A University Sporting Blue is an award earned by sportsmen and sportswomen at Cambridge, Oxford, and some other universities for competing at the highest level of university sport. The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University), located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and has a reputation as one of the worlds most prestigious universities. ... The University of Oxford (usually abbreviated as Oxon. ...

Origins

The first ever sporting match between Oxford and Cambridge was at cricket, held on 4 June 1827. There is no record of any "colour" being worn on that occasion. In the first boat race, on 10 June 1829 at Henley, the Cambridge crew wore white, with a scarlet or pink sash (accounts vary), honouring their Captain W. Snow from St. John's. The second, 1836, boat race is the event associated with the origin of the Blue. Just before the race, it is said that R.N. Phipps, of Eton and Christ's, thinking that the Cambridge boat should have a colour at its bows, called at a haberdashers and asked for a piece of ribbon or silk. The colour of the ribbon was light blue, perhaps because it was Eton's colour, or Gonville & Caius' colour (there were three Caians in the boat), or simply because it was the colour of the nearest bit of ribbon to hand. June 4 is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1827 (MDCCCXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Boat Race Logo The Boat Race is a rowing race between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club. ... June 10 is the 161st day of the year (162nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Henley-on-Thames from by the playground near the Rail Station River Thames, the five arched Henley Bridge and Leander Club (to the far left) Henley-on-Thames is a town on the north side of the River Thames in south Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east... College name The College of Saint John the Evangelist of the University of Cambridge Motto Souvent me Souvient (Latin: I often remember) Named after The Hospital of Saint John the Evangelist Established 1511 Location St. ... Year 1836 (MDCCCXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Kings College of Our Lady of Eton beside Windsor, commonly known as Eton College or just Eton, is a public school (privately funded and independent) for boys, founded in 1440 by King Henry VI. It is located in Eton, Berkshire, near Windsor in England, situated north of Windsor... College name Christ’s College Named after Jesus Christ Established 1505 Previously named God’s-house (1437-1505) Location St. ... Full name Gonville and Caius College Motto - Named after Edmund Gonville & John Caius Previous names Gonville Hall (1348), Gonville & Caius (1557) Established 1348 Sister College Brasenose College Master Neil McKendrick Location Trinity St Undergraduates 468 Graduates 291 Homepage Boatclub Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, generally known as Caius (though pronounced...

University of Cambridge

Sportsmen and women at the University of Cambridge may be awarded a Full Blue (or simply a Blue), Half Blue or Second Team Colours for competing at the highest level of university sport, which must include being in a Varsity match or race against the University of Oxford. A Full Blue is the highest honour that may be bestowed on a Cambridge sportsman or woman, and is a much-coveted and prestigious prize. In general, the Full Blue standard is approximately that of being successful at a national level of student competition, and the Half Blue standard is that of being successful at county or regional level. The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University), located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and has a reputation as one of the worlds most prestigious universities. ... The University of Oxford (usually abbreviated as Oxon. ...

Awarding process

The criteria for awarding blues are different for men and women. Awards are made the discretion of the men's and women's Blues Committees. The Men's Blues Committee is formed from one representative of each of the Full Blue sports, and the Women's from one representative of each of the Full Blue and Half Blue sports. Each committee meets frequently to discuss issues relating to Cambridge sport.

The Committees spend most of their time sitting in judgment on requests for Full or Half Blues. They initially determine an appropriate status for each sport, ranking it as Full Blue, Discretionary Full Blue, Half Blue or non Blue, according to its perceived popularity or importance.

• Once a sport is judged Full Blue, its Captain is given responsibility for making awards to his/her team, on behalf of the appropriate Blues Committee, and within any constraints or restrictions that the Committee has laid down. In some Full Blue sports, all members of the varsity match team against Oxford receive Full Blues, whereas in others only some of the team receive Full Blues and the others receive Half Blues; the Captain is trusted to make all the decisions. In some sports with Full Blue status, the varsity match second team is awarded Second Team Colours.

