As the Michaelmas term of 2019/20 ends, we look back at some of the moments to celebrate so far. With most of the Varsity events taking place in Lent and Easter term – keep an eye out for the schedule in January!  The focus in Michaelmas was on all-important BUCS action.

This year Cambridge entered 45 teams into regular team competitions, an increase of 2 from 2018-19, meaning there are roughly 500 Cambridge students competing weekly for the University across 16 different sports, not including the many hundreds of others who compete in individual competitions and other events throughout the year.

Remarkably, there are still five teams still unbeaten in BUCS this season, including American Football, W1 Basketball, M1 Lacrosse, and M1/W1 Fencing. All five will be hopeful of mounting a title challenge and subsequent promotion, with at least fifteen other Cambridge clubs still in the running for a title challenge too.

Not only are Cambridge teams looking at league titles and promotions, but a number of teams will have eyes on cup success too. Next term, the annual BUCS Big Wednesday event for Trophy, Vase and Championship finals will again take place at the University of Nottingham on Wednesday 25^th March. University of East Anglia will host the finals of Conference Cup competitions on Wednesday 11^th March. Last year, four Cambridge teams managed to reach the final of their respective competitions, with M1 Basketball being the only winners against tough competition. Will we see more Cambridge teams represented and picking up gold medals in 2020?

Most individual competitions take place after Christmas, but Cambridge have already attended 11 events this term, picking up BUCS points in the Cycling Hill Climb, Rowing Small Boats Head, and the first ever BUCS Taekwondo event at the Autumn Championships. 2019-20 also marked the first year that Cambridge entered the annual BUCS Surf event, traditionally the first event of a very busy BUCS calendar.  

Next term will see Cambridge clubs compete in a huge number of individual events, including attending the annual BUCS Nationals in Sheffield in February for Badminton, Fencing, Swimming, Rifle, Climbing, Indoor Athletics, Judo and Karate. Looking locally, the Cambridge University Orienteering Club will be coordinating the annual Orienteering Championships in Cambridge on the weekend of 28-29^th March.  

Cambridge finished the term in the best possible way, with a spectacular double victory at Twickenham in the 138th Men’s Varsity Match and 31st Women’s Varsity Match. In a historic first, ITV broadcasted the Women’s Varsity Match on live television, with Cambridge edging a tense game, scoring their only try in the last few minutes to take the lead for the only time in the match, and secure the win for the third year in a row.

To keep up to date with the BUCS competition, visit https://www.bucs.org.uk/.

To view fixtures/results/tables, visit https://bucs.playwaze.com/. Register an account and you can view all BUCS competition.