An event both highly regarded and ridiculously fun, this year’s swimming cuppers took place at Rosenblatt Pool in the Iffley Sports Complex. In this refreshingly cool and over-chlorinated venue, 15 college swim teams competed for points in eight events. Colleges racked up points depending on where their swimmers finished in each overall event. Oxford University Swim Club (OUSC) members, all outstanding athletes with toned swimmer bodies, organised the event and were only allowed to swim in the relays.
Impressive performances in the individual events included Thomas Bloomfield of Exeter in the men’s 100 IM and Alice Gatland of St. Catz who pulled off a stunning 31-second 50 freestyle. But the most remarkable of the individual races was the men’s 50 free, which required a time of 0:25.25 to win. Olivier Dudas of Magdalen took 1st place there.

The Magdalen relay team was out to dominate the men’s 4×25 freestyle and none were able to beat them. The women’s 4×25 freestyle relay race revealed a surprise when a St.Catz team finished a strong 1st. Placing Alice Gatland, winner of the 50 free, as anchor was a tactical manoeuvre unforeseen by the Magdalen women, who still managed to finish second.
As the scores were read off, it was no surprise when Magdalen finished with a first place record score of 162 points. St. Catz, due to its very strong women’s relay team, finished second with 67 points. Trinity, close behind, finished third with 57 points.

The decision taken by fellows of St Hilda’s College to end their 113 year stint as an all-female college was not one that was taken lightly, or one that passed without comment. Between 1993 – when Somerville first admitted men – and 2006, when the governing body at Hilda’s voted in favour of the same decision, the college existed as a curious entity in the Oxford collegiate system: the only all-girls club in town.

St Hilda’s has always enjoyed a reputation as an extroverted college. Their ‘work hard, play hard’ ethos is one of the main facets of college life that is emphasised to potential applicants, but how much did this change with the decision to admit men from October 2008? Over half of St Hilda’s undergraduates questioned in 2006 believed that accepting a mixed cohort would be a mistake, but have boys adversely affected the college? Hilda’s, unsurprisingly, has traditionally enjoyed a strong reputation in women’s sport, has this been diminished over the last two years? And finally, how are those pioneering males getting on? Is their participation in sport hindered by their limited numbers?
Fortunately, it seems that sporting life has, if anything, benefitted from the acceptance of men. The men themselves, benefitting no doubt from camaraderie and stoicism in the face of adversity, have excelled in almost every sport. Will Pembroke, JCR Sports Rep, told Cherwell that at times it can be frustrating playing for St Hilda’s. Despite winning their football division without dropping a point, Pembroke remarked on the struggle to get enough players for all the various teams and his annoyance at forfeiting matches, even against teams which Hilda’s were sure to beat. He went on to add that, in his opinion, the reputation of St Hilda’s as a all-females college, may have a negative impact on prospective applicants as they believe the college has no male sports teams.

When quizzed on the affect of men on the performance of the women’s teams, the answers were both uniform and positive. Despite the reduction of the pool from which to select female athletes and the slide of the college’s women’s 1st VIII six places down the women’s divisions in the last two Summer Eights, all those questioned believed that having men at the college had increased sporting participation. Indeed, Will Pembroke, men’s 1st XI captain, is adamant in his belief that the capacity to share equipment and coaching has made both men’s and women’s teams stronger. The reason behind the decision of those in charge at St Hilda’s to go mixed was to try and restore a college they thought was flagging in comparison to its rivals. If this was their aim then, in sporting terms at least, it seems they have been largely successful.

Oriel 3

Exeter 1

Oriel emerged victorious in this tight Cuppers affair against Exeter, which could have gone either way. The match had all the hallmarks of Cuppers football; university players on both sides, brand new kit, and the desperate wish to avoid the ignominy of going out in the first round.