• When a sport is judged to be of Discretionary Full Blue status, its Captain is empowered to make the Half Blue awards to his/her team, and may request the appropriate Blues Committee, with some expectation of success, to grant one or more Full Blues to some of its members; thus the Committee, rather than the Captain, has the discretion that is in the title.

• The Captain of a Half Blue sport is empowered only to grant Half Blues (subject to any sport-specific restrictions), on behalf of the appropriate Committee. However, a recent (1990) rule allows the Committee, on rare occasions, to grant an Extraordinary Full Blue in a sport that otherwise only holds Half Blue status.

• No Full or Half Blue can be awarded in a sport that holds non Blue status. In spite of claims by the Cambridge University Tiddlywinks Club, there is officially no such thing as a 'quarter blue'.

• The awarding of a Full Blue often requires a person to fulfil a number of requirements in the same academic year, particularly in sports with Discretionary Full Blue status. If, for whatever reason, an exceptional sportsman or woman is of or above Full Blue standard but does not fulfil all the requirements for the 'automatic' award of a Full Blue in any given year, the committee then has the authority to grant an Extraordinary Full Blue to that person subject to scrutiny of the particular case. The individual's case must be presented to the Blues Committee in person and must be backed up by substantial evidence and references. The award is unlikely to be made unless the person is of world-class or at least international standard.

Each sport has specific criteria for each award (in such a way that the four categories above are slightly simplistic); details of the individual criteria for women's sports can be found here, and are summarised below. A varsity match refers to a sporting fixture between two university rivals. ...

The Blues Committees are steeped in tradition, and somewhat conservative in their thinking, but by no means unwilling to move with the times. New sports frequently arise, petition for, and receive status; but, to show evidence of permanence, they must have held at least five successive Varsity matches. Sports have recently lost status, and have been required to improve their organisation before regaining it.

