The Varsity Match
In the Men's Match, since the first Meeting in 1864, Oxford have 76 wins, Cambridge 63 with 7 drawn matches.
In the Women's Match, Cambridge have won 32 matches, and Oxford 13 with 1 drawn match, since the first Meeting in 1975.
In the Second Team Men's match, Alverstone hold 39 wins and Centipedes 30. There has been 1 draw, and 1 void.
In the Second Team Women's match, Millipedes have 17 wins, and Alligators 15. There has been 1 tie.
The Varsity Match Handbook may be found here.
Awards | Team and Event Trophies | Results | Records | Statistics | History
AWARDS
Each year various awards are presented at the match:The Achilles Medal: Two medals, usually for track and field events respectively, are awarded annually to the Achilles Club member adjudged by the Committee to have accomplished the best performances during the year.
Current holder: Louise Shanahan (Cambridge) 800m 2.03.17
Sam Trigg-Petrovic (Oxford) Triple Jump
Christina Nick (Oxford) Discus 50.84m (2021)
The Le Touquet Baton: Awarded to the most improved athlete.
Current holder: Adahna Ekoku (Oxford) (2022)
The Susan Dennler Cup: Awarded for the best performance in the Oxford v. Cambridge Sports (Ladies Match). Susan Dennler was the sole female athlete of national standard at Oxford during the 1960's.
Current holder: Phoebe Barker (Cambridge) (2022)
The Paul Gomme Trophy is awarded for the best performance in the Field Events Match until 1989 and thereafter for the best performance in a throwing event in any inter-varsity competition during the year. Paul Gomme, winner of the Shot Put at the Varsity Matches of 1979 and 1980, died of cancer in 1983.
Current holder: Johanna Schoenecker (Cambridge) (2022)
The Drake Digby Memorial Trophy: Awarded for best performance in Men's Varsity Match.
Current holder: Sam Clarke (Cambridge) (2022)
Steven Stuart Trophy: The Steven Stuart Trophy has been awarded since 2007 to the second team athlete who produced the most memorable (not necessarily best) performance of the match.
Current holder: Emily Carroll (Oxford) (2022)
The Achilles Trophy: Awarded for an outstanding contribution to Oxford and Cambridge athletics.
Current holder: Louise Shanahan (Cambridge) (2022)
Previous holders of each title may be viewed on the Awards page.
TEAM AND EVENT TROPHIES
Each year, the following trophies are awarded to the winning teams:The Derek Steel Trophy: Millipedes v Alligators Match.
The Graham Goddard Trophy: Centipedes v Alverstones Match.
The Women's Varsity Match Trophy: Women's Varsity Match.
The CN Jackson Trophy: Men's Varsity Match.
In addition, the following trophies are awarded to the winners of certain events:
Roger Lane Trophy: Awarded to the winner of the Men's Javelin.Current holder: Caspar Whitehead (O) 56.34
Carole Morris Trophy: Awarded to the winner of the Women's Javelin.
Current holder: Abigail Jones (O) 36.45
RESULTS
2023 | Oxford | 108 - 102 |
2022 | Cambridge | 121 - 91 |
2021 | Cambridge | 123 - 85 |
2019 | Oxford | 113 - 88 |
2018 | Oxford | 118 - 93 |
2017 | Oxford | 115 - 96 |
2016 | Cambridge | 109-102 |
2015 | Cambridge | 118-94 |
2014 | Oxford | 108-104 |
2013 | Cambridge | 112-98 |
2012 | Cambridge | 107-104 |
2011 | Cambridge | 134 - 76 |
