Friday of Week 22 will see the return of Lancaster’s largest inter-university competition, the 48th official Roses Tournament.
Hosted over the weekend, Lancaster will be in an all-sports rivalry with York University on home soil. After last year’s unfortunate loss to York’s White Roses, the Red Rose hopes to reclaim the winning title and bring the Carter James Trophy back to Lancaster University.
“Roses 2012 is set to be the biggest in its 48-year history with over 120 different events taking place,” enthused LUSU Vice President (Activities) Marc Handley. “With our new Sports Centre we have an incredible opportunity to showcase our sporting talent like never before, and that is just what we intend to do.”
“It’s an absolute honour to organise this incredible event,” Handley added, “and I hope everyone, supporters and players alike, enjoy this fantastic weekend.”
During the first day numerous sporting competitions will occur, including badminton, cricket, rugby 7s, netball, tennis and pool.
Steph Hall, badminton women’s captain, feels that they have a “strong team going into Roses this year and are looking to make sufficient progress on last year’s result,” adding that “York, like ourselves also finished 2nd in their league so [they] are extremely looking forward to play this challenging match, and are certainly aiming for a win.”
The Saturday will also see the hockey team, archery, trampoline and swimming contests taking place, along with numerous other sports. Lancaster’s American football team, men’s hockey thirds team, and the trampolining society are all currently unbeaten, and will be looking to lengthen their winning streak at the event. Rugby, netball and hockey battles will also be held throughout that day.
Kat Halliday, part of the trampoline society executive, expressed her eagerness about the upcoming tournament, commenting that “it will be great to represent our University on home ground.”
“We train twice a week, and do other competitions throughout the year” she explained, “and are hoping these will help us to keep our current record as being undefeated at Roses.”
“We have a strong team to put forward this year,” she added, “with members competing from novice level up to elite. Several competed last year, but we also have new members involved in this competition, and are looking forward to showing York how it’s done!”
Sunday will see the weekend’s events culminating at the football and basketball matches.
President of the men’s basketball team, Ignas Vycas, praised his team’s fantastic season performance and is eagerly anticipating the match against York.
“We want to show our best and finish the year with a big game,” he said “Especially when for some of us it will be the last game for the university! We are hoping to add some points and move Lancaster closer to the victory against York.”
Handley concluded: “Our teams have been working incredibly hard over the last couple of months for what is their last ever match for Lancaster University for some of them, so expect some relentless play from all of our players.”
For further information regarding the events visit roseslive.co.uk
