The sun’s back out, the evenings are getting lighter and it’s finally warm enough to go out without a coat. Although the arrival of Easter Term means that exams are on the horizon, it also means being able to enjoy a sunny Cambridge again, as well as the new season of sport that the warm weather brings. Whilst exciting rugby and football matches swamp the beginning of term, the further towards summer we get the more we will see sports such as cricket, athletics and tennis start to dominate the Cambridge sporting scene. Here’s a quick preview of some of the biggest sporting events to look forward to this term.

Cuppers galore

The start of term brings an onslaught of highly anticipated cuppers semifinals and finals. This is kicking off with the men’s football final between Pembroke and Fitzwilliam on 26 April and followed with the women’s final between Jesus and Fitz/Corpus, which is also set to take place at the start of term. Both have been predicted by Varsity to be close matches with lots of exciting talent on display.

The following weekend also brings lots of action, with 29 April holding both the rugby semifinals and the netball finals day. Taking place at the university sports centre, the finale of netball cuppers is set to be a gripping afternoon, with the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals all being played as high intensity 7-minute each way matches. The winners of the ladies tournament will be decided before being followed by the mixed competition. Although the rugby semifinals will be taking place on the same afternoon as those for netball, the final results of the Rugby tournaments will be determined across the following weekend, the 5th and 6th of May.

Cricket

After a long winter, cricket matches have already started to pick up in Cambridge, before the term has even begun. Both Blues teams have a jam packed fixture list for the run up to exams, the women’s team kicking this off with their home match on 26 May against Oxford whilst the men’s team next have a home appearance for their final BUCS match of the season at Fenners on 10 May. However, played at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on 11 May, the Varsity T20 matches are set to be the highlight of the cricketing season. The cricket season doesn’t stop after exams either, with other varsity matches scheduled heading into the summer.

Athletics

Members of Cambridge University Athletics Club will be back out on track (or field) for their Varsity match on 7 May. With the event returning to Cambridge this year, the athletes will be looking to impress in front of a home crowd and will be looking to retain the two titles they secured last year on what is set to be a very competitive day of running, throwing and jumping.

On the river

The light evenings of Easter term bring back evening rowing outings, a change of pace compared to all the early mornings of Lent Term. College rowers will be training hard this term in preparation for May Bumps taking place from Wednesday 14 June to Saturday 17 June, with the getting-on-race taking place on 9 June. It may only be the top teams able to compete for head of the river, but the treasured blades will be on the minds of many of the teams competing, and the competitive racing sure to bring a lot of entertainment.

Whilst on the topic of water, Cambridge’s cardboard boat race is always something to look forward to. This chaotic competition is traditionally held on the weekend following bumps and acts as a greatly entertaining entrance to May Week. While it is maybe not everyone’s idea of a typical boat race, you can’t deny the spectacle that is of hundreds of students attempting to stay afloat on saved up Amazon boxes. We’re looking forward to seeing who, if anyone, can stay dry this year.

Football Varsity

After an unfortunate cancellation due to pitch conditions at the end of Lent term, the matches are back on and now scheduled for 1 May at Oxford City Stadium. The women’s Blues will be hoping to continue their phenomenal season which has already included finishing second in the BUCS national finals by claiming the varsity title. Having already beaten Oxford once this year, the men’s team will be hoping to repeat this feat by maintaining a strong team dynamic to avenge last year’s defeat.

Looking at the packed schedule for what is going to be an exciting term for sport in Cambridge, the only thing left to hope for is that the weather holds up to our high expectations so that we can make the most of it.