The Varsity Match

Plaque name: The Varsity Match

Location: The Pavilion, Cambridge University Athletics Track, Wilberforce Road Sports Ground, 18 Adams Road, Cambridge, CB3 9AD

Plaque awarded: 17/05/2024

Reason: Plaque Category – Competition

The athletics match between Oxford and Cambridge Universities has taken place annually since 1864, cancelled only by the World Wars and the 2020 pandemic. The venue currently alternates between Iffley Road, Oxford, and Wilberforce Road, Cambridge.

The first Oxford and Cambridge Athletic Sports was held on 5 March 1864 at Christ Church Cricket Ground, Oxford. 

The events in the first Varsity Match, which were called the 'Cambridge and Oxford Athletic Games', were just eight in all: the 100y, 440y, mile, steeplechase, 120y hurdles, 220y hurdles, high jump and long jump.

28 undergraduates competed and the match was attended by “many thousands of spectators”, according to an article in Bell’s Life in London. Many of these travelled to Oxford from Cambridge on a special train.

The result of this historic match was a draw, with four event wins each for the Light Blues and the Dark Blues.

Since the first Varsity Match, Oxford have won 77 matches, Cambridge 65, and there have been seven draws.

1975: First Women’s Varsity Match

On Wednesday 14 May 1975, a whole 111 years after the birth of the Varsity Match, the competition was extended to include a women’s Match. A total of 19 women – 10 from Oxford and nine from Cambridge – competed in this first clash.

In this inaugural Women’s Match, Cambridge came out on top, taking the win with 67 points to 61 points.