Categorisation of men's sports

Bowler Shaun Pollock bowls to batsman Michael Hussey. ... A game of field hockey in progress Field hockey is a popular sport for men and women in many countries around the world. ... Football is a ball game played between two teams of eleven players, each attempting to win by scoring more goals than their opponent. ... This article is about the sport. ... This article is about the sport, tennis. ... A coxless pair which is a sweep-oar boat. ... A rugby union scrum. ... Squash racquet and ball Players in a glass-backed squash court International Squash Singles Court, as specified by the World Squash Federation Squash is an indoor racquet sport that was formerly called Squash racquets, a reference to the squashable soft ball used in the game (compared with the harder ball... A womens 400m hurdles race on a typical outdoor red rubber track. ... Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by throwing a ball through a high hoop (the basket) under organized rules. ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo Domínguez (left, throwing a left uppercut) versus Rafael Ortiz Boxing, also referred to as pugilism is a combat sport in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of one to three-minute intervals called rounds. ... The Minnesota State Highschool Cross Country Meet [[Image:Crosscountryus. ... This article concentrates on human swimming. ... The Danish Olympic badminton player Peter Gade Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles), who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. ... Canoeing is the recreational or sporting activity of paddling a canoe or kayak. ... Road bicycle racing is a popular bicycle racing sport held on roads (following the geography of the area), using racing bicycles. ... Fencing advertisement for the 1900 Summer Olympic Games This article is about the sport, which is distinguished from stage fencing and academic fencing (mensur). ... This article is about the martial art and sport. ... For other uses, see Karate (disambiguation). ... The Dive Shot. Lacrosse is a team sport that is played with ten players (mens field), six players (mens box), or twelve players (womens field), each of whom uses a netted stick (the crosse) in order to pass and catch a hard rubber ball with the aim... Competitors in the final round of the Mens Modern Pentathlon pull for the finish line at the Goudi Sports Complex on August 26, 2004. ... The international orienteering symbol. ... The shooting sports include those competitive sports involving tests of proficiency (accuracy and speed) using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns (see Archery for more information on shooting sports that make use of bows and arrows). ... Wally Lewis passing the ball in Rugby League State of Origin. ... For either of the songs named Sailing, see Sailing (song). ... Cross-country skiing (skating style) in Einsiedeln, Switzerland. ... Water polo is a team water sport combining some elements of swimming and handball. ... It has been suggested that Primitive Archery be merged into this article or section. ... Eton Fives, one code of the British game of Fives, is a hand-ball game, similar to Rugby Fives, played as doubles in a three-sided court. ... Rugby Fives is a handball game, similar to squash, played in an enclosed court. ... Fives is a British sport believed to derive from the same origins as many racket sports. ... Gymnastics is a sport involving the performance of sequences of movements requiring physical strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, and kinesthetic awareness, such as handsprings, handstands, split leaps, aerials and cartwheels. ... Chess is a recreational and competitive game for two players. ... Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... A korfball match in the Netherlands between Trekvogels and OZC Korfball (Dutch: Korfbal) is a team ball game, similar in many ways to mixed netball. ... A coxless pair which is a sweep-oar boat. ... The shooting sports include those competitive sports involving tests of proficiency (accuracy and speed) using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns (see Archery for more information on shooting sports that make use of bows and arrows). ... A game of polo. ... R. P. Keigwin (right) with AEJ Collins the Colleges racquets team at Clifton College circa 1902 Rackets (British English) or Racquets (American English), is an indoor racquet sport played in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada. ... An amateur dancesport competition at MIT. Dancesport denotes dance as a sport activity. ... Jeu de paume in the 17th century. ... A young rider at a horse show in Australia. ... The shooting sports include those competitive sports involving tests of proficiency (accuracy and speed) using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns (see Archery for more information on shooting sports that make use of bows and arrows). ... Jan-Ove Waldner Table tennis (also commonly known as ping-pong) is a game in which two or four players hit a lightweight ball back and forth to each other with bats (also sometimes called racquets or paddles). ... Volleyball is an Olympic sport in which two teams separated by a high net use their hands, arms or (rarely) other parts of their bodies to hit a ball back and forth over the net. ... The bench press is one of the three events of powerlifting. ... Gaelic football (Irish: Peil or Caid ), commonly referred to as football, Gaelic or GAA (gah), is a form of football played mainly in Ireland. ...

Categorisation of women's sports

An amateur dancesport competition at MIT. Dancesport denotes dance as a sport activity. ... Taekwondo (also, Tae Kwon Do, Taekwon-Do, or Tae Kwon-Do) is a martial art and combat sport originating in Korea. ... Trampolining is a competitive sport in which gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline. ... The three components of triathlon: Swimming, Cycling, Running A triathlon is an athletic event consisting of swimming, cycling and running over various distances. ... Look up ultimate, penultimate, antepenultimate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Regalia

Cambridge University Half Blue blazer and bow tie.

The winner of a Blue or Half Blue is entitled to wear a blues blazer, which is one of the most recognisable and distinctive garments associated with Cambridge University. Full Blue blazers are completely coloured Cambridge blue. Often it is remarked that Cambridge blue is really a green; the best representation of the colour in HTML is shown below.^[1] Image File history File linksMetadata Cambridge-half-blue-blazer. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Cambridge-half-blue-blazer. ... The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University), located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world and has a reputation as one of the worlds most prestigious universities. ... Leafy green fountain in Wattens, Austria. ...

Half Blue blazers have a number of different designs, depending on the wearer's sport; a typical design is an off-white blazer with Cambridge blue lapels and trimmings. There is a variety of other Blue and Half Blue paraphernalia, including scarves, ties, pullovers, bow ties, caps and squares. Such items are worn with pride.

Hawks' Club/Ospreys

Men holding Blues, Half Blues or Second Team Colours in a Full Blue sport are eligible to join the Hawks' Club. Women holding any of these awards are eligible to join the Ospreys. The front door of the Hawks Club at 18 Portugal Place, Cambridge The Hawks Club is a members-only social club for sportsmen at the University of Cambridge. ...

