College Sport

The HCBC lockdown Zoom quiz had to be ended with a tie breaker determined by who was wearing the most ridiculous fancy dress

Boat Club

For every rower, it is a truth universally acknowledged that rowing can have its frustrating moments. Using every muscle in the body, requiring strength, power and cardiovascular endurance, it is widely regarded as one of the world’s toughest sports.

We train all year, enduring early morning outings and blisters, all in the pursuit of that feeling of being in perfect synchronisation with your crew, only for a sudden head tilt to offset the boat and cause a dip to one side. That’s when we’re lucky enough to get on the water. Rowers are well accustomed to the frustration of cancelled outings due to poor weather, whether it be flooding, gale-force wind or icy shards on the water, all a common occurrence in Durham. However, none of that compares to the frustration brought on by Covid-19, denying us everything we love about rowing. We miss gliding along the water seeing Durham in all its beauty. We miss the adrenaline felt before a race and the ecstatic feeling of crossing the finish line, and we miss all the moments in between that make the sport enigmatically addictive. As well as improving our physical health, we miss the service rowing did for our mental health, helping us to combat the stress of University life. However, above all, we all miss seeing each other. Whether it be yoga outside the boathouse, a fancy dress social, a race day road trip or a fitness session to 80s club music, Hatfield College Boat Club is one of the most vibrant, friendly and supportive student-run societies in Durham. We cater for novices and seniors, rowers and coxes, those wanting to get involved once or twice a week to those enthusiastic to don a unisuit and train every day. Therefore, when the news sunk in that we would be unable to return to Durham for the much-anticipated regatta season, we were

The Boat Club men enjoying a sunny afternoon on the Wear

inevitably devastated. However, I am proud to have this opportunity to highlight the exceptional efforts made to keep the Club going this year. We were among the first to jump on the Zoom bandwagon and host a very HCBC quiz. Our Social Secretaries put our general knowledge to the test, including our Durham and rowing trivia. After three heats and one fancy-dress final, the 21 quizzers demonstrated that HCBC has both brains as well as brawn.

Speaking of brawn, we competed in a virtual exercise contest against other College boat clubs. Over a month, our task was to log as many minutes running, cycling or erging. HCBC was jumping in and out of the podium for much of the competition, however, a final effort propelled us to win gold! Jumping ahead to September, we had a busy number of weeks planning the Club’s safe return to the water. We updated our risks assessments, attended Covid training, sourced cleaning supplies, bought new equipment and tidied the boathouse, which was no small feat. We even gardened the boathouse exterior, which, after months of neglect, resembled more of a jungle than a landing stage. Thanks to our efforts and funding from the College Trust and Hatfield Association, we were the first College Boat Club on the water, managing to squeeze three weeks of outings in beautiful autumnal sunshine before we were surprised with a November national lockdown and the subsequent Winter lockdown after that.

One thing this pandemic has taught us students is to make the most of everything, especially at Durham where you’re presented with limitless opportunities in your brief time as a student. It was amazing to see that enthusiasm among the freshers despite their university experience being limited by the pandemic. Incredibly, we had over 100 sign-ups at the Freshers’ Fair to join the Club as novice rowers or coxes. We are delighted to be welcoming them into the Club in the next few months.

Reflecting on my three years at Durham, choosing Hatfield and learning to row at HCBC was the best decision of my life. To lead a community of fun-loving, compassionate people as President has been an incredible privilege. Whatever the Easter Term may bring, I know I have made friends for life at HCBC and the Club will always triumph. However, it is my sincere wish that this term will be everything we hope it will be. From races to socials to gentle paddles along the Wear on beautiful summer evenings, it is the Durham we have missed, and one we look forward to enjoying once again.

Ella Bicknell

President

The Boat Club women taking a break during their morning outing to snap a picture by Prebends bridge

Floodlit Cup holders 2020-21 (Covid stopped play), Hatfield College Football Club, after Cup victory in 2019

Football Club (Men)

After the abrupt end to the previous season, the 2020/21 football season began with a fresh wave of uncertainty due to the continuing coronavirus restrictions. Despite this being a year in which we were unable to follow the traditional football schedule and social calendar, it did not stop us from making the most of the circumstances.

From the footballing perspective, the most notable event of the year was the freshers’ trial. This was split into two separate trials in order to observe the limit of 30 players on the pitch at any time, but in the absence of the customary introductory social it served as an excellent way of briefly meeting the new budding College footballers. This was followed by a trial match during a training slot in which a team consisting of freshers pulled off a remarkable 3-2 comeback victory against a more experienced team. Further restrictions in November brought all football to a halt, but plenty of promise was shown from the new intake in the small amount of football that was played, and it was reassuring to see that the future of the Club is in safe hands.