The match itself lived up to expectations, with some strong tackles, at times heroic defending and an array of questionable linesman decisions, especially from Oriel’s ‘Big Phil’, who attempted to overrule the referee when he had disallowed an Exeter goal after 20 minutes which was marginally offside. Exeter continued to look dangerous and only a superb stop by Alex Khosla could prevent them going one up. Khosla had, of course, saved a penalty in the last Exeter v. Oriel encounter, and we have not stopped hearing about it since.
It was however Oriel who struck first, a corner was cleared to Callum Pontin at right back, only for the blue haired and ear-ringed fresher to lob the keeper from 35 yards. For a modern man such as Callum (who drinks WKD at a football curry) this was an old school lob, Cantona esque.

Cue the second half and the introduction of Oriel’s super sub Samuel Beer, in replacement of Francis ‘Mad Dog’ Dennig. For a man who has played football up front for nearly 3 years but never scored, it is commendable that he even turned up. Today was the day Beero broke his duck, with an screamer from just inside the box after leaving the Exeter left back in his wake. Benjamin Venegoor of Wethered wrapped up the game for Oriel in a second half that became increasingly stretched after a superb lobbed through ball from Jason Adebisi. A late consolation goal for Exeter couldn’t stop Oriel’s march into the next round.

Jack Stokes

St Anne’s 0

Magdalen 5

The world of Cuppers football is an ever-changing hub of unpredictability; but never before, in my entire journalistic career of reporting for the Cherwell, have I witnessed such chaotic scenes of disarray as last weekend’s fixture between St Anne’s and Magdalen. The first half proceeded without incident (other than three entirely unremarkable and unintentional goals committed by Magdalen).
It was in the second half, however, that my perceptions of sporting reality were shaken to their very core as Magdalen had the sheer audacity to score two more goals, one of which was an outrageously fortunate 30-yard strike into the top corner. The perpetrator later apologised, explaining “I never intended to score; there was a fly on my boot and in order to remove it I swung my leg violently in any random direction. The contact with the ball was merely coincidental.” Reportedly, a compensatory Strada student card has been sent to the distraught St Anne’s goalkeeper, Josh Williams. “It’s a nice gesture,” muttered the ex-St Anne’s Captain, “but it will never stop the pain. Or the self-hatred.”

This is not to say it was a one-sided affair; by its very nature, football requires two teams. But have you ever seen a baby wrestle a bear? It was like that. But with more blood. And less fur. Indeed injuries rained down on St Anne’s hallowed turf (technically property of St John’s) as American quarter-back Sheldon Edwards dislocated all three of his shoulders. Midway through the second half, the introduction of Magdalen playmaker/cleaning detergent, “Flash”, cemented the Mint Green Army’s defeat. After the inevitable fifth goal, St Anne’s peer support team were put on “High Alert” status but this proved unnecessary as the home side remained on the pitch for hours, rejoicing in the miracle that it wasn’t 6.

Rory O’Keefe and Tim Schneider

Pembroke 6

Somerville 4

Cuppers first round is supposed to be the game in which you can pick your team from the very best your college has to offer, have a full bench worth of subs and perhaps even a crowd. Unfortunately the message of the importance of this game never seemed to get through to a Somerville squad who dropped out throughout the week with remarkable regularity – excuses varying from a dislocated shoulder to an MCR jolly in Dublin.

To add to the anti-climax of the occasion the assigned referee pulled out due to ‘parking security concerns’ at the notorious crime hotspot of Pembroke sports ground. A reluctant Pembroke spectator was therefore drafted in to officiate and, despite the lack of a whistle, did a fairly good job. His only major mistake actually went against his own college, giving a free kick rather than a penalty despite the mistimed tackle causing a very obvious mark on the pitch a few feet inside the Somerville area.

The game itself was entertaining and lively. Somerville took the lead on four occasions but Pembroke pegged them back every time, eventually taking an unassailable lead in extra time. The stand out performance for Somerville came from Alexander Portz who scored three and set up the other of his team’s goals. Having experienced his wayward shooting so far this season, when he set himself 30 yards out in the first few minutes most Somerville players were preparing themselves for the inevitable goal kick which would follow. To everyone’s surprise however he unleashed a stunning, swerving left footed strike which flew past the helpless Pembroke keeper. Unfortunately his efforts were in vain as Pembroke took advantage of a rapidly tiring Somerville defence to run away with the game in extra time, and head through to the next round.

Ralph Turner