A Year in York Sport

4 - VARSITY 2011 – York demolish Hull in Yorkshire battle

Stood on a freezing cold touchline wouldn’t have been my first choice of “ways to spend your birthday weekend” back in February, but it did allow me to have my first exposure to a Varsity tournament at York. Everyone that I had spoken to about Varsity had told me that the weekend was a formality when York had played city rivals York St John, but this year proved to be different with the University of Hull travelling to York to compete for the Varsity trophy. Whilst some sports were plagued by problems of the past, many matches went ahead and there were many competitive fixtures. For me, the fact that York ended the weekend with a victory margin of 60-25 showed just how strong they were and people should forget this idea about Varsity being a walk over. True, York are always likely to be the favourites, but the tournament serves as an excellent Roses warm up, and nobody was complaining after that tournament this year were they?

3 - Partial removal of York Sport membership

When I interviewed York Sport President Sam Asfahani at the start of this term, I asked him about York Sport membership and what would happen to it this year. The response was that he wasn’t sure at that stage, but a statement of defiance came later in the interview when he said that the removal of York Sport membership was his highest priority. “This problem has plagued us for years, and I don’t want to leave without getting rid of it”, Asfahani said. True to his word and just a matter of weeks later, the first step of membership removal was implemented when it was agreed that members of clubs that don’t use facilities on campus would not have to pay the £40 York Sport membership fee. Although that still leaves many students with the York Sport membership fee to pay, in any battle the breakthrough moment is always key, and here’s hoping that this time next year I will be sat writing an article about how nobody at York has to pay £40 to play any sport.

2 - Building for 2012 and beyond

Maybe it seems bizarre to reflect on highlights of 2011 and include the idea of “building for the future”, but anyone who has happened to find themselves on Hes East this term will know that is exactly what is happening. With a new £9 million Sports Centre set to open next summer, much of York Sport’s efforts this year have gone into ensuring that York will not fall behind other universities in terms of sports facilities. With tuition fees set to rise, steps have been taken to ensure that students will get the best possible experience at York for £9000 per year, and sports is rightly at the heart of that.

1 – ROSES 2011 – York win the Carter-James Cup after crushing red rose rivals

York’s victory in Roses 2011 this year wasn’t just a victory but a demolition of arch rivals Lancaster. The event was my first exposure to a Roses tournament and after some formidable performances from White Rose teams, the weekend ended with a 178.5 – 104.5 victory for York. Success started on a slightly dreary Friday evening on 22 Acres when with York’s cricketers in trouble, Andy Kirkwood smashed his way to a wonderful century to stop an early Lancaster onslaught. Kirkwood was later named Player of the Tournament for his efforts and the award was fully deserved. Roses Friday also played host to the eagerly anticipated Rugby Men’s 1sts game at Huntingdon Stadium, where after a tense first 40 minutes York turned the screw in the second half and outclassed Lancaster with lightening speed and clever running to emerge victorious.

White Rose success continued throughout the weekend, with York taking victories from rowing, rugby 7’s, basketball, football, archery, badminton and netball to name but a few sports. Roses showcased not only passion and sporting ability, but complete pride in our university and it was a privilege to be a part of the event coverage. All eyes will now turn to the 2012 event where York will be looking to complete back to back Roses victories on Lancaster soil. Looking back at the 2011 event, I think a summary is best left in the hands of York Chancellor Greg Dyke, who at the closing ceremony uttered the words, “Someone said to me earlier that roses are red... well not this weekend they’re not.” I couldn’t have put it better myself.

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