The most difficult thing to grasp about Judo is the fact that a match can last anything between five seconds and five minutes. The platitudes that make up pre-match preparation can only do so much once you step onto the mat and everything in excess falls away, honing your focus into a razor’s edge.

The annual Cambridge-Oxford Varsity Match embodies this spirit, ending a training year by celebrating another year of top-notch Judo in both institutions.

We started the day tentatively confident, hoping to retain the Men’s B, Women’s and City team trophies for a third year running as well as to give it our best to bring home the Men’s A trophy. Backed by this year’s success in competitions including the recent BUCS competitions where for the first time in memory, not just one but two team medals were bagged by the Men’s and Women’s teams, we were confident of giving Oxford a good run for their money and ready to give our best on the mats.

This is the third varsity that I’ve attended, but I’m never quite prepared for the level of stress that can be experienced in less than two hours. Nail biting doesn’t quite cut it, the competition is indeed heart stopping, and I’m sure many an Oxbridge judoka has wondered if they would have a heart attack during the game.

It started out easily enough, as it always does, with the City team taking the lead. From there, things went progressively downhill, picking up speed during the roller coaster that is the annual Varsity Match. Many have wondered what may happen if Oxford and Cambridge each won four matches out of a team of eight and this was tested this year when at the end of eight matches, the score stood at 4-all. Down to the wire, the Judges were forced to count the points, with the difference between a shido and a waza-ari securing the win for Cambridge.

With one down and three matches remaining, the Women’s team next took to the mats, with Oxford one player down, it looked good for the Women’s team, and they pulled away with a clear 4-1 win for Cambridge. The Men’s B team followed closely, and included a stunning display of skills from lower graded judoka home grown by CUJC; they finally came away with a 6-1 win.

Finally, the Men’s A team was up. The most closely contested and final competition, tension in the air was palpable as the team from Cambridge faced a physically larger team. Six fights later, the score was still a very close draw, with each side rallying behind their team. Alas, the final fight went to Oxford. But with the level of skill and determination showed by both teams, losing was no shame, especially considering the fact that the fight has been closer and closer each year. This year, we came within a hair’s breadth of the trophy with a 4-3 win to Oxford.

With Cambridge coming away with the City, Women’s and Men’s B trophies for the third year running and Oxford taking the Men’s A trophy, the formalities were dispatched with. Both teams headed for the annual Varsity dinner and post-dinner social. The consumption of much alcohol ensued, along with the swapping of stories, solidification of friendships and the solid win by Cambridge of the Boat Race.

This year, the Judo Varsity Women’s trophy (affectionately named ‘The Fruit Bowl’) turns 50. With another Varsity over, we are reminded that CUJC has much to look back on and even more to look forward to. Each and every member of CUJC, past and present, is part of a club with a rich heritage, many legendary stories, and the platform upon which numerous friendships have been formed.

—Madeline Ang, President