Varsity is always the best day of the university calendar, made even better by another resounding win against Swansea. And for Clay Pigeon Shooting it was no different.
Cardiff has held an unbroken streak for half a decade, so pressure was high. Team selection was tough, not helped by Swansea’s smug confidence that this would be the year they finally broke their losing run. Swansea’s captain (Matthew Phillips) sent over their practice scorecards. Some might call it psychological warfare, and it was working. Still, the best shots were chosen, from GB-level competitors to those who only picked up a gun at university. It was a mixed bag, but one I trusted to shake Swansea’s certainty.
Wednesday arrived. Everyone jumped into action, donning red and applying face paint. Arriving at Treetops around half nine, my captain and I walked the ground inspecting the traps. The weather was lovely, a relief to many. Back at the clubhouse, Swansea were there waiting, but it was the mass of red that struck me. Shooting rarely draws spectators, yet this was our biggest turnout ever, a sign of the sport’s growing popularity and common knowledge this was to be the battle of the ages.
After final checks, I briefed all competitors and handed out scorecards. We split into Ryder Cup-style groups: two Cardiff and two Swansea shooters. The competition was a 50-clay shoot, with the top five scores from each team deciding the winner. I was paired with our Welfare Secretary, Jack Benham, against Swansea’s President and Captain, Andrew Rawlins and Matthew Phillips.
At the first stand, the sunshine proved more of a curse than a blessing. Calling “pull”, the clay vanished straight into the glare. I dropped more than I liked, though so did everyone else. As we moved through the stands, performances improved and confidence grew. Passing groups confirmed similar progress, and our social media team were busy interviewing Swansea and churning out TikToks (@cardiffclayshooting).
By the final stand we had found our stride. With all groups finished, I had the daunting task of calculating scores. Yet watching Cardiff’s lead progress gave me no reason to have ever worried. The final result: Cardiff 168, Swansea 150. We had done it!
Phillips said: “While Cardiff did manage to come out on top this time, we pushed them all the way and there’s a definite sense that the gap is closing. A cracking Varsity, great shooting, great people, and exactly the kind of day that reminds you why you get involved in university sport. Next year, we’ll be back for that ‘unbroken streak.’”
I congratulated the team on an incredible performance. Swansea’s spirits were lifted only by the buffet provided by one of our members, enjoyed by competitors and spectators alike. As the SU bus arrived to take everyone back to Cardiff, we thanked the ground owner and Swansea for a great day. With the scores submitted, another year, another Varsity, along with another Cardiff win, came to a close.