York teams will head to Lancaster this weekend, spurred on by their landslide victory last year, to try and win Roses away for the first time in eight years.
The phenomenal home win in 2015 saw York achieve more than 200 points, a record in the competition. Our athletes lifted the Carter James trophy, and came home with an incredible 225.5 points.
The three-day Roses tournament is the largest varsity of its kind in all of Europe, and alternates between the York and Lancaster campuses each year.
It takes its name from the War of the Roses, between the house of York and house of Lancaster.
Extra pride is at stake this year with the reinterment of King Richard the III, the last Yorkist King of England, in 2015.
YUSU and LUSU have taken months to prepare for Roses to ensure the event is of the highest standard so teams can compete to the best of their ability, without the worries of accommodation and transport.
The first varsity was held on the 15th May 1965 and was a Boat Race between the two universities. However, the competition now hosts hundreds of athletes across a variety of sports.
York are already ahead in Roses today: with nine points to Lancaster’s three after a series of wins in rowing on Saturday. The victory is a major achievement for the Boat Club given how bad river conditions have been this year.
Live coverage will be available by a joint collaboration between the two university television stations, YSTV and LA1TV, and the two student radio stations, Bailrigg FM and University Radio York.
Women’s football will open the tournament to highlight this year’s theme, women in sport.
This is the first time a women’s event has ever opened the Roses tournament, and demonstrates a wider push for women’s sport by YUSU.