First held in 1864, Varsity Athletics remains an enduring symbol of sporting excellence and tradition. This year’s event, hosted at Wilberforce Road Sports Ground in Cambridge, was made even more special by a prestigious recognition from World Athletics: the awarding of two Heritage Plaques to Cambridge University Athletic Club (CUAC) and the Varsity Match itself.
Founded in 1857, CUAC is one of the oldest athletics clubs in the world. It played a pivotal role in the development of modern athletics, contributing to the rules and formats that govern the sport today. “Cambridge University Athletic Club is among a small group of pioneering organisations that helped shape modern athletics,” World Athletics noted in its announcement.
In honour of this distinguished history, World Athletics CEO and Cambridge alumnus Jon Ridgeon (Magdalene College) returned to his alma mater to present the plaques during the Varsity weekend.
Living up to the historic occasion, fierce but friendly rivalry was on display, with Cambridge securing victories in:
- Men’s Blues
- Para Team
- Men’s 2nds
- Women’s 2nds
In an interview with Varsity newspaper ahead of the Athletics Varsity, CUAC President Jess Poon reflected on the club’s evolution and the importance of the Varsity Matches. She highlighted the club’s embrace of inclusivity, particularly with the expansion of women’s and para-athletics matches, and celebrated the sense of tradition and camaraderie that continues to define the event.
This milestone celebration aligns closely with the University’s priority to encourage participation in sport and physical activity at all levels. Sport plays a critical role in supporting mental wellbeing, fostering leadership and communication skills, and enhancing employability among students.
Across the University, activity priorities include:
- Club Support Programme: Aimed at helping sports clubs like CUAC deliver high-quality training and competition experiences, ensuring sustainability and growth.
- University of Cambridge Athlete Performance Programme (UCAPP): Providing specialist support for high-performing athletes, enabling them to excel both in their sport and academically.
- Active Students Initiative: Promoting sport and physical activity for all students, regardless of ability or experience level, through programmes like ‘Give it a Go’, designed to remove barriers and encourage lifelong engagement with physical activity.
Bhaskar Vira, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Chair of the Sports Committee, has expressed the University’s enthusiasm for supporting sport: “Involvement in physical activity and sports provides a much-needed release from the intense pressures that are associated with life at Cambridge. I firmly believe that these are inherently complementary pursuits, allowing participants to achieve a balance between their work commitments and their own personal wellbeing.”
The 150th Men’s, 50th Women’s, and 2nd Para Athletics Varsity Matches not only celebrated a rich and trailblazing past but also pointed towards a vibrant future, powered by a University-wide commitment to excellence, inclusion, and wellbeing in sport.
As Cambridge looks to build on this legacy, the University invites alumni and supporters to help sustain and grow these opportunities – ensuring that generations of Cambridge students continue to benefit from the profound personal, academic, and societal advantages that sport and physical activity bring.
Find out more information on how to support sport at Cambridge.
The world’s oldest athletics competition — the annual contest between Cambridge and Oxford — reached a landmark celebration this year, commemorating 150 years of men’s competition, 50 years of women’s competition, and the second year of the para-athletics Varsity.
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