Darwin Sports News

Congratulations to all who took part in this year's Darwin-Wolfson sports day on Saturday 18th March - a triumph for the Darwin team.

 The event, an annual fixture between Darwin and our sister College at Oxford, returned this year for the first time since before the Covid-19 pandemic. The team of 50 Darwinians competed in rowing, croquet, ultimate frisbee, tennis, squash, and numerous other activities including University Challenge, eventually carrying home the trophy.

Thank you to Wolfson for hosting a wonderful day of friendly competition, as well as a thoroughly celebratory evening. We look forward to welcoming the Wolfson team to Cambridge in 2024. 

When Taihei Matsumoto joined Darwin in October to begin an MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development, he was determined to make the most of the varied opportunities that Cambridge had to offer. At the Freshers’ Fair, his attention was caught by the Cambridge University Dancesport Team.

“I thought they looked so cool, and I wanted to give it a try.”

Four months later, Taihei found himself taking first place in both the Beginners’ Jive and the Beginners’ Cha Cha at the Inter Varsity Dance Championships at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.

With lessons three days a week and individual practice taking up much of the rest of his spare time, dance is coming to define Taihei’s Cambridge experience in a way that he could never have predicted.

“I enjoy the fact that it’s getting me out of my comfort zone,” he says. “I’ve done lots of team work, and lots of things as an individual, but it’s different working with a partner. You have to really communicate with that person, and work together to achieve shared goals. I’m having a lot of fun with it – I think I’ll definitely keep doing it after Cambridge.

Congratulations to Darwin PhD student in Archaeology Chike Pilgrim, who was part of the triumphant 12-fighter Varsity Squad representing Cambridge University Amateur Boxing Club against Oxford this spring. The longest-running amateur boxing fixture in the world, the Amateur Boxing Varsity was launched in 1897. Chike won his bout in the heavyweight category via technical knockout, contributing to a final score of 6-3. Chijke’s triumph in Oxford Town Hall was named Sporting Moment of the Year at the University of Cambridge Sports Awards in June. 

 "Chike Pilgrim somehow launched our Cambridge team, who were already up on the moon, into the stars," said a spokesperson for CUABC. "Unforgettable in Boxing Varsity History."