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Roses Tournament
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Roses Tournament
Teams
First meeting1965
TrophyThe Carter James Trophy
Statistics
Most winsLancaster
All-time record30 (Lancaster) – 28 (York) – 1 (draw)
Websiteroseslive.co.uk

The Roses Tournament is an annual varsity sports competition between Lancaster University and the University of York in England. It is often described as the largest inter-university sports tournament in Europe.[1][2]

The tournament is organised by their respective Students' Unions, LUSU and York SU. It takes its name from the 15th-century civil war, the Wars of the Roses, between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire are traditionally symbolised by the red and the white rose respectively, although some York teams play in gold and black kits.[3] The competition is held every year during the early May bank holiday weekend, alternating its venue between the two universities.[4]

History

[edit]

The first event happened on 15 May 1965 after the Vice-Chancellor of York, Lord James of Rusholme, suggested a boat race between the two universities.[5] The students amplified this idea and held a 5-day event with a variety of sports: rowing, table tennis, relay race, mixed field hockey, and tug of war. The winner of each of the sports received two points, and the losing vice-chancellor presented a trophy to the winning university. The event has continued to increase in size since its founding, with new events added every year (2004 had 37 different sports). Live coverage of the event is broadcast every year by a collaboration between the two universities' student television stations YSTV and LA1:TV, and their two student radio stations, Bailrigg FM and University Radio York. The importance of non-sporting social activities at the event has also been increased, with organised events on the Friday and Saturday evenings.[4]

In 1989, Roses celebrated its silver Jubilee with rugby, rowing, a boat race and tug of war some of the 30 sports. York won the tournament by 101-97 with a 3-1 win in the football securing the win. [6]

In the 2012 tournament a stadium was used for the first time. The Rugby 1sts XV battled it out at Huntington Stadium, the home of the York City Knights.[7] During the 2013 tournament York opted to use the same venue again, for the second year running.

The Lancaster University Men's Hockey Club 4th Team, Lancaster Bombers American Football team and the Lancaster Trampolining team were the only teams to remain unbeaten in the history of the tournament to date going into Roses 2012, however all three teams lost to their York counterparts in 2012.[8]

For the 50th battle of the Roses in 2014, the tournament was hosted at Lancaster. Lancaster created a purpose built stadium for first time which hosted the opening and closing ceremony, as well as fixtures including women's rugby, men's rugby and archery.

The 2015 tournament was officially opened by England football team manager Roy Hodgson and Football Association chairman Greg Dyke.[9][10] The opening ceremony, which featured a series of boxing matches dubbed 'Friday Night Fight Night', was watched by 1,000 people in the University of York's Central Hall, with a further 5,000 people watching on large screens across campus. It was also the first year that one university had scored more than 200 points; however more point scoring activities are present now compared to 50 years ago.[11]

Esports were introduced to the tournament for the first time in 2016 in the form of League of Legends, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.[12]

The 2018 tournament saw the introduction of dodgeball and golf to the competition, as won by the Lancaster Royals.[13]

In March 2020 it was announced that the event would be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] However, a competition was held with the Roses tournament being replaced by a Virtual Roses tournament which was won by York.[15][16][17]

Since the pandemic, Lancaster have dominated the competition, winning all four editions since 2022. This ongoing streak is also the first time that either university has won four or more consecutive tournaments. There had previously been five instances of three consecutive triumphs.

