Club Information

Cambridge University Athletic Club (CUAC) was the first university-wide athletic club to be established in the UK in 1857, followed by Oxford Uni in 1863. This perhaps makes CUAC the oldest university athletics club in the world.

The first Inter-Varsity Athletics match between the two Universities took place in 1864, 32 years before the birth of the modern Olympics. Today The Varsity Match holds great importance to CUAC, for while there is a distinguished history of rivalry through the decades, the match also provides a sporting platform to demonstrate the superiority of Cambridge over Oxford on a universal level.

In 3 out of every 4 years, CUAC and OUAC will come together to compete against American Universities in the oldest international athletic series in the world. The Harvard-Yale matches date back to 1894 and the Penn-Cornell series has roots in 1921. Every 4 years, the English Universities will tour the US over Easter to compete against all 4 of the US institutions, the next tour being in 2005.

Cross Country and Road Races are catered for by the Cambridge University Hare & Hounds. CUH&H will organise middle to long distance training for those events and provide University level competition. The annual cross country Varsity match has seen its 113th running.

Both CUAC and CUH&H have a fantastic social scene. Large annual functions are massively attended and always honoured by the presence of a well-known athletic personality. More regular socials are recalled through tales of revelation and debauchery.
 
CUAC will normally have about 3 full GB Internationals at any one time. We placed 7th at the 2004 BUSA Athletic Championships and 3rd at the 2004 BUSA Cross Country Champs. Ahead of Oxford on both occasions...

CUAC is student-run, but makes use of volunteer coaches for most events. Coaching is focused into training squads. Each squad is assigned a leader and a coach, and will focus on training for one or more similar events. Training takes place on various days of the week at various
locations depending on the needs of a squad.
 

8-Lane Synthetic 400m Track (10-Lane Straight)
New and well equipped pavilion
Circuits and plyometric equipment
Heavy (Olympic) Lifting Rooms
Multi-Gyms
Lots of flat grass fields
Picturesque running routes
Hills
 

CUAC has many Olympic Champions and former world record holders in its hall of fame. The story of one such man's time at Cambridge was immortalised in the 1981 film 'Chariots of Fire', as Harold Abrahams struck Olympic 100m Gold.

In 1987, Jon Ridgeon defeated Colin Jackson to take Silver at the World Championships.

Here are some of this year's successful athletes:

Andy Baddeley

2004 AAA's & Olympic Trials Silver (1500m)
Selected for 2004 Senior World Cross Champs

Steve Green

2003 AAA's U23 Champion (400m Hurdles)
2004 BUSA Champion (400m)
Selected for 2003 Euro U23 Champs

Adrian Hemery

2003 AAA's Senior Champion (Decathlon)
Selected for GB International matches in '03 and '04

Julia Bleasdale

2004 Senior Inter-Counties Champion (5000m)

Grace Clements

2005 BUSA Champion (Heptathlon)
2006 South of England Indoor Pentathlon Champion
Selected for England International match in '05
 

The University of Cambridge prides itself in being one of the most academic Universities in the world. As such, it offers no degrees with a particular emphasis on sport. However, lively and social pursuits (such as athletics!) are encouraged by Supervisors in all academic areas.
 
CUAC would encourage any athlete to apply to Cambridge for either a post-graduate or undergraduate degree. Don't hesitate to get in touch for advice on admissions.
 

Athletes can apply to the PE Department for a grant from the Eric Evans fund and to the Hawks' Charitable Trust for a bursary. Sportswomen can also apply for a bursary from The Ospreys.
 
In addition each college will have its own fund/scholarship set aside for sporting excellence.