51 has made history after winning the prestigious Stan Calvert Cup for the third year in a row from the hands of rival competitors Newcastle University.
Over the week-long varsity competition, students from both universities competed in sports including fencing, netball, hockey, volleyball, table tennis, squash, show jumping, cricket, rowing, water polo, basketball, badminton and skiing, before gathering for the men’s football finale at Gateshead Stadium.
The competition was one of the closest ever, with Northumbria retaining the trophy for the third time after scoring 73.75 points, versus Newcastle’s 67.25 points.
The win cements Northumbria’s reputation as being one of the best sporting universities in the UK. Team Northumbria is ranked 8th in the British Universities & Colleges Sport national league table and the University’s sports facilities are rated within the top 10 in the UK in the Times Higher Education’s annual Student Experience Survey 2015.
Northumbria’s Student Sport President, Brogan O’Connor, said: “"We knew what we had to do. We had to win as many games as possible and it's been a difficult week. But we've came through it and our hard work really paid off in the end – it's probably been the best week of my life. We're all ecstatic!
“We did our predictions and it looked like we might lose by a point, so to come out with the win – our third in a row – is brilliant.”
Northumbria’s Director of Sport, Colin Stromsoy, added: "I'm elated, absolutely elated. I'm enormously proud of all of the students and the staff who have done a phenomenal job. Newcastle pushed us right to the limit this time but we've got confidence in what we do and we've proved it time and time again.
"In 2012, Northumbria lost the Stan Calvert cup by 50 points – we've turned that right around. We've done that not because of spending money but because of the students at this university who have proven they are capable time and time again.
"This year is even sweeter because we rowed this year, we played ultimate frisbee this year and we did equestrian this year. This is an elite, high performance competition. There have been some absolutely phenomenal performances and I'm just delighted that we've come through it with a win. Everyone pulled together to pull it out of the bag.”
Northumbria’s £30m Sport Central is designed to provide students with the very best sporting facilities. It boasts a 25-metre swimming pool, 40-metre sprint track, a climbing wall, strength and conditioning labs, multi-use sports halls and courts, a huge gym, dozens of fitness classes each week and a 3,000 seat arena. Students also benefit from exceptional outdoor facilities at Coach Lane Campus and at the Bullocksteads ground.
