Sport
Our sports facilities are second to none. The College playing field, less than a mile from the main buildings, runs down to the banks of the Isis (which is what the Thames is called as it flows through Oxford): It has a football and a hockey pitch, together with hard and grass tennis courts, a netball court and a pavilion. Queen’s shares a rugby pitch nearby with University College. In the summer the goal posts go down and a cricket square appears in the middle.
On the opposite bank of the river is a modern and well-equipped boathouse, which contains a mini-gym for enthusiastic rowers. Our two squash courts are amongst the best in Oxford. They are located at the College’s Cardo Building, which is directly opposite the University running track, rugby field and gymnasium.
We have a designated table tennis room in College for which a new table has just been purchased. Golf, fencing, boxing, lacrosse, and everything from karate to hillwalking are catered for by University clubs which all members of Queen’s are free to join.
Queen’s attracts its fair share of particularly talented sportsmen and women, and these may be selected to represent the University against Cambridge (thus winning a Blue or Half-Blue). All others compete enthusiastically at inter-collegiate level in various leagues and cup competitions.
In the summer, cricket is played at the sports ground, and sometimes even the least sporting of people come down to the sports ground to watch. A light-hearted sports day, that includes a bouncy castle and barbecue, is often held towards the end of summer term, after exams have finished. We also have a joint sports event - ‘Us v Them’ - with Teddy Hall, our neighbours. Friendly rivalry is evident, but we always win the most important event, namely the Tug of War.