The lack of the famous HCAFC socials provided an opportunity for the focus off the pitch to turn elsewhere. In particular, there was a large push to encourage involvement in the Club’s attempt to raise money for Movember. This year, we collectively raised £2750, almost doubling our total from the previous year and securing us a place on the top 10 fundraising leader board for all sports ...there was a large push to encourage involvement in the Club’s attempt to raise money for Movember. This year, we collectively raised £2750 almost doubling our total from the previous year.

clubs throughout the University. There were a number of excellent efforts from club members across all years, but a special mention goes to Alex Carruthers and Fraser Graham for playing darts non-stop for 24 hours as part of their endeavours.

The future does show promise with plans for full fixtures to return during the summer term and the prospect of finally being able to host the much-awaited socials before the end of term.

Despite the disruption this year, the hope is that normal service will be able to resume next year and that the traditions, socials and team spirit that have been at the heart of the Club for so long continue to be passed on.

Alex Carruthers, Will Kettle, Will Manners

Club Captains 2020/21

Turnout for rounders at Whinney Hill, Saturday morning of Freshers’ Week 2019

Rounders Club

Hatfield Rounders Club, like many of our fellow sports and societies, have not had the most eventful year (not on the Rounders pitch at least!).

Our new Executive Committee was elected towards the end of Easter Term of last year, with myself as Captain, Hannah Davis as Treasurer, Jess Norton Raybould as Coach and Yusuf Cimcoz as Social Secretary. Though disappointed by the lack of Rounders played so far, we enthusiastically await the chance to return to play – armed with as many freshers as we can drag along - as soon as possible. The Rounders bats are being dusted off (and thoroughly disinfected) and whilst things may look a little different in the coming summer from previous years, we are nevertheless incredibly excited to be back playing Rounders in the Durham sunshine (fingers crossed) very soon.

Running Club

If you’ve taken up a new sport during lockdown, a good bet is that you’ve started to run. When all university and College Park Run races were cancelled this academic year, 139 Hatfield athletes turned to Strava to log their progress. At the height of the first lockdown, club members like Freddie Bloomfield and Luca Pittalis embarked on 19-mile loops around London while others, including Anton Tavitian, took to doing countless laps of the Durham racecourse as a substitute for a track.

A highlight this year was the Hatfield vs Castle running competition, where we tallied a total of 1195 miles in just seven days – 110 miles more than Castle – to raise money for DASH (a local homelessness charity) in partnership with the Hatfield Charity Committee. Impressive contributions from Emily Roseballer, Alana Mann, Owen Robinson, Mikey Young, Kathryn Rogers, Tom Lipton and Alice Cox, who all logged over 30 miles, demonstrated undeniable depth to the Club this season. As we close on the third year since Hatfield Running Club’s inception, its consistent top three finishes in the College league table and continual growth in membership has deservedly gained us a reputation for being one of the strongest among the University’s Colleges – a position we hope to continue as lockdown eases and running races return in the forthcoming season.

Elise Jeffrey

Captain Luca Pittalis

Captain

2020 Hatfield Freshers’ Ultimate Frisbee Team, celebrating second place in Freshers’ Tournament

Ultimate Frisbee

With the few training sessions that I was able to run with HUF, I have been excited by the engagement of both our new and returning players. With around 50 sign-ups at the Freshers’ Fair and the return of our existing squad, many of whom have been regularly training with Team Durham’s Ultimate Frisbee, the future of HUF is looking bright.

Our Treasurer, Patrick Hurley, was great at organising informal frisbee throwing sessions during lockdown when we were able to meet outside in pairs and small groups. When sport was not permitted, our Social Secs, Jacob Holmes and Freddie Lawie, kept us entertained with their inventive Zoom socials. Behind the scenes, we have also invested in some new club frisbees with a sleek new design. Let’s hope these can be enjoyed by the future generations of HUF before they inevitably end up in the bushes surrounding Hatfield’s tennis court!

At the time of writing this, we are looking forward to the return of sport in the third term. The Durham HAT tournament will likely go ahead this summer, which will give HUF the opportunity to play in mixed teams with other Durham and non-Durham frisbee players of all abilities. The aim for our final term is to get as many Hatfielders involved in HUF as possible, hopefully playing some friendlies with fellow Colleges to investigate the competition for next season!

Hannah Davis