Last month, the University hosted the 132nd annual Christie Championships where Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool play each other in 36 different sports. Culminating with the main competition day on Wednesday 27 March, where over 100 fixtures took place at venues across the city.
Established in 1886, the Christie Championships, also known as the Battle of the North, is the second oldest inter-university competition in the country, behind the Oxbridge boat race. Each university alternates hosting and this year Manchester welcomed nearly 2,000 students to compete on our pitches, in our pools and everywhere from ski slopes to polo arenas.
On Wednesday 27 March, Liverpool and Leeds students descended upon 22 different locations across the city, where after months of planning a nervous and excited Sport department and team of dedicated volunteers were ready to host them. Fixtures were played out throughout the afternoon, with the support of other teams, Manchester students and staff on the side-lines. Following a full afternoon of games, the teams headed over to the Academy at the Students’ Union for the awards ceremony. University of Manchester alumnus Kirsty Lewis, who held the role of Sport Sabbatical Officer after graduating in 1996, hosted the ceremony where each sport was announced and the winning captain came up to collect their medals and pose for a photo with the trophy.
56 awards later it was finally announced that the 2019 Christie Championships winners were the University of Manchester, who after placing first in 23 sports, beat Leeds and Liverpool to take back the title on home ground. Once the historic Christie Shield was lifted to a roaring crowd, Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester students and staff headed off for an evening of well-deserved celebrations. The competition will be heading to Leeds next year, where Manchester will be looking to defend their hard earned title.
Find out how you can get involved in SPORT at Manchester.