Results

[edit]
  • Lancaster: 30 wins (24 home, 6 away)
  • York: 28 wins (24 home, 4 away)
  • Draws: 1 (1 at Lancaster, 0 at York)
No. Year Host Winner Runner-up Ref.
1 1965 York York Lancaster
2 1966 Lancaster Lancaster York
3 1967 York York Lancaster
4 1968 Lancaster Lancaster York
5 1969 York York Lancaster
6 1970 Lancaster Lancaster York
7 1971 York York Lancaster
8 1972 Lancaster Lancaster York
9 1973 York Lancaster York
10 1974 Lancaster Draw
11 1975 York Lancaster York
12 1976 Lancaster Lancaster York
13 1977 York Lancaster York
14 1978 Lancaster York Lancaster
15 1979 York York Lancaster
16 1980 Lancaster Lancaster York
17 1981 York York Lancaster
18 1982 Lancaster Lancaster York
19 1983 York York Lancaster
20 1984 Lancaster Lancaster York
21 1985 York Lancaster York
22 1986 Lancaster Lancaster York
23 1987 York York 104.0 Lancaster 69.0 [18]
24 1988 Lancaster Lancaster York
25 1989 York York 101.0 Lancaster 97.0 [6]
26 1990 Lancaster Lancaster 170.0 York 68.0 [19]
27 1991 York York Lancaster
28 1992 Lancaster York 100.5 Lancaster 90.5 [20]
29 1993 York York Lancaster
30 1994 Lancaster Lancaster York
31 1995 York York 122.0 Lancaster 99.0 [20]
32 1996 Lancaster Lancaster York
33 1997 York York Lancaster
34 1998 Lancaster Lancaster York
35 1999 York York Lancaster
36 2000 Lancaster Lancaster 151.5 York 77.5 [21]
37 2001 York York 132.5 Lancaster 102.5 [22]
38 2002 Lancaster York 120.5 Lancaster 119.5 [23]
39 2003 York York 132.0 Lancaster 101.0
40 2004 Lancaster Lancaster 145.0 York 107.0
41 2005 York York 159.5 Lancaster 91.5 [24]
42 2006 Lancaster Lancaster 134.0 York 115.0
43 2007 York York 143.0 Lancaster 103.0 [25]
44 2008 Lancaster York 124.0 Lancaster 122.0 [26][27][28][29]
45 2009 York York 194.5 Lancaster 79.5 [27][30][31]
46 2010 Lancaster Lancaster 157.5 York 105.5 [32][33][34][35]
47 2011 York York 176.5 Lancaster 104.5 [36]
48 2012 Lancaster Lancaster 156.5 York 131.5 [37]
49 2013 York York 180.5 Lancaster 105.5 [38]
50 2014 Lancaster Lancaster 183.5 York 142.5 [39]
51 2015 York York 227.5 Lancaster 141.5 [32]
52 2016 Lancaster Lancaster 212.5 York 138.5 [32]
53 2017 York York 206.5 Lancaster 159.5 [40]
54 2018 Lancaster Lancaster 225.5 York 126.5 [41]
55 2019 York York 209.5 Lancaster 143.5 [42]
— 2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[43][44]
2021
56 2022 Lancaster[45] Lancaster 241.0 York 102.0 [46]
57 2023 York[47] Lancaster 200.0 York 126.0 [48]
58 2024 Lancaster Lancaster 217.5 York 126.5 [49]
59 2025 York Lancaster 184.0 York 160.0 [50]

Current list of sports

[edit]

The following sports were included in the 2023 edition of the tournament:[51]

* In addition to the University teams, football and netball also includes matches between each university's intercollegiate league champions. Postgraduate and medical society teams have also appeared in some years.[52][53]

** In 2023 table tennis is the 'Vice Chancellors' Fixture', with the sides consisting of the vice chancellor and the sports president.[54] In past years, croquet is usually played between "executive" teams comprising some combination of chancellors, vice-chancellors and Students' Union presidents, and does not contribute any points to the overall score.[55][56] In some years, this has been replaced with crown green bowls.[57]

During the COVID-19 pandemic

[edit]
See also: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports

Virtual Roses 2020

[edit]

Summer Edition

[edit]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 edition of the annual Roses Tournament to be held at Lancaster University was cancelled.[58] As an alternative, Lancaster University Students' Union and York University Students' Union created a virtual tournament on Facebook.[59] Events took place in the form of challenges that participants would have to provide photographic or video evidence for. Challenges of were judged by Lancaster SU Vice-President for Activities, Victoria Hatch and York Sport Union President, Maddi Cannell.[60] The tournament took place between 1–2 May 2020 and was won by York by a score of 2337-1971.[61]

Charity fundraising was also done alongside the tournament, with a total of over £5000 being raised.[61][62]

Opening Ceremony
[edit]

The 'Opening Ceremony' for the tournament featured a number of video performances being uploaded to the Virtual Roses 2020 Facebook page on 1 May 2020.[63] Sets were performed by Emily Millard, Lancaster's Brass Quintet, Lancaster's Clarinet Choir, Lancaster's Chamber Choir, Hamza Dalvi, Victoria Hatch, and Lancaster University Comedy Institute.[64]

Events
[edit]

There was a mix of events that were open to all,[65] events that were only open to members of specific societies,[66][67] and events only competed by specific individuals.[68] Most events awarded 50 points for 1st place, 30 points for 2nd place, and 20 points for 3rd place.[69] Some events awarded points for the number of participants each University had.[70] Some events awarded 100 points for the winner.[71]

Winter Edition

[edit]