2010 | Cambridge | 112½ - 99½ |
2009 | Cambridge | 129½ - 80½ |
2008 | Oxford | 116 - 96 |
2007 | Cambridge | 130 - 82 |
2006 | Oxford | 112½ - 99½ |
2005 | Oxford | 110 - 102 |
2004 | Oxford | 113 - 99 |
2003 | Oxford | 113 - 99 |
2002 | Oxford | 113 - 96 |
2001 | Oxford | 114 - 97 |
2000 | Oxford | 110 -102 |
1999 | Oxford | 110 - 102 |
1998 | Oxford | 111 - 109 |
1997 | Cambridge | 113 - 109 |
1996 | Oxford | 134 - 89 |
1995 | Oxford | 123 - 100 |
1994 | Oxford | 124 - 98 |
1993 | Cambridge | 113 - 108 |
1992 | Oxford | 115 - 105 |
1991 | Cambridge | 120 - 103 |
1990 | Oxford | 121 - 102 |
1989 | Oxford | 135 - 87 |
1988 | Cambridge | 119½ - 102½ |
1987 | Oxford | 111½ - 107½ |
1986 | Oxford | 124 - 97 |
1985 | Oxford | 114 - 96 |
1984 | Oxford | 125 - 87 |
1983 | Oxford | 110 - 102 |
1982 | Cambridge | 115 - 94 |
1981 | Cambridge | 110 - 101 |
1980 | Oxford | 110 - 102 |
1979 | Cambridge | 113 - 98 |
1978 | Oxford | 112 - 100 |
1977 | Cambridge | 114 - 98 |
1976 | Cambridge | 114 - 97 |
1975 | Cambridge | 111 - 99 |
1974 | Oxford | 115 - 78 |
1973 | Drawn | 97 - 97 |
1972 | Oxford | 99 - 95 |
1971 | Oxford | 96 - 91 |
1970 | Oxford | 106 - 80 |
1969 | Oxford | 105½ - 81½ |
1968 | Oxford | 90 - 63 |
1967 | Oxford | 101 - 52 |
2023 | Oxford | 109 - 102 |
2022 | Oxford | 106 - 106 |
2021 | Cambridge | 107.5 - 95.5 |
2019 | Oxford | 102 - 99 |
2018 | Oxford | 112 - 100 |
2017 | Oxford | 101 - 99 |
2016 | Cambridge | 104 - 97 |
2015 | Cambridge | 113 - 87 |
2014 | Cambridge | 110 - 89 |
2013 | Cambridge | 104 - 96 |
2012 | Oxford | 102 - 97 |
2011 | Cambridge | 119 - 81 |
2010 | Cambridge | 112 - 89 |
2009 | Oxford | 102 - 99 |
2008 | Oxford | 109 - 90 |
2007 | Oxford | 95 - 93 |
2006 | Oxford | 102 - 88 |
2005 | Cambridge | 99 - 91 |
2004 | Cambridge | 102 - 88 |
2003 | Cambridge | 100 - 90 |
2002 | Oxford | 95 - 92 |
2001 | Cambridge | 117 - 61 |
2000 | Cambridge | 96 - 83 |
1999 | Oxford | 90 - 89 |
1998 | Cambridge | 98½ - 78½ |
1997 | Cambridge | 93 - 86 |
1996 | Oxford | 97 - 82 |
1995 | Cambridge | 90 - 89 |
1994 | Cambridge | 91 - 88 |
1993 | Cambridge | 96 - 83 |
1992 | Cambridge | 80 - 77 |
1991 | Oxford | 95 - 62 |
1990 | Oxford | 88 - 69 |
1989 | Cambridge | 84 - 73 |
1988 | Cambridge | 97 - 60 |
1987 | Cambridge | 93 - 64 |
1986 | Cambridge | 89 - 67 |
1985 | Cambridge | 80 - 77 |
1984 | Cambridge | 69 - 65 |
1983 | Cambridge | 66 - 62 |
1982 | Cambridge | 79 - 49 |
1981 | Cambridge | 73 - 55 |
1980 | Cambridge | 78 - 50 |
1979 | Cambridge | 75 - 53 |
1978 | Cambridge | 72 - 55 |
1977 | Oxford | 66 - 62 |
1976 | Cambridge | 67 - 61 |
1975 | Cambridge | 67 - 61 |
7.5.2023 | Wilberforce Road | Centipedes | 106.5 - 104.5 |
8.5.2022 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 120 - 92 |
4.7.2021 | Lee Valley | Centipedes | 10 - 10 |
18.5.2019 | Wilberforce Road | Centipedes | 110 - 91 |
19.5.2018 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 118 - 94 |
14.5.2017 | Wilberforce Road | Centipedes | 121½ - 90½ |
7.5.2016 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 109 - 102 |
16.5.2015 | Wilberforce Road | Alverstone | 102 - 110 |
17.5.2014 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 103 - 109 |
18.5.2013 | Wilberforce Road | Alverstone | 90 - 121 |
