York’s athletes aim to emulate successful 2005 Roses campaign
In a week’s time, the White Rose of York will attempt to overcome the Red Rose of Lancaster, as York seek their fifth win in six years at this year’s Roses event. The event is the largest sporting competition of its kind in the United Kingdom, and is expected to involve in excess of 1,500 students in total, competing in over a hundred fixtures and in over forty different sports.
Last year’s Roses saw a 159.5-91.5 home demolition of Lancaster. In light of this, and combined with York’s impressive record in the tournament over the past five years, York might reasonably look forward to the event with some degree of confidence. However for Nik Engineer, to approach the event in a such a mentality would be naïve, as “the host team should always be seen as the favourites” in the eyes of the AU President. Historically, it would indeed seem that this has been the case. An away side has been victorious only twice in the past twenty years and, as such, Engineer’s reservations seem well informed. Indeed, even last year’s emphatic points victory offers Engineer little comfort. “The event is always closer that the points suggest”.
But whilst our AU President is reluctant to take anything for granted, he is confident that “everyone would do their best” but could offer no clues as to which events York should be most comfortable in. “You can’t guarantee anything at Roses” was Engineer’s conclusion. At a push he was willing to concede that the non-BUSA league events are an area where York has been successful in the past.
Indeed, last year’s archery event saw a flawless victory for York and similar success was achieved in the Badminton events. However to Nik Engineer, “the important events this year are going to be the big BUSA sport events”. The only fact that the AU President is entirely confident over is that the Roses “will be very close this year”.
Win or lose, the highlight of the occasion for many of the 1,500 students involved with the event are the social events at the end of each of the two days.
The 5th of May’s event is to be held at the Sugar House and the following day will witness an event at the Carlton. More often than not our athletes attend these events victorious. 125 points are all that are required: let us hope that we can get there first.
By Sam Cartwright
SPORTS EDITOR
