New sports facilities bring multi sports event to York

York St John University’s sporty students are very excited to be hosting their first varsity event on 10 October. Over 700 students from York St John and Teesside universities will compete in 14 different sports when 27 matches take place at six different venues around the city, making it the largest senior multi sports event in York this year.

York St John and Teesside have been competing in the North Yorkshire Varsity competition for over five years, but the event has never been hosted in York until now. New sports facilities at York St John University Nestle Rowntree Park have enabled this to be first of many sporting events to take place at the University.

Professor Andy Smith, head of sports performance and participation at York St John University, said: “Our recently acquired 57 acre site will provide huge benefits to our students and the local community, including everyone who has been inspired to study and play sport by the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. The facilities already include a cricket pitch, two rugby pitches, six football pitches, a six lane athletics sprint track, a long jump pit, three tennis courts and two netball courts, and our ambition is to develop it even further to create a leading centre of sport.”

Adam McSkimming, York St John Students’ Union President, added: “This is a great opportunity to showcase the great new facilities at York St John, and we are sure there will be a real sense of home pride on the day. We are looking to inspire our students to have a great time and get some great results in their sporting fixtures this year, starting with Teesside on the 10^th October!”

The varsity events in October will take place at seven locations around York including the University’s sports halls, all weather pitch and new facilities on Haxby Road. Venues have also been provided by Red Goat Climbing Centre and David Lloyd. The River Ouse will be used for the rowing events which people are welcome to spectate between 12 noon and 5pm. 

Picture shows: York St John Students’ Union president Adam McSkimming (centre back) with hopeful students who will be playing in the varsity against Teesside. (L-R) Laura McNally, Chris Walker and Catherine Hague.