Roses Tournament

The first event happened on 15 May 1965 after the Vice-Chancellor of York, Lord James of Rusholme, suggested a boat race between the two universities.{{cite web|url=https://www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/50-years-of-roses-sporting-clashes-1-6586791|title=50 years of Roses sporting clashes|website=www.lancasterguardian.co.uk|access-date=7 January 2018}} The students amplified this idea and held a 5-day event with a variety of sports: rowing, table tennis, relay race, mixed field hockey, and tug of war. The winner of each of the sports received two points, and the losing vice-chancellor presented a trophy to the winning university.

The event has continued to increase in size since its founding, with new events added every year (2004 had 37 different sports). Live coverage of the event is broadcast every year by a collaboration between the two universities' student television stations YSTV and LA1:TV, and their two student radio stations, Bailrigg FM and University Radio York. The importance of non-sporting social activities at the event has also been increased, with organised events on the Friday and Saturday evenings.

In 1989, Roses celebrated its silver Jubilee with rugby, rowing, a boat race and tug of war some of the 30 sports. York won the tournament by 101-97 with a 3-1 win in the football securing the win. https://borthcat.york.ac.uk/index.php/uoy-sp-1-1-26 (Issue 1 Summer Term)

In the 2012 tournament a stadium was used for the first time. The Rugby 1sts XV battled it out at Huntington Stadium, the home of the York City Knights.{{Cite web|url=https://nouse.co.uk/2011/05/13/roses-2011-live-friday-night-lights|title=Roses 2011: Friday Night Lights - As it happened|date=13 May 2011|website=nouse.co.uk}} During the 2013 tournament York opted to use the same venue again, for the second year running.

The Lancaster University Men's Hockey Club 4th Team, Lancaster Bombers American Football team and the Lancaster Trampolining team were the only teams to remain unbeaten in the history of the tournament to date going into Roses 2012, however all three teams lost to their York counterparts in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/9703072.York___s_War_of_the_Roses_defeat_sees_Lancaster_edge_closer/|title=York's War of the Roses defeat sees Lancaster edge closer|website=York Press|date=12 May 2012 |access-date=7 January 2018}}

For the 50th battle of the Roses in 2014, the tournament was hosted at Lancaster. Lancaster created a purpose built stadium for first time which hosted the opening and closing ceremony, as well as fixtures including women's rugby, men's rugby and archery.

The 2015 tournament was officially opened by England football team manager Roy Hodgson and Football Association chairman Greg Dyke.{{cite web|title=England manager Roy Hodgson heads to York for sporting spectacular|url=https://www.yorkmix.com/england-manager-roy-hodgson-heads-to-york-for-sporting-spectacular/|date=8 April 2015|website=YorkMix|access-date=17 May 2020}}{{cite web|title=Greg Dyke and Roy Hodgson address York University|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2015/apr/24/roy-hodgson-and-greg-dyke-address-york-university|last=Association|first=The Football|website=www.thefa.com|access-date=17 May 2020}} The opening ceremony, which featured a series of boxing matches dubbed 'Friday Night Fight Night', was watched by 1,000 people in the University of York's Central Hall, with a further 5,000 people watching on large screens across campus. It was also the first year that one university had scored more than 200 points; however more point scoring activities are present now compared to 50 years ago.{{cite web|title=University of York celebrate record Roses Festival triumph|url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/other/12916658.university-of-york-celebrate-record-roses-festival-triumph/|website=York Press|date=27 April 2015 |access-date=17 May 2020}}

Esports were introduced to the tournament for the first time in 2016 in the form of League of Legends, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.{{cite news|url=http://www.esports-news.co.uk/2016/05/02/esports-varsity-roses-2016/|title=Esports added to UK university varsity as Lancaster beat York - Esports News UK|date=2 May 2016|work=Esports News UK|access-date=7 January 2018}}

The 2018 tournament saw the introduction of dodgeball and golf to the competition, as won by the Lancaster Royals.{{cite web |title=Roses 2019 - Sports |url=https://roseslive.co.uk/sports |access-date=7 January 2018 |website=roseslive.co.uk}}

In March 2020 it was announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://yusu.org/news/article/roses-cancelled|title=YUSU Statement: Roses 2020 Cancelled|publisher=University of York Students' Union|date=19 March 2020|access-date=8 May 2020}} However, a competition was held with the Roses tournament being replaced by a Virtual Roses tournament which was won by York.{{cite web|url=https://nouse.co.uk/2020/04/20/virtual-roses-to-take-place-in-early-may|title=Virtual Roses to take place in early May|website=Nouse|date=20 April 2020|access-date=20 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://lancastersu.co.uk/articles/virtual-roses-2020-complete|title=Virtual Roses 2020 Complete|publisher=Lancaster University Students' Union|date=4 May 2020|access-date=5 May 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://nouse.co.uk/2020/05/05/york-win-virtual-roses-and-raise-over-4000-for-charity|title=York win 'Virtual Roses' and raise over £4000 for charity|publisher=Nouse|date=5 May 2020|access-date=5 May 2020}}

Since the pandemic, Lancaster have dominated the competition, winning all four editions since 2022. This ongoing streak is also the first time that either university has won four or more consecutive tournaments. There had previously been five instances of three consecutive triumphs.

