Second’s Varsity Match Report 2023
In the immortal words of Mia Hamm, “It is more difficult to stay on top than to get there.” This is the challenge that faced the OUSC Dolphins (2s) as they journeyed to Parkside Pools in Cambridge for the first time since 2019. Despite a resounding victory last year, intelligence suggested that this year’s Cambridge team would be a different beast. Nonetheless the coach journey from Oxford was one of eager anticipation and, despite Owen Lawton’s DJ set, the team arrived in good spirits.
An exciting change to the format for this year’s varsity meant that each university would be allowed to enter up to 3 individuals in each of the races and 2 teams for each relay, allowing for more competitors than ever before.
The dolphins kicked off proceedings with a bang as Mira Tang and Caterina Vanelli Coralli provided an emphatic 1st, 2nd finish with Mira breaking the 2s varsity record. A far more competitive affair took place in the open category with half the swimmers going under the previous record. Nic Lim claimed his first win and varsity record of the day, ably assisted by Finley Easton and our inside man Nic Woodford who both shaved significant time off their trials performances.
Before she had caught her breath Mira was back breaking records in the 50 back with a late surge from Emily Jintaking her past the 3rd Cambridge swimmer. Onlookers remarked she would have placed in the medals were the race only a meter longer. In the open category enigmatic ex-skipper Joel Fernandez defended his title in thrilling fashion, staving off a late charge from the Cambridge ex-blues swimmer to secure victory by just 0.08 seconds as Nic W took a respectable 4th place.
It’s fair to say the 100m freestyle was a real battle of the good guys with our much beloved captain Liberty Hunter racing alongside Oxfords smiliest fresher Kate McKeough and our overseas pro, Lillian Bushway. Both Liberty and Kate produced seasons best times, but it was Lillian who stole the show becoming the first women to break a minute in the 2s varsity. The open event produced blistering times with Thejes Sundar, Tobias Lloyd and Owen Lawton all demolishing the times from last year’s varsity to produce 4th,3rd and 1st place finishes respectively.
The 50 fly provided a first sighting of the pocket rocket, Mara Wuelfing alongside Caterina. Caterina produced a 2s varsity record as she dominated strong Cambridge competition. Mara also dropped significant time from her trials and managed a top 4 finish. Joel, Tobias Metzger and jack Chen all produced lifetime best swims in the open category. An Oxford varsity record for Joel was enough to secure 2nd place closely followed by the BFG (Big Friendly German) and Jack in 3rd and 5th respectively.
At the halfway stage the Dolphins held a slender lead over the Marlins.
Next the middle-distance swimmers took to the pool with Josephine “the 2nd best” Carnegie and Orla “the antisocial sec” Supple in for Oxford alongside Lillian. Fans of the club watched in eager anticipation to see if they could actually swim without Kate McLoughlin in the pool next to them. Both Josephine and Orla produced PB’s but it was once again the speedster from the states who took the accolades, beating not just the 2s varsity record but also the blues time as well as the winning time in this year’s blues varsity. Chris “the best” Carnegie followed his sisters lead with brunch secretary Morten Pahus and Leo Simon also swimming for the first time in the day. Both Morten and Leo produced pb’s to come in 5th and 6th while Chris took the race out quickly and just about hung on for 1st in what was later described as, “the worst race plan I have ever seen.”
The much-anticipated 50 breast saw Tina Macaulay and Charlotte Ibesson fight it out. Tina showed no sign of tiredness despite coming off the back of 3 days of rowing. Both Charlotte and Tina swam some 3 seconds quicker than the times set the last time varsity was in Cambridge to finish 4th and 2nd respectively. In the open category a first sighting of the mythical duo Fandrew (Finely and Andrew Mackenzie) accompanied the veteran Nic L: Nic set another 2s varsity record with Finley and Andrew only a body length behind coming in 6th and 4th respectively.
Tobias L, Thejes, Kate and Mara all put in admirable performances in the 50m free although a strong performance from the Cambridge team with a 1st-2nd finish in both women’s and open events meant they had to slot in behind a number of ex-blues swimmers.
A monumental second half performance from the Marlins meant that Cambridge carried an almost unassailable lead into the relays with the dolphins requiring victories in all 4 relays to overturn the deficit.
Oxfords hungriest man Stephen Sandford and Sarah Tinley came in as relay specialists in the hope of bolstering the tough odds facing those in dark blue. The ladies set the tone in the first relay with Lillian, Tina, Caterina and Mira devouring their opponents in a varsity record. Despite another varsity record and a rousing final leg by Owen, the open team missed out by the barest of margins. The freestyle saw victory for the open category as the women missed out in another close race.
Final scores saw Cambridge run out 95-85 winners with victories in both the women’s (46-44) and open (49-41) categories. Whilst the result may not have emulated last year’s stellar victory, both captains are extremely proud of this team. With more swimmers representing the university than ever before and a total of 12 varsity and 1 all-time 2s record being broken we couldn’t be happier with the direction the club is heading.
Big thanks to all committee members and volunteers who helped to run varsity this year and a massive congratulations to Cambridge on your victory. We’ll see you all next year to reclaim the trophy!