19.5.2012 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 103 - 109 |
21.5.2011 | Wilberforce Road | Alverstone | 81 - 131 |
15.5.2010 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 99 - 113 |
16.5.2009 | Wilberforce Road | Alverstone | 76 - 134 |
17.5.2008 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 102 - 108 |
19.5.2007 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 99½ - 111½ |
20.5.2006 | Iffley Road | No result [Cent 106 - Alv 105]* | |
21.5.2005 | Wilberforce Road | Centipedes | 108 - 101 |
15.5.2004 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 116 - 96 |
17.5.2003 | Wilberforce Road | Alverstone | 96 - 114 |
18.5.2002 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 113½ - 97½ |
19.5.2001 | Wilberforce Road | Centipedes | 113½ - 90½ |
20.5.2000 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 104 - 107 |
15.5.1999 | Wilberforce Road | Centipedes | 111 - 100 |
16.5.1998 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 83 - 134 |
17.5.1997 | Wilberforce Road | Alverstone | 105 - 118 |
18.5.1996 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 126 - 94 |
20.5.1995 | Wilberforce Road | Alverstone | 107 - 115 |
14.5.1994 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 103½ - 116½ |
15.5.1993 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 122 - 98 |
16.5.1992 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 109 - 112 |
18.5.1991 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 92 - 131 |
19.5.1990 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 100 - 122 |
20.5.1989 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 115 - 107 |
14.5.1988 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 102 - 120 |
16.5.1987 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 101 - 114 |
17.5.1986 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 128 - 94 |
18.5.1985 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 132 - 79 |
19.5.1984 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 116 - 92 |
14.5.1983 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 112½ - 98½ |
15.5.1982 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 103 - 106 |
16.5.1981 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 116 - 96 |
10.5.1980 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 108 - 101 |
12.5.1979 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 130 - 82 |
13.5.1978 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 121 - 88 |
14.5.1977 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 108 - 93 |
19.5.1976 | Crystal Palace | Centipedes | 115 95 |
14.5.1975 | West London | Centipedes | 114 96 |
16.5.1974 | West London | Centipedes | 96 95 |
19.5.1973 | Crystal Palace | Centipedes | 96 92 |
6.5.1972 | Crystal Palace | Alverstone | 89 103 |
15.5.1971 | Crystal Palace | Alverstone | 71 115 |
18.5.1970 | Milton Road | Centipedes | 98 88 |
12.5.1969 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 111 72 |
13.5.1968 | Milton Road | Alverstone | 58 95 |
8.5.1967 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 86½66½ |
9.5.1966 | Milton Road | ? | ** |
10.5.1965 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 67 86 |
11.5.1964 | Milton Road | Alverstone | 59 94 |