• Lancaster: 30 wins (24 home, 6 away)
• York: 28 wins (24 home, 4 away)
• Draws: 1 (1 at Lancaster, 0 at York)

The following sports were included in the 2023 edition of the tournament:{{Cite web |title=Roses 2023 |url=https://roseslive.co.uk/sports |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=Roses 2023 |language=en}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

• American football
• Archery
• Badminton
• Ballroom dance
• Basketball
• Canoe polo
• Cheerleading
• Climbing
• Cricket
• Cross Country
• Cycling
• Dance
• Darts
• Debating
• Equestrian
• Esports
• Fencing
• Football*
• Futsal
• Golf
• Handball
• Hockey
• Indoor hockey
• Korfball
• Lacrosse
• Martial Arts
• Motorsport
• Mountain Biking
• Netball
• Pokémon
• Pole fitness
• Pool
• Powerlifting
• Rowing
• Rugby union
• Sailing
• Snooker
• Snowsports
• Squash
• Swimming
• Table tennis**
• Tennis
• Trampolining
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Underwater hockey
• Volleyball
• Water polo
• Whitewater canoeing{{div col end}}

* In addition to the University teams, football and netball also includes matches between each university's intercollegiate league champions. Postgraduate and medical society teams have also appeared in some years.{{cite web|url=https://roseslive.co.uk/sport/27|title=Roses 2019 - Football|website=roseslive.co.uk|access-date=5 May 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://roseslive.co.uk/sport/25|title=Roses 2019 - Netball|website=roseslive.co.uk|access-date=5 May 2019}}

** In 2023 table tennis is the 'Vice Chancellors' Fixture', with the sides consisting of the vice chancellor and the sports president.{{Cite web |title=Roses 2023 |url=https://roseslive.co.uk/events |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415125351/https://roseslive.co.uk/events |archive-date=15 April 2023 |access-date=15 April 2023 |website=Roses 2023}} In past years, croquet is usually played between "executive" teams comprising some combination of chancellors, vice-chancellors and Students' Union presidents, and does not contribute any points to the overall score.{{cite news |last=Davies |first=Tom |date=6 May 2013 |title=Roses croquet: York beat Lancaster |work=York Vision |url=https://www.yorkvision.co.uk/sport/roses-croquet-york-bt-lancaster/06/05/2013 |url-status=live |access-date=7 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414182840/https://www.yorkvision.co.uk/archived/roses-croquet-york-bt-lancaster/06/05/2013 |archive-date=14 April 2023}}{{cite news |date=4 April 2008 |title=Lancaster and York In 44th Roses Tournament |work=Lancaster University News |url=http://news.lancs.ac.uk/Web/News/Pages/F97A658E0B4B837280257421002E5437.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=7 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415131118/https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/news-archive/F97A658E0B4B837280257421002E5437.php |archive-date=15 April 2023}} In some years, this has been replaced with crown green bowls.{{cite web |title=Roses 2018 - Crown Green Bowls |url=https://roseslive.co.uk/sport/43 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427184730/https://roseslive.co.uk/sport/43 |archive-date=27 April 2018 |access-date=27 April 2018 |website=roseslive.co.uk}}

{{see also|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports}}

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of the annual Roses Tournament to be held at Lancaster University was cancelled.{{Cite web|title=Lancaster University Students' Union|url=https://lancastersu.co.uk/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=lancastersu.co.uk|language=en}} As an alternative, Lancaster University Students' Union and York University Students' Union created a virtual tournament on Facebook.{{Cite web|title=Virtual Roses 2020|url=https://www.facebook.com/VirtualRoses/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}} Events took place in the form of challenges that participants would have to provide photographic or video evidence for. Challenges of were judged by Lancaster SU Vice-President for Activities, Victoria Hatch and York Sport Union President, Maddi Cannell.{{Cite web|title=Virtual Roses 2020|url=https://www.facebook.com/VirtualRoses/posts/118507333169443 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/103346374685539/118507333169443 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}{{cbignore}} The tournament took place between 1–2 May 2020 and was won by York by a score of 2337-1971.{{Cite web|title=Virtual Roses 2020 – Roundup|url=https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/giving/news/virtual-roses-2020-roundup|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.lancaster.ac.uk|language=en}}

