Boat Race? No, it's a rah-rah race! Oxford and Cambridge's rivalry taken to new heights as their cheerleading squads compete for honours

They have long battled for supremacy on the water, on the rugby pitch and in the league tables.
Now, Oxford and Cambridge are taking their rivalry to new heights – as their cheerleading squads compete.
For the first time, the bendy biologists and flexible philosophers of the Oxford Sirens will challenge the springy statisticians and limber lawyers of the Cambridge Cougars for a ‘varsity trophy’.
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Raising the stakes: The women (and men) of the Oxford Sirens prepare to do battle with arch-rivals Cambridge for a 'varsity trophy'

 VIDEO  Cheerleading battles. The Oxford Sirens squad in action... 

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The women – and men – of both teams hope this weekend’s fixture will become an annual event like the Boat Race, first held in 1829.
However, while those who represent the universities in sports such as rowing at varsity level are recognised by being awarded a ‘blue’, cheerleaders are not currently eligible for the honour.

 

The first ever varsity match, in cricket, dates from 1827.
Since then varsity matches in more than 70 different events, including life-saving and mixed lacrosse, have been instigated.

 

Challengers: The Cambridge Cougars have just come first in a national competition and are ready for the clash with Oxford

Surely none of those, however, can challenge cheerleading for sheer glamour? But with the teams boasting flexible philosophers, statisticians who can do the splits and what must be some of the bendiest biologists about, this bunch stress there is far more to their ‘sport’ than just waggling your pom-poms.
Sirens president Suze Hawkins, 21, of Ipswich, soon to begin a PHD project modelling the dynamics of malaria, said: ‘Cheerleading is such a bizarre sport that no one really understands it - until you come and you do it. It requires strength, coordination and teamwork.
‘When I tell guys I’m a cheerleader they usually just assume the very typical American stereotype and I have to tell them I don’t flounce around in small shorts and I do wear normal clothes.’

 

Rivalry: Oxford Sirens limber up for a clash with longstanding rivals Cambridge in what could soon become a regular event

Her team-mate Laura Feeney, 22, of Castleford, West Yorkshire, studying for a biochemistry degree, said: ‘I don’t think cheerleading really fits into the Oxford stereotype and people are generally quite shocked when they hear Oxford has a cheerleading team.
‘But I think the image people have of Oxford as an institution is quite outdated and it’s nice to shock people. It’s also nice to have something to do that’s a rest from my work and think about something else - something fun. That actually helps me when I get back to concentrate on my work.’
The Oxford team, formed in 2004, has a trademark chant of ‘Go Oxford Sirens - let’s go dark blue’ (a reference to the university’s traditional colour, as opposed to the light blue of Cambridge) while the Cougars, set up in 2007, belt out chants such as: ‘Cambridge, Cambridge, crank it up. Cambridge, Cambridge, we’re on top.’

 

Champion cheerleaders: The 45-member-strong squad from Cambridge, which has come top in a national competition, includes students from Germany, Israel, Austria, Ireland and the US.

Each team has previously performed at university sporting matches, but never at a varsity match. Both are also relative newcomers to major competitions.
Each side can field up to 32 performers per routine, including men whose strength is useful for flinging the girls into the air.
They will compete at the Future Cheer Saturday Night Fever competition in Loughborough this weekend. Teams from nearly 60 universities are taking part in total, with whichever does better out of Oxford and Cambridge taking home a separate ‘varsity trophy’.
Cougars president Megan Trimble, 21, of Lisburn, Northern Ireland, who is studying education with English, said: ‘We desperately want to win this trophy. It is quite a friendly rivalry but still competitive.’