University of Oxford

Oxford University, Oxford University Rifle Club Half Blue blazer and tie.

At Oxford University the committees for awarding Blues and Half Blues works on much the same principles as the Cambridge committees. The principal difference between the two men’s committees is that at Oxford all Captains, regardless of their status as Full, Discretionary or Half Blue must attend meetings of the Committee. Until recently the voting was broken up according to Blues status with Full Blue Captains being allowed to vote on all matters while all the other Captains could only vote on matters directly relating to Half Blue Sports. In Michaelmas Term 2006 the committee finally allowed Discretionary Full Blue Captains the right to vote on matters directly relating to Discretionary Full Blue Sports. This has ended many years of inequality for Discretionary Full Blue status Captains and was largely welcomed by the committee. Image File history File linksMetadata Oxford-half-blue-blazer. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Oxford-half-blue-blazer. ... The University of Oxford (usually abbreviated as Oxon. ... The University of Oxford (usually abbreviated as Oxon. ...

The committees are administered by an elected President and Secretary who serve one year. Unlike in Cambridge where the President of Cambridge University Boat Club holds the position, in Oxford any Captain can be elected President, regardless of sport or status. Both current Presidents of the two committees are from Discretionary Full Blue Sports whilst the President of the Men’s Blues Committee has been from a Discretionary Full Blue Sport for the last 3 years.

The role of the President is to call and serve as Chair of any meeting of the committee, of which there are normally 3 per year (6 for the women). They also serve as the representative of the committee and sit on the University Sports Strategy Committee and the Executive Committee of the Sports Federation. Both Presidents along with the Director of Sport represent Oxford at any meetings of a Joint Blues Committee held with Cambridge. The purpose of the Joint Blues Committee is to discuss issues of eligibility for the Varsity match and to settle any disputes between the sporting communities of the two universities.

The current executive of the two committees [2] are:

Oxford University Men’s Blues Committee

• President: Tom Milner (Fencing, Christ Church)
• Secretary: Richard Beal (Badminton, Wolfson)

Oxford University Women’s Blues Committee

• President: Frances Smithson (Athletics, Magdalen)
• Secretary: Victoria Young (Karate, Merton)

The colour of an Oxford Full Blue blazer is dark blue. The Oxford Half Blue blazer can be one of two designs. Either it is composed of thick vertical stripes of dark blue and off-white, similar in style to the Newcastle United football strip - see the image to the right. Or it can be dark blue, as the Full Blue blazer, with two white stripes above the club badge on the left breast. For the Australian soccer club see Newcastle United (Australia). ...

The club for Oxford Blues is Vincent's Club, although it is not restricted to Blues. Atalantas is a club for sportswomen at Oxford, and also is not restricted to Blues.

University of Bristol

The University of Bristol awards 'Bristol Reds' to students who have produced exceptional performance in their respective sports at a level of achievement and commitment beyond that normally associated with University 1st team play. Though not absolutely necessary, this can be demonstrated by performances of honours beyond student level. The University of Bristol is a university in Bristol, England. ...

University of Durham

Three, or two, respectively, of the following qualities - 'Ability of a High Standard' (international representation), 'Service to a Club' and 'Attitude and Commitment'. The award is called a 'Palatinate' rather than a 'Blue'. This is because the colour of Durham University Sport is Palatinate (a shade of purple) specific to the university and the county of Durham.

University of Dublin

The University of Dublin awards Pinks to students at Trinity College who compete at international level, as well as with their college club. A captains' committee, consisting of the captain of each club currently affiliated to the university's Central Athletic Club, meets biannually to elect new Pinks. There are no half-Colours awarded. The University of Dublin, corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin located in Dublin, Ireland, was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, making it Irelands oldest university. ... Trinity College, Dublin TCD, corporately designated as the Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by Elizabeth I, and is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin, Irelands oldest university. ...