Charity fundraising was also done alongside the tournament, with a total of over £5000 being raised.{{Cite web|title=Virtual Roses 2020|url=https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/virtualroses2020|access-date=2020-07-01|website=Just Giving|language=en}}

The 'Opening Ceremony' for the tournament featured a number of video performances being uploaded to the Virtual Roses 2020 Facebook page on 1 May 2020.{{Cite web|title=Virtual Roses 2020|url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/VirtualRoses/533189677626391/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}} Sets were performed by Emily Millard, Lancaster's Brass Quintet, Lancaster's Clarinet Choir, Lancaster's Chamber Choir, Hamza Dalvi, Victoria Hatch, and Lancaster University Comedy Institute.{{Cite web|title=Virtual Roses 2020|url=https://www.facebook.com/VirtualRoses/posts/118737309813112 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/103346374685539/118737309813112 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}{{cbignore}}

There was a mix of events that were open to all,{{Cite web|title=Virtual Roses 2020|url=https://www.facebook.com/VirtualRoses/photos/a.112660837087426/117489363271240/?type=3 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/103346374685539/117489363271240 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}{{cbignore}} events that were only open to members of specific societies,{{Cite web|title=Virtual Roses 2020|url=https://www.facebook.com/VirtualRoses/photos/a.112660837087426/117489429937900/?type=3 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/103346374685539/117489429937900 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web|title=Virtual Roses 2020|url=https://www.facebook.com/VirtualRoses/photos/a.112660837087426/117489536604556/?type=3 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/103346374685539/117489536604556 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}{{cbignore}} and events only competed by specific individuals.{{Cite web|title=Virtual Roses 2020|url=https://www.facebook.com/VirtualRoses/posts/119973809689462 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/103346374685539/119973809689462 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}{{cbignore}} Most events awarded 50 points for 1st place, 30 points for 2nd place, and 20 points for 3rd place.{{Cite web|title=Virtual Roses 2020|url=https://www.facebook.com/VirtualRoses/events|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}} Some events awarded points for the number of participants each University had.{{Cite web|title=Lovely Juggly|url=https://www.facebook.com/events/225179505377137/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.facebook.com}} Some events awarded 100 points for the winner.{{Cite web|title=The Pets of Roses|url=https://www.facebook.com/events/289491248708746/|access-date=2020-07-01|website=www.facebook.com}}

A winter edition of the Virtual Roses Tournament, to take place on Lancashire Day (27 November), was announced via the same Facebook page that hosted the summer edition on 17 November 2020.{{Cite web|title=Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/VirtualRoses/photos/a.192469489106560/192469469106562/?type=3&theater |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/103346374685539/192469469106562 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|access-date=2020-11-25|website=www.facebook.com}}{{cbignore}}{{Cite web|date=2020-11-18|title=Virtual Winter Roses 2020 announced|url=https://nouse.co.uk/2020/11/18/virtual-winter-roses-2020-announced|access-date=2020-12-13|website=nouse.co.uk|language=en}} Lancaster won by a score of 40-22.{{Cite web|title=Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/VirtualRoses/photos/a.192469489106560/202522924767883/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/103346374685539/202522924767883 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|access-date=2020-12-13|website=www.facebook.com}}{{cbignore}}

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 edition of the annual Roses Tournament to be held at York University was cancelled. As an alternative, Lancaster University Students' Union and York University Students' Union created "Roses Unlocked". Events took place in the form of a pentathlon consisting of a sprint, running, a static erg, a swim and a cycle between most uni sports teams and were live-streamed online. The tournament took place between 30 April–2 May 2021.{{Cite web|title=Roses Unlocked: Fixtures Timetable Out Now!|url=https://lancastersu.co.uk/articles/roses-unlocked-fixtures-timetable-out-now|access-date=5 May 2021|website=Lancaster University Students' Union}} York won by a score of 115-57.{{Cite web|title=York win Roses Unlocked|url=https://yusu.org/news/article/RosesUnlockedwin|access-date=5 May 2021|website=York University Students' Union}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.yorksu.org/sport York Sport Union]
• [http://www.roseslive.co.uk/ Roses Live]

{{University of York}}

{{Lancaster University}}

Category:Sport in Lancaster, Lancashire

Category:Sport in York

Category:Lancaster University

Category:Sport at the University of York

Category:Student sport rivalries in the United Kingdom

Category:Culture of Lancaster University

Category:Roses rivalry