13.5.1963 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 51 102 |
26.5.1962 | Milton Road | Alverstone | 46 88 |
1961 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | ? ? |
?23.5.1960 | ? | Alverstone | 42 93 |
8.6.1959 | Iffley Road | Centipedes | 83 52 |
27.5.1958 | Fenners | Alverstone | ? ? |
1957 | Iffley Road | Alverstone | 63 72 |
7.5.2023 | Alligators | 106 - 102 |
8.5.2022 | Millipedes | 117 - 87 |
4.7.2021 | Alligators | 16 - 2 |
18.5.2019 | Millipedes | 110 - 89 |
19.5.2018 | Millipedes | 116 - 95 |
14.5.2017 | Millipedes | 106½ - 94½ |
17.5.2016 | Millipedes | 102 - 99 |
16.5.2015 | Alligators | 113 - 87 |
17.5.2014 | Alligators | 116 - 84 |
18.5.2013 | Alligators | 110½ - 89½ |
19.5.2012 | Millipedes | 115 - 85 |
21.5.2011 | Alligators | 117½ - 83½ |
15.5.2010 | Alligators | 122 - 76 |
16.5.2009 | Alligators | 114 - 87 |
17.5.2008 | Millipedes | 98 - 96 |
19.5.2007 | Alligators | 114 - 84 |
20.5.2006 | Millipedes | 105 - 94 |
21.5.2005 | Alligators | 105 - 92 |
15.5.2004 | Millipedes | 108 - 80 |
17.5.2003 | Alligators | 114½ - 62½ |
18.5.2002 | Alligators | 96 - 83 |
19.5.2001 | Alligators | 109 - 69 |
20.5.2000 | Millipedes | 95 - 76 |
15.5.1999 | Millipedes | 98 - 80 |
16.5.1998 | Millipedes | 106 - 71 |
17.5.1997 | Alligators | 105 - 74 |
18.5.1996 | Millipedes | 107 - 69 |
20.5.1995 | Millipedes | 100 - 78 |
14.5.1994 | Millipedes | 104 - 72 |
15.5.1993 | Tie | 88 - 88 |
16.5.1992 | Alligators | 86 - 67 |
18.5.1991 | Alligators | 88 - 67 |
19.5.1990 | Millipedes | 88 - 68 |
20.5.1989 | Millipedes | 91 - 66 |
RECORDS
100y | 9.6yw | P.A. Egom (Cam) | 7.5.1966 |
100m | 10.6w | S.H. White (Oxf) | 16.5.1974 |
200m | 21.0yw | A.P. Metcalfe (Oxf) | 12.5.1962 |
400m | 46.0y | W.A. Mottley (Cam) | 7.5.1966 |
800m | 1:48.5 | P.J. Lewis (Oxf) | 9.5.1970 |
1500m | 3:43.1 | S.J. Mugglestone (Oxf) | 19.5.1990 |
Mile | 3:58.9 | S.J. Mugglestone (Oxf) | 19.5.1990 |
5000m | 13:51.8 | J.N. Goater (Oxf) | 19.5.1973 |
110mh | 14.1 | J.P. Ridgeon (Cam) | 14.5.1988 |
200mh | 23.5 | J.P. Ridgeon (Cam) | 14.5.1988 |
400mh | 52.12 | S.A. Green (Cam) | 18.5.2002 |
Steeplechase | 8:47.4 | J.R. Rix (Cam) | 9.5.1970 |
High Jump | 2.20 | J. Brierley (Oxf) | 17.5.1997 |
Pole Vault | 5.01 | A. Meillis (Oxf) | 19.5.2018 |
Long Jump | 7.62 | S. Walker (Oxf) | 15.5.1993 |
G. Davies (Oxf) | 14.5.1994 | ||
Triple Jump | 15.41 | S. Trigg (Oxf) | 16.5.2015 |
Shot | 19.94 | G. Johnson ((Oxf) | 17.5.2008 |
Discus | 55.13 | G. Johnson (Oxf) | 17.5.2008 |
Hammer | 63.88 | M. Painter (Cam) | 16.5.2015 |
Javelin (old) | 68.50 | R.A. Lane (Oxf) | 14.5.1960 |
Javelin (new) | 67.14 | A. Hatton (Oxf) | 16.5.1992 |
3000m walk | 13:00.6 | T. Berrett (Oxf) | 17.5.1986 |
4x100m | 41.9 | Roberts, Conteh, Dale, Williams (Cam) | 6.5.1972 |
4x400m | 3:16.0 | Llewelyn, Keenleyside, Burton, Hemery (Cam) | 15.5.1982 |
100m | 11.95 | E. Cullen (Cam) | 16.5.2015 |
200m | 24.30 | A. Kaye (Cam) | 16.5.2015 |
400m | 55.88 | L. Shanahan (Cam) | 8.5.2022 |
800m | 2:08.7 | E. O'Hare (Oxf) | 17.5.1997 |
E. O'Hare (Oxf) | 16.5.1998 | ||
E. Leggate (Cam) | 19.5.2001 | ||
1500m | 4:21.2 | J. Dering (Oxf) | 18.5.1991 |
Mile | 4:49.04 | N. Taschimowicz (Cam) | 15.5.2010 |
3000m | 9:17.4 | J. Dering (Oxf) | 18.5.1991 |
