After a truly successful summer for Oxford University Swimming Club, during which five members of OUSC and one member of OUMPA took part in the biennial Varsity Channel Swim, braving nine hours of the icy, jellyfish-infested depths of the Channel, the swimmers are back with a splash with what many are hailing as the sporting event of the year — Swimming Cuppers 2014.
A novice-only event (Blues swimmers are only allowed to swim in relays), Cuppers is open to competitors of all abilities — honestly, it wouldn’t be Cuppers without the annual display of a perfected doggy paddling ability. My advice for success: go for quantity over quality; participation is key, with every student placing earning at least one point for their college.
Events include the men’s and women’s 100m Individual Medley (a combination of all four strokes), 50m races in Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle, and finally the Freestyle and Medley relays.
No doubt reigning champions Magdalen will be hoping to defend the prestigious title, after facing tough competition from Queen’s and New last year — they clinched the title by just six points. Other teams to look out for in- clude the somewhat dubious ‘St Matthew’s College’ who placed a respectable sixth last year. So if you’re interested be sure to contact your college or just turn up (with a swimming costume) at 5pm this Saturday (25th October).
Cuppers is just the start of a busy season for OUSC. The following week, Oxford will par- take in their annual ‘Friendly Gala’ at Iffley Road, competing against Warwick, Nottingham, Southampton and London. Later on in the month, the swimmers will be heading up to Sheffield to compete at BUCS Short Course Championships, and then a select team will be in action in Norwich, facing the Tabs for the first time this season, amongst various other universities in Division One of Southern Regional Qualifying Round of BUCS Team Championships.
With a strong crop of new freshers, OUSC are hoping to retain the Varsity trophy for the fourth year running, and improve upon their impressive 7th nationally placed position at BUCS Team Championships.
