Snow place like home turf

As the sun shines bright today (typical), Derby Day 2013 comes to a close. After a tough, and often snowy, day of sport, UEA’s teams – the ones that were able to play anyway – thrashed Essex, winning with a final score of 36 -9.

But while some teams were able to celebrate, others were left disappointed due to the chilly weather conditions.

After a week of heavy snowfall it was announced that the Colney fields were too waterlogged to play on, but matches would be transferred to the pitches of next-door City Academy.

However, when the day came, even these pitches were declared unfit for play, and Men and Women’s Football, Women’s Rugby (Men’s Rugby being banned from play for the year anyhow) and American Football were all cancelled.

Team members greeted this announcement with annoyance, and in some places scepticism. One team captain told The Tab that, while they agreed the City pitches were “a state”, there was no reason why they couldn’t have played at Colney.

Teams playing outdoors at the Sportspark were only able to do so after students turned up to help the Sportspark staff sweep snow of the courts and athletics track. The spirit of the Blitz is clearly still alive and kicking when it comes to a day of drink-centred sporting events.

For those of us who remember Derby Day 2011 (the last time Derby Day was held at UEA), that day spent lounging in the sun differed quite a bit from standing under umbrellas in the freezing wind – or in most cases just giving up and heading back to the sanctuary of the bar. UEA and Essex pool clubs have surely never had so many spectators.

It wasn’t just the weather that crushed some teams’ hopes though. Women’s Basketball, Boxing, Darts, Women’s fencing, Golf, Women’s Handball, Men’s Squash and Women’s Table Tennis were also unable to play because Essex didn’t even send a team.

Still, despite the weather, not to mention the stringent anti-alcohol security in place at the Sportspark, the blue-and-yellow supporters still managed to have a good day of it, with the festivities ending with the Derby Day T-Shirt party LCR. So let’s hear it folks: ‘Oh UEA….’

All photos from Ga Chun Yau Photography