5000m | 16.34.69 | P. Barker (Cam) | 8.5.2022 |
100mh | 13.86 | P. Agbo (Cam) | 19.5.2007 |
400mh | 61.88 | K.L. Taylor (Cam) | 178.5.2003 |
2km Steeplechase | 7:00.67 | P. Keen (Cam) | 21.5.2011 |
High Jump | 1.80 | G. Howard (Cam) | 19.5.1990 |
Pole Vault | 3.50 | C. Blattler (Oxf) | 21.5.2011 |
Long Jump | 6.28 | R. Irving (Cam) | 14.5.1994 |
Triple Jump | 12.51 | P. Agbo (Cam) | 19.5.2007 |
Shot | 12.83 | F. Brown (Cam) | 16.5.2015 |
Discus | 48.42 | S. Winckless (Cam) | 20.5.1995 |
Hammer | 50.14 | H. Broadbridge (Cam) | 17.5.2014 |
Javelin (old) | 41.18 | H. Wills (Oxf) | 19.5.1990 |
Javelin (new) | 43.48 | J. Schoenecker (Cam) | 8.5.2022 |
4x100m | 48.05 | LeGeyt, Cooke, Curling, Stockbridge (Cam) | 18.5.2002 |
4x400m | 3:54.9 | Burgis, Normand, Cutler, Jordan (Cam) | 16.5.1992 |
100y | 10.0 | ? A.N. Other | 1959 |
G.A. Tarrant (C) | 1963 | ||
Atkinson | 1963 | ||
Lewis | 1963 | ||
Powell | 1965 | ||
100m | 11.0 | A. Brown (O) | 1974 |
200m | 21.9y | G.A. Tarrant (C) | 1963 |
400m | 49.6y | Bliss | 1956 |
S. Miller (C) | 1963 | ||
49.6m | W. Bogan (O) | 1973 | |
800m | 1:53.3 | M. Wingfield (C) | 1970 |
1500m | 3:59.3 | R. Ward (C) | 1970 |
Mile | 4:18.2 | Evans | 1963 |
2 miles | 9:29.4 | Cumming | 1960 |
3 miles | 14:28.2 | Walsh | 1962 |
Lawson | 1962 | ||
5000m | 14:41.0 | G. Dugdale (O) | 1973 |
120y/110mh | 15.2y | C. Carrington (O) | 1955 |
200mh | 24.79 | E. Guaschino (O) | 2012 |
400mh | 56.1 | W. Mansell (O) | 1991 |
Steeplechase | 9:23.4 | R. O'Brien (O) | 1972 |
High Jump | 2.00 | J. Roney (C) | 1982 |
Pole Vault | 4.15 | F Bunbury (C) | 2014 |
Long Jump | 7.03 | Walker | 1953 |
Triple Jump | 13.97 | D. Adu (C) | 1965 |
Shot | 13.90 | S. Young (O) | 1964 |
Discus | 41.80 | D. Roscoe (O) | 1964 |
Hammer | 49.73 | J.Lange (C) | 2015 |
Javelin (new) | 60.27 | A Bogrand (O) | 2010 |
3000m walk | 14:37.4 | C. Goodfellow (O) | 1986 |
4 x 100m | 43.6 | Alverstone (Adeyeme, Ekpe,Collins, Kenyon) | 2007 |
4 x 400m | 03:20.8 | Alverstone | 1991 |
100m | 12.5 | C. Parkes (C) | 1988 |
200m | 26.2 | C. Parkes (C) | 1988 |
400m | 60.03 | E.Binner (O) | 2008 |
800m | 2:19.90 | K. Hatinova (O) | 2022 |
1500m | 4:47.5 | J. Larsen (O) | 1989 |
Mile | 4:58.44 | A. Garner (O) | 2022 |
3000m | 10:34.0 | E. Sokell (O) | 1990 |
5000m | 17:36.11 | L. Major (O) | 2022 |
100mh | 15.8 | N. Siddall (C) | 1997 |
200mh | 32.20 | J. Johnson (O) | 2022 |
400mh | 66.19 | L. Cook (C) | 2016 |
2000m s/c | 7:16.67 | E. Carroll (O) | 2022 |
High Jump | 1.70 | E. Perkins (C) | 2014 |
Pole Vault | 2.90 | E. Delaria (C) | 2014 |
Long Jump | 5.57 | E. Perkins (C) | 2014 |
Triple Jump | 11.39 | E. Perkins (C) | 2014 |
Shot | 10.56 | K. Sibbit (C) | 2006 |
Discus | 30.16 | C. Brown (O) | 2008 |
Hammer | 37.24 | J. Richards (O) | 2013 |
Javelin (old) | 31.16 | S. Kilroy (C) | 1991 |
Javelin (new) | 33.74 | D Etiebet (C) | 2006 |
4 x 100m | 50.88 | Alligators | 2014 |
4 x 400m | 4:08.82 | Millipedes | 2022 |
STATISTICS
Men's Blues
Scoring was by event between 1864 and 1937. Points scoring (5,3,1) was introduced in 1938, with the current system of 5,3,2,1
introduced in 1969. The highest point score was by the Oxford team from 1989, while Cambridge won by the biggest ever margin
in 2011, winning 17 events to Oxford's 3.
