Thousands of Sheffield Hallam University students celebrate today as they take home the Varsity 2012 trophy as winners of the annual competition against the University of Sheffield for a ninth consecutive time.

The final match in the festival of sport took place between the football men's 1st teams, at Hillsborough stadium, on Wednesday 28th March, and was refereed by Howard Webb MBE for the third year.

An excess of 5000 spectators attended the final, which finished with a score of 1-0 to Hallam. The overall Varsity score was a very tight 32 - 31.

The finale also helped raise money for the Varsity 2012 chosen charity Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, of which Howard Webb is a patron. £1 from the football tickets sales plus collections at the match will help raise funds to open a new end of life suite

Varsity 2012 was the 16th annual sporting tournament between the two rival Universities and is the biggest sporting event of the Universities year.  The competition took place over eight days, with over 60 fixtures played, and a total of 63 points were up for grabs. This year the competition was a tense and nail biting battle with Sheffield Hallam taking the victory by just one point.

The competition is organised by elected student Sports Officers from each University. Colan Leung, Sports Officer at Sheffield Hallam Students' Union, said:

"I am so proud of everyone involved in the competition and I just want to say a massive congratulations to all the Hallam athletes who took part and worked so hard for this victory. Whether it was a win, loss, or draw, each and every student that competed and supported throughout the competition deserves praise. Thank you to everyone who supported the event: students, family, facilities, sponsors, staff, coaches etc. It really wouldn’t have been as special if it wasn't for all those involved! I'd also like to say thank you to everyone who took part from the University of Sheffield and made this a great competition."

University of Sheffield Students' Union Sports Officer, Ben Baldwin, said:

"I'm disappointed that we didn't manage to win Varsity 2012. Our students have worked so hard on across all sports but it wasn't our year. Congratulations to Sheffield Hallam University on their win and for being great competitors. We'll be back next year."

We might be 4-1 down, but there’s another 58 points up for grabs!!

Now, I can’t do it for you. It’s down to you and your fellow team mates to do it. It’s you guys who will have to dig deep, battle hard and get that victory you guys want, there’s nobody else who can do that for you! The Union is behind you. The University is behind you. Your fellow students are behind you.

My only advice to each and every one of you is don't worry if Sheff Uni have beaten you already this season, or if you’ve beaten them. Don’t worry about what league they’re in or what league you’re in. Don’t worry about where they finished in the league or where you finished in the league. Forget who they have playing for them or any rumours that come out!

Varsity is something different! Varsity will have upsets, shocks, heart-breaking results and amazing victories, but, you all need to concentrate on your team, prepare the best you can for your fixture and most importantly, believe! Believe in your team mates, believe in your coaches, and most importantly, believe in yourself! We just need to want it that little bit more than them, be that little bit smarter than them and give that little bit more than them!

We’ve won the competition 10 times out of 15 and we haven’t lost Varsity since 2003. Let’s do our best to win and to keep the trophy for the 9^th year in a row!

Good luck to each and every one of you that is competing in Varsity 2012.

“One Union, One Team, Team Sheffield Hallam”

“The Future’s Bright, It’s Maroon and White” 

“Pain Is Temporary, Pride is Forever"

Colan Leung, Sheffield Hallam Students' Union Sports Officer

@ColanLeung #HallamVarsity

So a week to go, the t-shirts are on sale, the face pain has arrived, the banners are going up and more importantly the tickets are at the Box Office.

Varsity is nearly upon us, as someone who has suffered in the nine years of hurt without a win, these days leading up to event are just a mix of emotions. The butterflies are coming, nerves and excitement which is affecting so many students of both universities right now.

So for the regular fan who comes to watch their university, they must be wondering what is going on for the lucky few who get to live the greatest feeling as a student sport’s player, playing Varsity.

Well the weeks leading up to Varsity include vigorous training, anxious waits over injuries, numerous emails from the Sport’s officers. Team training which makes the rest of the season look easy. Everything that they have worked for this season will be summed up on one match in front of thousands of people.

Perhaps they think back to past Varsity’s, to wins and losses taking in as much of both experiences to ensure the correct result is achieved this year. I have seen many a tear shed by losing sides from both Universities.

But for many the highest commitment is the dreaded drinking ban, which is becoming ever more popular amongst clubs.

Getting closer to the event, now the banter begins! You’ve made contact with your opposite number from the opposition and you think how your going to beat them. The kit secretary sends you a message asking if you want another Varsity t-shirt to join the two from last year. You of course say yes! Many teams even buy special playing kits just for the event! (I won’t go into the Gold Speedos) Tickets are then bought for the rest of the event’s, you tweet constantly, and then beg your mates to come watch.

Game day. There’s already been numerous fixtures before yours, you don’t quite know the overall score, but you know it’s tight. This means everything, this kick of the ball, this catch, this awful referee decision count, the lucky red pants are on and the final touch, you put on the Black and Gold face paint. You are ready. Your captain says its time to go. You follow the rest of the team out, ignoring the Sport’s Officer wishing you best of luck! You can just about hear the chants from the four thousands fans come to watch. Out of all these the first thing you see as you walk on are all your housemates actually out of bed here to watch you with the comical banner out of your bed sheet.

The time between walking out to kick off/first race/tip goes so fast, very few people remember it! But as soon as the whistle goes your straight into it.

So if you are only half considering coming this year, just think about the people out there playing. Because they are quite simply, the same as you, we all Black and Gold.

Ben Baldwin – Sheffield Students' Union, Sports Officer

Tickets for Varsity 2012 are now on sale from Hallam Union and Sheffield Students' Union. To find out about organised transport for students to the venues, click on the venues tab.

Wow what a Winter Varsity! Firstly record numbers come to the Arena to watch the Bears battle it out and then we have a cracking night on the slopes with the Snow Sports!

Taking the trophy 4-1!

It has quite literally hyped up the tension coming into Summer Varsity!

So what have you to look forward to? Heres some highlights...

Wednesday 21st March - Abbeydale: Rugby, Hockey, Lacrosse, Ultimate Frisbee

Thursday 22nd March - Hallamshire Tennis Club: Tennis, Squash

Friday 23rd March - Ponds Forge: Swimming, Waterpolo, Canoe Polo

Saturday 24th March - Octagon: Boxing

Sunday 25th March - Don Valley Stadium: Rugby 1's

Monday 26th March - EIS: Netball, Volleyball, Basketball, Futsall,

Tuesday 27th March - Graham Solley: Cricket, American Football

Wednesday 28th March - Hillsborough: Finals Day

We are Black & Gold!

Ben Baldwin Sheffield Union