Last weekend, York college sports teams headed further up north to Durham University to fight for the varsity trophy. A success that has honoured York for the past year when we won on home soil 72-48 in 2024.
The annual Varsity competition between the University of York and Durham University features 30 fixtures across 15 different sports. Each Sport has an A fixture and a B fixture, the A fixture is worth 5 points and the B fixture is worth 3.
To pick which teams would represent York at Varsity, our colleges held qualifiers the week commencing the 10th of February. Unfortunately, the trophy did not come home with us despite our beloved sports teams working so hard with a loss of 56 to 77. Yet, they did not fail us, winning multiple games against Durham and keeping spirits high on the day.
Men’s Rugby
A Fixture: Derwent vs Collingwood (York win 41-8)
B Fixture: James vs St Mary’s (York win 22-0)
Women’s Rugby
A Fixture: Vanbrugh vs Collingwood (Durham win 3-1)
B Fixture: Lister/Kato vs Grey/Trevelyan (Durham win 4-1)
Tennis
A Fixture: Lister/Kato vs Grey (York win 2-1)
B Fixture: James vs Castle (Durham win 4-1)
Lacrosse
A Fixture: Hes West vs St Chads (Durham win 19-7)
B Fixture: Hes East vs Aidans (Durham win 11-8)
Men’s Football
A Fixture: James vs Van Mildert (York win 2-0)
B Fixture: Derwent vs Castle (York win 3-3)
Women’s Football
A Fixture: Alcuin vs John Snow (York win 16-0)
B Fixture: Lister/Kato vs Trevelyan/South (York win 2-0)
Badminton
A Fixture: Halifax vs Mary’s/Trevelyan
B Fixture: Kato vs Hild Bede/John Snow
Ultimate Frisbee
A Fixture: Hes West/Hes East vs Mary’s (Durham win 9-6)
Squash
A Fixture: Langwith vs Hilde Bede (Durham win 11-8)
B Fixture: James vs J Butler (Durham win 7-1)
Darts
A Fixture: Alcuin/Lister/Kato vs South (York win 5-2)
B Fixture: Constantine vs J Butler (York win 4-3)
Netball
A Fixture: Lister/Kato vs South (York win 56-31)
B Fixture: James vs Stephenson (Durham win 65-37)
Basketball
A Fixture: James vs ISC (York win 50-21)
B Fixture: Derwent vs St Johns (Durham wins 39-27)
Volleyball
A Fixture: Derwent vs Ustinov (Durham win 2-0)
B Fixture: Lister/Kato vs South (Durham win 2-0)
Hockey
A Fixture: Goodricke/ Vanbrugh vs Castle ( Durham win 3-2)
B Fixture: Langwith vs Hatfield (York win 4-2)
Pool
A Fixture: Halifax/ Alcuin vs South (Durham win 7-2)
B Fixture: Langwith vs J Butler (Durham win 6-3)
The Pool games took place in South College’s college bar, The Nest, with its newly refurbished pool tables that had been reclothed just a week prior to the competition. The competition was hard, Halifax/Alcuin vs South was an intense match of doubles and solos with trick shots and forfeited games, and the teams seemed to be having fun. In the Langwith vs J Butler’s match, Langwith’s Captain Beth was spotted encouraging her team and playing a fantastic match herself.
Varsity was a fantastic event despite our loss and hopefully, next year the trophy will be Yorks!