A winter edition of the Virtual Roses Tournament, to take place on Lancashire Day (27 November), was announced via the same Facebook page that hosted the summer edition on 17 November 2020.[72][73] Lancaster won by a score of 40-22.[74]

Roses Unlocked 2021

[edit]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 edition of the annual Roses Tournament to be held at York University was cancelled. As an alternative, Lancaster University Students' Union and York University Students' Union created "Roses Unlocked". Events took place in the form of a pentathlon consisting of a sprint, running, a static erg, a swim and a cycle between most uni sports teams and were live-streamed online. The tournament took place between 30 April–2 May 2021.[75] York won by a score of 115-57.[76]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Roses Tournament

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Roses Tournament is an annual inter-university varsity sports competition between and the in , featuring over 50 sports and more than 100 fixtures contested over a weekend in early May. Established in the 1960s as a nod to the historical rivalry between the houses of Lancaster and , the event held its first official tournament on 15 May 1965 and is recognized as Europe's largest inter-varsity competition. Hosted alternately by the two universities, the 2025 edition took place from 2–4 May at the , where Lancaster secured victory for the fourth consecutive year, extending their longest winning streak in the tournament's history. The competition fosters intense student participation, with thousands involved in sports ranging from traditional team games like football and rugby to individual disciplines such as and chess, culminating in a points-based overall winner. Beyond athletics, Roses promotes community spirit through associated events like live music, food stalls, and social gatherings, drawing large crowds and enhancing university pride.

Background

Overview

The Roses Tournament is an annual varsity sports competition between and the , drawing inspiration from the historic rivalry between the houses of Lancaster and York in medieval . Originating in 1965, it has evolved into a major event that celebrates regional heritage through athletic competition. Recognized as Europe's largest inter-university sports tournament, the Roses involves over 50 different s and attracts thousands of student participants from both institutions each year. The event is held over the early May bank holiday weekend and alternates hosting duties between the two universities, with organization led by the host's to promote grassroots involvement and community spirit. Beyond competition, the Roses symbolizes enduring regional pride and fosters camaraderie between the universities, turning historical antagonism into a platform for collaboration and shared experiences among students.

Participating Universities

The Roses Tournament is contested between two plate-glass universities established in the : , founded in 1964 with its 578-acre Bailrigg campus located three miles south of Lancaster city centre, and the , founded in 1963 on its expansive Heslington campus east of city centre. Lancaster enrolled approximately 18,000 students as of 2023/24, while enrolls over 20,000 students (as of 2025), providing a substantial pool of participants and supporters for the annual event. Both institutions feature extensive sports facilities essential for hosting the tournament, including Lancaster's Sports Centre with multi-sport halls, an eight-lane , squash courts, and a , alongside 's York Sport Village encompassing a competition-standard pool, floodlit 3G pitches, gyms, and an athletics stadium. Logistics for the Roses Tournament are primarily managed by the students' unions at each university, which coordinate event planning, volunteer mobilization, and participant welfare to ensure smooth operations across the multi-sport weekend. A ceremonial highlight is the Vice-Chancellor's fixture, a symbolic match—such as —pitting the vice-chancellors and sports officers from both universities against each other, fostering esprit de corps and underscoring institutional leadership in the . Lancaster's unique contribution includes its purpose-built Roses stadium, opened in 2014 specifically to enhance the experience with covered seating for key matches and ceremonies on the . , in turn, leverages larger external venues like the LNER Community Stadium—shared with —for high-attendance sports such as rugby, allowing the to accommodate crowds beyond on-campus capacities since its opening in 2021. As plate-glass universities located in the historic counties of Lancaster and , respectively, the institutions' participation in the Roses Tournament perpetuates a longstanding rivalry inspired by the Wars of the Roses, blending academic excellence with athletic competition to build community pride and student engagement. This annual clash reinforces their identities as innovative 1960s foundations while promoting inter-university collaboration through shared sporting traditions.

Historical Development

Founding and Early Years

The Roses Tournament originated from student initiatives in 1964 at both universities, led by figures such as Ray Ward, Richard Miles, David Wood, Barry Tyrell, and Peter Pexton at , and David Cooper at Lancaster, who sought to create a rivalry event. This was formalized by a proposal in 1965 by Lord James of , the Vice-Chancellor of the , for a boat race against , inspired by the historic rivalry between the Houses of York and Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses. The inaugural event occurred on 15 May 1965 at Heslington, 's developing campus, and featured five sports: , , mixed , a representing , and . emerged victorious in the first tournament. The early format emphasized traditional individual and team sports, with competitions alternating annually between the host university's campus and a focus on building inter-university camaraderie through athletic competition. Throughout the late and , the tournament expanded to incorporate additional team sports such as football and hockey, driven by increasing student involvement and university support, though logistical challenges persisted due to limited funding, resources, and the ongoing construction of facilities on both newly founded campuses— established in and Lancaster in 1964. By the , the event had grown into a multi-day affair with approximately 30 sports, culminating in the 1989 tournament, where achieved a narrow in a closely contested match celebrating 25 years of the rivalry.