The Pinks scarf is plain light-pink, and the tie is navy-blue with a pattern of pink crowned harps.

Election to Pink status is extremely difficult, as participation on a first team is not sufficient; one must also compete at international level.

Sporting clubs for elite sportsmen and women also exist at the University of Dublin: the Dublin University Knights of the Campanile for men, and the Dublin University Heraeans for women. However, membership of these social clubs is by no means restricted to holders of the Pink and entry is secret with unknown criteria.

University of London

The University of London awards Purples and Half Purples for competition at the highest level of university sport, in a similar way to Oxford and Cambridge Blues. These are taken to be the equivalent of Blues at other universities. The University of London is a university based primarily in London. ...

It is interesting to note that as the pool of students the University of London has to choose from for its sports teams is much larger than either Oxford or Cambridge (some 80,000 compared to 25,000), it can be argued that it is more difficult to obtain a Purple than it is to obtain an Oxford or Cambridge Blue. Furthermore, it is unusual for the entirety of a team to be awarded Purples in any given year, as is the case with some Oxbridge teams; usually only a handful are awarded.

Other 'Blues' awards

At some universities a Blue is an award given to an individual by the Sports Union or Association of the university for outstanding achievement at a national or international level. Typically the recipient must have achieved a medal winning performance at national or international university competition level or must have won a Gold medal at a regional level.

Australian National University

The Australian National University in Canberra, Australia awards Blues and Half Blues in this way. The Australian National University, or ANU, is a public university located in Canberra, Australia. ... For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation). ...

University of Adelaide

The University of Adelaide in Adelaide, South Australia awards Blues, Half Blues and Club Letters in a similar fashion. The University of Adelaide (colloquially Adelaide University or Adelaide Uni) is a public university located in Adelaide. ... Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia, with a population of over 1. ... Capital Adelaide Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Premier Mike Rann (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 11  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $59,819 (5th)  - Product per capita  $38,838/person (7th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  1,558,200 (5th)  - Density  1. ...

University of Sydney

The University of Sydney in Sydney, New South Wales awards Blues for outstanding sporting achievement. Blues are nominated in October at the conclusion of the annual university sporting calendar and the successful nominees are presented with their Blues at the Annual Blues Dinner. Blues earn the right to wear the Blues jacket in the traditional stripes of Blue and Gold with the Sydney University Shield. The University of Sydney, established in Sydney in 1850, is the oldest university in Australia. ... The Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ...

The University of Western Australia

The University of Western Australia in Western Australia awards Blues and Half Blues to students as well as club members for outstanding sporting achievement. The University of Western Australia (UWA) is Western Australias oldest university, established in February 1911. ... Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State or the Golden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $100,900 (4th)  - Product per capita  $50,355/person...

See also

• The Hawks' Club A social club for men holding a Cambridge Full Blue, Half Blue or Second Team Colours.
• The University Match A history of the Oxford v Cambridge cricket match.
• Varsity letter, a similar award granted by schools in the US.

The front door of the Hawks Club at 18 Portugal Place, Cambridge The Hawks Club is a members-only social club for sportsmen at the University of Cambridge. ... The University Match in a cricketing context is generally understood to refer to the annual fixture between Oxford University Cricket Club and Cambridge University Cricket Club. ... A varsity letter (or monogram) is an award earned in the United States by regular participation or excellence in a school sport. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized...

Notes

1. ^  The actual colour is between 12 B 17 and 12 B 19 on British Standard BS5252. See here.

External links

Cambridge University:

• Blues Committees
• Cambridge University Rugby Football Club
• A history of the Cambridge Blue
• Cambridge University Hawks' Club website
• The Ospreys website (the female equivalent of the Hawks' Club)

Oxford University:

• Oxford University Sport
• Oxford University Squash Racquet's Club
• Oxford University Association Football Club: The Varsity match
• Oxford University Vincent's Club website
• The Atalantas website (the female equivalent of the Vincent's Club)

Other universities:

• Criteria for election to Pinks (University of Dublin)