City universities prepare for sporting showdown
Published on: 29th September 2011
Student athletes and sports teams across Leeds are training hard ahead of the seventh annual Leeds Varsity.
The one-day competition on Wednesday 6 October will see Leeds Metropolitan University and The University of Leeds go head-to-head in 57 competitive fixtures across 35 sports including an evening finale at Headingley Carnegie Stadium, where the two institutions’ rugby union sides will be cheered on by a partisan crowd.
The event is the biggest single day multi-sport Varsity in the country and this year will be hosted by Leeds Metropolitan. Leeds Met currently hold the bragging rights, winning the trophy for six consecutive years, but face a stern test in a range of sports from their city neighbours.
Leeds Met Athletic Union president Lewis Wildridge explains: “Leeds Varsity is about more than just sporting rivalry and will promote friendship between universities, a shared passion for sport and the opportunity for each participant to display the pride of representing their University. Being involved in the day, participating or spectating, is one of the best memories a student will take away from their time at University. Varsity is great event not to be missed.”
The showpiece event of the day is the Rugby Union Finale at Headingley Carnegie Stadium, which last year attracted a crowd of over 10,000. Starting at 7.15pm after a long day of intense competition between the two Universities, the finale gives students the chance to get together, watch a great game and get behind their University as the sides do battle on the field. Last year Leeds Met were triumphant, but the University of Leeds will be looking to gain revenge for that defeat in what promises to be an unmissable occasion.