The record number of individual wins here is 13 by Dwayne Heard (Oxford) in 7 years: the 200m in 1986, the long
jump in 1983-1989, and the triple jump in 1984, 1985 and 1987-89. Pierre Faber (Oxford) won 12 events in 4
years: the pole vault in 1996 and 1997, the high jump in 1996, the shot and discus in 1996-1999, and the hammer
in 1999.
The most individual wins in one match is 5 by Jon Ridgeon (Cambridge) in 1988: 100m, 200m, 400m, 110m
hurdles and 200m hurdles. Bob Tisdall (Cambridge) won 4 of the 11 events then on the programme in 1931:
120y hurdles, 440y, shot and long jump. Fraser Thompson (Oxford) in 2004 won three distance events, 800m,
1500m and 5000m, a feat unique in the men's match.
Women's Blues
Cambridge managed 12 wins in a row from 1978 to 1989, unprecedented in either match. The record victory margin is from
their 2001 victory by 117 to 61, nearly doubling Oxford's score.
The record number of individual wins is by Phyllis Agbo (Cambridge) who recorded 18 wins over three years as
below, and in 2007 recorded (then) 4 individual match records. Ellen Leggate, nee O'Hare, won 13 times: 6 events
for Oxford (800m from 1997 to 2000, and 1500m in 1997 and 2000) and 7 events for Cambridge (800m and 1500m
from 2001 to 2003, and 5000m in 2001): the distance treble in 2001 is unique in the women's match: having first set
the 800m match record in 1997, she equalled it precisely in two subsequent matches. Rebecca Lewis (Cambridge)
won 11 events over 3 years: the 100m in 1997 and 1999, the 200m in 1998, the 100m hurdles in 1997, the long jump
in 1997 and 1998, the shot in 1997-99, and the javelin in 1997 and 1998. Emma Perkins (Cambridge) won 11
events over 7 years.
The most individual wins in one match is 7 by Phyllis Agbo in 2007 (100m, 200m, 100m hurdles, long jump,
triple jump, shot and javelin): in 2006 she won 6 events (100m, 200m, long jump, triple jump, shot and javelin),
and in 2005 she won 5 events(100m, 200m, 100m hurdles, long jump and shot put). Rebecca Lewis won 5
events in 1997 (100m, 100m hurdles, long jump, shot put and javelin).
Men's Second Team Match Measurements became metric in 1970. Since 1971 this match has been held concurrently with the Blues match.
*The 1966 result of this match is not known. The 2006 result was declared void following score keeping error.
HISTORY
The year 1864 has been described as the birth date of modern organised athletics. The scene of the birth was Christ Church Ground, Oxford; the occasion was on Saturday, 5th March when the first Oxford and Cambridge Sports were held, and the players were 28 unsuspecting undergraduates. The result was a tie with 4 events each. So was born the oldest dual athletics contest in the world. The final results are interesting to compare against the highwater marks achieved during the subsequent matches. It should at all times be remembered that the Sports were until 1959 a March/April event (except in 1895 and 1898) and hence often blighted by cold and wet weather.
The first minute book of the O.U.A.C. remarkably still survives. It was sent in 1954 in a parcel from Canada by the headmaster of a school in British Columbia to Dr. R.G. Bannister. This precious book had been converted into a personal scrapbook by the 1866 President of the O.U.A.C. The record is clear that, although held at Oxford, much of the credit for arranging the first match must go to R.E. Webster (later Lord Alverstone, Lord Chief Justice of England) of Cambridge.
The Early Years 1864-68 (Running Match Score (1868): Oxford 1, Cambridge 3, and 1 tie)
The second match was held at Fenner's, Cambridge, where the hosts won by 6-3 a revised programme, from which the 200 yards hurdles and the steeplechase were dropped and
a two miles (to be changed in 1868 to three miles), putting the 16 lb. weight and throwing the cricket ball were added.
When Oxford had the Sports back again in 1866, throwing the hammer was substituted for the cricket ball. In 1867 and 1868 a "neutral" ground was chosen at Beaufort House,
London which had a cinder path. In the latter year Oxford won the encounter for the first time.
