Most sports have an intercollegiate competition called Cuppers, where you compete against other colleges. The clubs are mainly run by the JCR (however all students are welcome), except for the boat club and the MCR football team. All questions can be directed to the MCR sports representative: mcr.sports-rep@st-hughs.ox.ac.uk.

Sports grounds

We have access to tennis courts and football fields shared with Keble College on Woodstock Road. Ask the Lodge for the keys, and contact Ade Roche (adrian.roche@keble.ox.ac.uk) to book the grounds. Ade Roche has been at Keble since 1990, so there’s a good chance he’ll still be there when you read this. Otherwise, reach out to the MCR Sports Rep. The exact location of the grounds can be found as “Keble & St Hugh’s Sports Ground” on Google Maps. 

Sports equipment at the MCR

We have a range of different bits and pieces of equipment for various sports, such as volleyball, football, frisbee, badminton, and other sports, which can be found in the corner of the study room. Note that the availability and quality vary, but feel free to check it out! The MCR also shares a couple of table tennis bats with the JCR for use in the bar; just ask the bar staff. If there is something broken or that you think is missing from our stock, bring it up with the sports rep. 

All equipment needs to be signed out. This sign-up sheet is shared by email as well as on the MCR Facebook page.

Football

St Hugh’s MCR Football Club (SHMCRFC) was formed in 2012 to create a team exclusively for MCR members to better accommodate their playing needs. Matches are on Saturday mornings during term time, so as not to interfere with people’s weekday schedules. SHMCRFC does not have official training sessions but does frequently have ‘kick-about’ sessions on a 6v6 AstroTurf pitch. The MCR football team plays in the first MCR division, where it competes for the top spots.  

Rowing

Rowing is huge in Oxford, and St Hugh’s is no exception. St Hugh’s Boat Club is a large and welcoming boat club, with people of all rowing experience levels. In Michaelmas term, SHBC organises a special novice campaign, where people without any rowing experience can learn how to row. At the end of Michaelmas term, there is a special novice-only regatta, where novices can use their newly acquired rowing abilities to compete against novices from all other boat clubs. People with previous rowing experience can join our senior crews straight away and compete in races every other Sunday. In Hilary and Trinity terms, we always have several boats that compete in bumps racing (the traditional Oxford rowing races held annually since 1815, where you try to ‘bump’ the boat in front of you!). Torpids takes place in Hilary term, and the season culminates in Summer Eights during Trinity term. If you prefer to watch other people exerting themselves, Summer Eights is a great chance to take in the rowing from the banks of the river, with Pimm’s and strawberries in hand.

The St Hugh’s 21 boathouse is the first building you reach on Boathouse Island, just beyond Christ Church Meadow.  

Squash

Our members also have access to squash courts at Wolfson College during specific timeslots, as regulated by the JCR sports team. The MCR Sports Rep can give you the contact details of the JCR Squash captains if you want more information.   

Croquet

The MCR has a croquet set for use on the lawn and there will be people willing to teach you how to play if you have not before (be sure to sign out the equipment). It is best enjoyed with Pimm’s and faux-pretentious accents. The croquet lawn is located just outside the main building (near the library) and can be used on a first-come, first-served basis. An extra croquet set can be found in the bench next to the croquet lawn, for which you can get the keys from the Porters.