Alumni Weekend 2012 Report

Outstanding Alumni Overpower Students

April showers didn’t deter students past and present from enjoying the annual Alumni Sports Weekend held at the Colchester campus of the University of Essex. The spoils were shared last year with the points split, so both current students and alumni were out to put their name on the trophy for 2012. With a bumper programme of events and four new sports on offer, the weekend promised to be bigger and better than ever. The day kicked off with futsal, one of the new additions to the sporting schedule and the game provided high drama to start the weekend. With the teams tied at 9-9 at fulltime, it went down to penalties and the students held their nerve to win 3-1, Sergio Lopez taking the man of the match award.

American Football alumni retained their title from 2011 and ran away with a comprehensive 12-2 victory. Men’s hockey alumni also looked strong; the 2^nd XI beating the students 7-3, but the alumni 1^st XI had to work harder for their result, clinching a 2-1 victory. In the women’s event, the alumni continued to dominate with an impressive 10-2 win.

Ultimate Frisbee competed at their first Alumni Weekend and again the alumni proved too much for the current students as they came away 15-1 victors.

Sheltered from the elements, the alumni furthered their overall lead in the badminton competition. A fantastic number of past students returned for this fixture, all sporting their alumni shirts for the weekend. Not only looking the part, they also performed on court, eventual 6-3 winners.

It was two new sports, table tennis and fencing, that gave the current students a glimmer of hope on the scoreboard with victories for both teams. The momentum continued in favour of the students with a further 11-6 win in the pool competition.

The netball alumni put an end to the students winning streak however, as they racked up a 20 point lead over the current team.

Men’s football were out in force, with fixtures for the 1^st and 2^nd XI. Always a hotly contested battle, this year was no different with all 4 teams out to win the trophy after drawing in 2011. This year, the alumni were to come out on top, with a 5-2 win for the 1’s and a 3-1 win for the 2’s. The man of the match medals were presented to Will Peck and Tom Mitchell for their fine performances.

2012 was definitely the year of Alumni, as they finished 9 points to 4 winners overall. Following the tie last year, the alumni took back control, edging ahead with 5 wins to 4 since the inception of the event in 2001. The day ended with James Thornton handing the trophy to previous Sports Federation President, Phil Macken, who accepted on behalf of the former students.