Lillie Bridge 1869-1887 (Running Match Score (1887): Oxford 11, Cambridge 12 and 1 tie)
The Sports settled down with an unchanged programme for 19 years at this new London home. Highlights were the amazing cat jump style clearance of 6 ft. 21/2in. by Marshall
Brooks (Ox.) in 1876 which stood as a series record for 72 years; and E.J. Davies' (Camb.) world best, a record of 22 ft. 10 1/2 in. in the long jump in 1874.
The Old (3 laps) Track at Queen's Club 1888-1914 (Running Match Score (1914): Oxford 22, Cambridge 25, and 4 ties.)
The Sports become thoroughly established at Queen's Club (Barons Court), London for the next 36 occasions up to 1928. Except for the institution of the half-mile in 1899
(temporarily dropped for 1902 only) the programme remained unchanged until 1922.
Milers were among the greatest heroes of the late Victorian era with Oxford's F.J.K. Cross lowering the record in 1889 to 4 min. 23.6 sec. at his fourth attempt and
W. Pollock-Hill (Ox.) promptly lopping 2 sec. off that record next year.
Cambridge replied in 1894 with W.E. Lutyens' 4 min. 19.8 sec. Probably Britain's greatest ever all rounder, C.B. Fry (Ox.), added lustre to the Sports with a record
long jump of 23 ft. 5 in. (11/2 in. inside his week-old world's best performance) in 1892.
Into Edwardian days R.W. Barclay (Camb.) became the first athlete to record six track wins with a 100 yards - 440 yards double in 1902, 1903 and 1904. Next year
C. C. Henderson-Hamilton (Ox.) later to be killed in the 1914-18 War, set a famous mile record of 4 min. 17.8 sec., which remarkably withstood all assaults, including
those of J.E. Lovelock, until R.G. Bannister's third win of 1949.
From 1908 until the First World War was predominantly a Cambridge era. The outstanding names were those of K. G. Macleod (100 yards); K. Powell (hurdles); P. J. Baker
(half and one mile); the sprinters D. Macmillan and H. M. Macintosh, and the most versatile man in the history of the Sports, H. S. O. Ashington. He won the half mile,
the high hurdles (twice), the high jump, the long jump (thrice), and even ran in the 1911 mile. Oxford recovered their mile dominance with the 1912-13-14 victories of
the Olympic champion A. N. S. Jackson, while in 1914 G. M. Sproule set a 3 mile record, which stood for 35 years.
The New (4 laps) Track at Queen's Club 1920-28 (Running Match Score (1928): Oxford 25, Cambridge 29, and 6 ties.)
The Sports revived miraculously after the war with Cambridge personalities tending to dominate them, but with Oxford wins in 1920, 1923, and 1925 and exciting ties in
1921 and 1924. The sprinter, Harold Abrahams, achieved the remarkable record total of eight individual wins. Other personalities contributing three or more track wins
for the Light Blues were miler H. B. Stallard; the double Olympic 800 metres champion D. G. A. Lowe; Lord Burghley with a hurdles double for 3 successive years; and
sprinter J. W. J. Rinkel. Oxford kept her end up with the sprinter A. E. Porritt; a succession of winning three milers; and solid achievement in most of the field events.
In 1922 the 220 yards low hurdles was added to the programme and throwing the hammer omitted. The next year the pole vault was included.
Stamford Bridge and the White City 1929-37 (Running Match Score (1937): Oxford 27 Cambridge 36, and 6 ties.)
The Sports moved, after a three-year stay at Stamford Bridge, to their seventh venue, the White City, in 1932, in which year Cambridge recorded their seventh successive
victory. R. M. N. Tisdall created great interest in 1931 when he set a record by winning four events - the 440 yards, the high hurdles, the long jump, and the shot putt.
Oxford came back with wins in 1933-34, thanks notably to a double triple by the American C. F. Stanwood in the two hurdles and the high jump; the record-breaking half miling
of his compatriot, N. P. Hallowell; and the miling of the New Zealander, J. E. Lovelock.
Cambridge won the next three sports with A. G. K. Brown and the massive Turkish shot putter, A. Irfan, making outstanding contributions.
Point Scoring Arrives 1938-39 (Running Match Score (1939): Oxford 29, Cambridge 36 and 6 ties.)
