The Varsity Match

A "Varsity match" is the name of any sports fixture, solely between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge. OUAC compete in three annual Varsity fixtures: the Freshers' match, the Field Events and Relays match and the Varsity match itself. The most important of these is the Varsity match proper, which is the most important match of the year for our club.

Although our athletes all have different goals in the sport, when it comes to competing for the team, all our members share the same focus: the winning of this annual match. Club training and competition is arranged so that our athletes are in the best shape possible for this fixture, which takes place in mid to late May, half way through Trinity (summer) term.

The Varsity match is unique in many ways. The most startling feature of the match is that with only two teams taking part, there are only 4 contestants in each event (namely, the first and second string of each team). This makes for a particularly intense form of competition, changing the nature of some events significantly, for example, where a middle distance pack is reduced to a huddle of only four, with the athletes working tactically in pairs.

The Varsity match in fact comprises of four separate matches: the Blues (first team) matches and Second Team matches, for both men and women. Scoring in each event is by points: 5 for a win, 3 for second, 2 for third and 1 for fourth, the winning team being that with the highest score once all the events are completed and all the points added up.

The match is held alternatively at Iffley Road, Oxford and Wilberforce Road, Cambridge. Selection for the team is made by the club President and Captain, a week before the event. Athletes can earn a Blue or half-Blue for their performance in a Varsity match, according to the rules agreed upon by the Blues Committee. For information on the rules, please go to the Blues Standards page.

Visit the Varsity match Standing page to review the winning team from each year.

The Freshers' Match

The annual Varsity Freshers' match provides an opportunity for both universities to show off their new talent as well providing new club athletes with the chance to experience competition early in the year and the fun that can be had, beating Cambridge. Whilst every Varsity match is fought hard, the Freshers' match is a relatively relaxed event and newcomers to the club should not be worried about performing below their very best. All matriculated freshers' (graduates and non-graduates) are eligible to take part in the match, as well as any other member of the university who has not previously competed in a Varsity match for OUAC. Selection for the team is made by the club president and captain. The match is held alternatively in Oxford and Cambridge.

Field Events and Relays Match (FEAR)

This annual event provides athletes with a chance to stretch their legs early in the season (at the end of Hilary (spring) term) and to compete in another unique match. In the field events, 4 competitors take part for each team in each of the four throwing and four jumping events. The best jump or throw of each competitor is added together for each team, the winning team being that scoring the furthest height/length. On the track, athletes compete in a number of different relay events. The men used to compete in seven relays: 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m, 4x1500m, 4x110hurdles (shuttle) and 4x200mhurdles (shuttle), and the women compete in six relays: 4x100m, 4x200m, 4x400m, 3x800m, and a medley (200m, 600m, 800m, 400m). The match then moved to be an indoor competition, with the 4x100m being replaced by a 4x60m, and the hurdles being replaced by the 4x60mh (with the 4x200mh removed). These races are seeded into A-string and B-string, with the winning side being the university with the lowest total combined time (with any individual disqualification counting against the whole side). Trophies are awarded for each of the winning relay teams and for the overall winning teams on the track and on the field. The match is held alternatively in Oxford and Cambridge.