdrop could not lift them. The cheering and chants from Lancaster as they celebrated their victory and as their AU President Sue Wynes lifted the Carter-James Trophy was also too much for many York supporters to bare.

In the end the final score came to Lancaster 157.5 York 105.5 but York were still able to leave Lancaster with their heads held high following a weekend of brilliant performances from a multitude of athletes and teams, many of them already plotting their revenge for next year’s Roses.

Photos on this page by Daniel Gilks