After much heated debate, points scoring (5 for a win, 3 for second and 1 for third) arrived. So also did the discus and javelin events. Oxford won the first points match
by 3 points, the narrowest margin yet and the next easily by 35 points.
The Post-War Era 1946-63 (Running Match Score after 100 years: Oxford 41, Cambridge 42 and 6 ties.)
The Sports were revived in 1946 (temporarily without the pole vault) following a series of unofficial war-time matches. The Programme was extended by the addition of the
220 yards in 1947; the triple jump in 1959; and the 440 yards hurdles and 3,000 metres steeplechase in 1963, to bring the total of events up to 17. Cambridge won in 1946 and 1947,
and then Oxford embarked on ten successive years of victory with public interest heightened notably by the performances of R. G. Bannister and C. J. Chataway, who won the mile from
1947 to 1953, and D. J. N. Johnson who won the quater/half mile double in 1954, 1955 and 1956 and took his seventh event by winning the mile in 1957.
Much interest centred on whether Cambridge could produce a miler to break Oxford's long post-war sequence of victories. At last, in 1961, H. J. Elliott, the Australian world record holder,
broke the spell in the comparatively modest time of 4 min 7.2 sec.
In 1962 A. Metcalfe of Oxford recorded a dazzling triple over the 100, 200, and 440 yards in times of 9.7 sec., 21.0 sec., and 47.0 sec, - all new match records; while in 1963
T. N. Blodgett - that rarity, a Yank at Cambridge - won both high and low hurdles and the pole vault, all three with match record performances, and took the javelin throw for good measure.
The Twenty Five Years 1964-1988
Metcalfe continued to shine in 1964. Then in the next two years Wendell Mottley, bronze medallist behind Metcalfe's silver in the 1964 Olympic 4x400 metres relay, set magnificent
match records of 46.3 and 46.0 for the quarter mile. This golden era of one lap running continued with Martin Winbolt Lewis' three wins from 1967-1969.
As the league system and club athletics flourished, so during the late '60's the Varsity Sports slipped from public prominence. A more intimate environment for the match became desirable,
and after the White City closed, following brief sojourns at Crystal Palace and then at West London Stadium, the match has since been held at Iffley Road, Oxford (pending the long-awaited
construction of an all-weather track at Cambridge).
Although Oxford dominated during the 10 years to the mid 70's with Phil Lewis, Steve White and Julian Goater to the fore, the match continued to be as fiercely contested as ever.
Olympic Champion David Hemery won the high hurdles for Oxford in 1970, but it was his brother John, appearing for both Universities in the course of time, who has left the greater
mark on the Match's record books. Having tied the match in 1973, after Peter Arbuthnot snatched the 4x100m relay on the line, Cambridge finally reversed 10 years without a win in
1975 and stayed ahead for three years with teams which included Tony Shiret (who set a record number of individual wins in 3 appearances) and Gordon Wood (whose 400m hurdles/100m
double within 30 minutes in 1976 was exceptional).
From 1972, the mens' second team match, Centipedes (Oxford) v. Alverstone (Cambridge) was incorporated in the Sports, as at last, in 1975, was the first Women's Match, joined by
Women's second teams (Millipedes and Alligators) in 1987. During this period the men's programme was expanded to include the Hammer (absent since 1921), the short and the long relay,
and the 3000m Walk.
In the 105 years before Trevor Llewelyn came up in 1981, the high jump record had advanced just 13cm/5" from Marshall Brooks' world record 1.89/6'2 1/2" in 1876, to John Ellicock's
2.02/6'7 1/2" in 1971. In the space of 3 years Llewelyn added 16cm/6 1/4", taking the record to 7 ft and beyond, culminating in 7'1 3/4"/2.18, and triggering a golden period of Oxbridge
high-jumping continued by Phil McDonnell and Mike Powell.
Meanwhile in the horizontal jumps, Dwayne Heard also broke new ground, erasing long-standing records in both the Long Jump and the Triple Jump, and over a 6 year period scoring more
individual wins, 11, than anyone in the history of the match.
The late 80's brought us to the Ridgeon era. In 1988 he achieved a record 5 individual wins for Cambridge, including match records in both the 110m hurdles and the 200m hurdles.
Oxford, too, had an outstanding athlete in Simon Mugglestone, who set a new record at 1500m in 1988, as well as winning the 5000m.