Cambridge University Rifle Association is one of the oldest Varsity sports clubs in the University, first competing against Oxford University in 1862 for the Chancellors Challenge Trophy. Since then the club has competed annually against Oxford, and many members of the club have gone on to shoot at International level.

The Chancellors Challenge Trophy was presented in 1862 by the 7th Duke of Devonshire KG and the 14th Earl of Derby KG to Cambridge University, winners of the first Chancellors Varsity match with a score of 372 out of 672. The match was shot on the Wimbledon ranges over distances of 200, 500 and 600 yards, using Long Enfield Muzzle Loading Rifles. Cambridge University continued to win the Chancellors until 1866 when Oxford University won for the first time with a score of 412 out of 672.

In 1871 the Long Enfield M.L. was replaced by the Snider Breech Loading Rifle which continued to be used until 1883, when the Martini-Henry was introduced to the Varsity match. For 71 years, from 1897 until 1967 the .303 Magazine Rifle was shot in the Chancellors Varsity match. Presently the 7.62mm Target Rifle is used to shoot the Varsity match, and has been since 1968.

Chancellors Winning Team, 2006.

In 1890 the Chancellors changed location from Wimbledon ranges to Bisley ranges in Surrey where it is still shot today. During The Great War the Varsity match was suspended, not being shot in 1915-1919. When the competition started again in 1920 the match had been changed to be shot at 300, 500 and 600 yards. Each member of the eight man team shooting 10 rounds at each range, making a maximum possible score of 1200.

Since 1920 the Chancellors Varsity match has remained unchanged, apart from the introduction of V-bulls in 1995, when Mr Birkenhead set the individual score record of 150 points with 22 V-bulls. The present team record score was set in 1993 by Cambridge University with a score of 1169.

Over the 145 years of the Chancellors, Oxford University has won a total of 34 times, Cambridge University 100 times, and the match was not shot for 11 years during the years 1915-1919 and 1940-1945. The longest winning streak is 24 years by Cambridge University, from 1981 until 2004.

The Humphry Challenge Cup was presented in 1881 by A. P. Humphry MVO a year after the competition was first shot in 1880. The Humphry is the second Varsity match competed for by CURA, and shot over longer distances than the Chancellors.

Humphry Winning Team, 2006.

Originally shot at Wimbledon ranges over 800, 900 and 1000 yards using any rifle the match has undergone a few changes to arrive at its present form. In 1890 the competition moved to Bisley with the Chancellors and in 1897 the type of rifle used was limited to Match Rifle. The match changed to the longer ranges of 900, 1000 and 1100 yards in 1910 continuing at these ranges until 1963, when the distances changed to the presently shot ranges of 1000, 1100 and 1200 yard. Apart from the change of distance and limiting of the type of rifle allowed the Humphry has remained unchanged, consisting of 15 rounds shot at each range by each member of a four man team.

Over the 126 years of competition the Humphry has been won by Oxford University 52 times and by Cambridge University 63times. The Humphry was not competed for 11 years during 1915-1919 and 1940-1945.