Expansion and Milestones

During the and , the Roses Tournament experienced substantial growth, expanding from approximately 30 sports in the 1980s to over 37 disciplines by 2004, reflecting broader participation and diversification of activities. This period saw the integration of charity fundraising as a core element, with events such as the vs. Lancaster bungee run in 1997 raising thousands of pounds for various causes, establishing a tradition of community impact that continued into the 2000s. Key infrastructural milestones marked the tournament's evolution in the 2010s. In 2012, football matches shifted to dedicated stadium venues for the first time, improving accessibility and atmosphere for spectators. The 50th anniversary edition in 2014, hosted at , introduced a purpose-built covered for main pitch events, accommodating larger crowds and enhancing the overall event scale with 120 fixtures across 40 and involving around 3,000 students. Organizational developments further supported this expansion, including enhanced student media involvement with live TV and radio broadcasts from both universities' outlets, supplemented in the 2000s by large screens for remote viewing of matches. To promote gender equity, the 2010s emphasized greater inclusion of women's and mixed categories across multiple sports, aligning with evolving university policies on inclusivity. By the late 2010s, attendance records exceeded 5,000 spectators, underscoring the tournament's status as one of Europe's largest inter-university competitions, with nearly 2,000 athletes participating annually.

Competition Format

Schedule and Venues

The Roses Tournament is held annually over a three-day weekend in early May, typically spanning to Sunday around the UK's early . This timing allows participating students to engage fully without conflicting with the academic calendar, fostering a high-energy atmosphere across the host . The event alternates hosting duties between the and , with odd-numbered years at and even-numbered years at Lancaster, a tradition maintained since the tournament's early decades. When hosted at , competitions utilize facilities on the Heslington , including the York Sport Village and nearby York City Stadium for larger events. At Lancaster, the Bailrigg serves as the primary site, featuring the purpose-built Roses Stadium—opened in 2014 for the tournament's 50th anniversary—which accommodates key fixtures like football and athletics. This alternation ensures equitable access to home-ground advantages and promotes logistical fairness. Logistics for the tournament involve coordinated for over 1,000 athletes and support staff from the visiting , often via chartered coaches and trains to minimize environmental impact and streamline arrivals. The scale necessitates a multi-venue setup across the host campus, enabling simultaneous competitions in various while centralizing spectator areas for efficiency. Opening and closing ceremonies bookend the event, featuring speeches, performances, displays, and awards presentations to celebrate participation and outcomes. Broadcast coverage is provided through student-run media on roseslive.co.uk, offering live streams, radio commentary, and updates accessible to remote audiences worldwide, enhancing the tournament's reach beyond the campuses.

Sports Programme

The Sports Programme of the Roses Tournament comprises over 50 distinct sports contested through more than 100 fixtures across a single weekend, with competitions divided into men's, women's, and mixed or open categories to encourage widespread student involvement. As of 2025, the programme includes over 50 sports. This diverse array blends traditional team-based and individual disciplines with innovative additions, reflecting the event's evolution into Europe's largest inter-university sports competition. Core team sports form the foundation of the programme, including football (men's and women's), , , hockey, and . Football features tiered matches for both genders, encompassing first and second teams alongside college league winners and select squads, fostering competition at multiple levels. Netball, predominantly for women, mirrors this structure with first, second, and third teams plus college representatives. Rugby union includes men's and women's divisions in first, second, and third teams, while hockey incorporates indoor variants for men and women across three tiers and a mixed development category. Basketball competitions include first and second teams for men and women, emphasizing fast-paced team dynamics. The programme balances team events with individual and mixed pursuits, such as , , , squash, , , and . Athletics events, like the 5km run, allow for personal performances that contribute to overall team scores in both men's and women's categories. and offer relay and individual races open to all genders, while and squash provide tiered singles and doubles matches for men, women, and mixed pairs. includes first and second teams for women and open divisions, highlighting precision and strategy; and introduce elements with weight-class competitions across genders. Emerging sports have expanded the programme since the 2020s, incorporating esports alongside activities like dodgeball, ultimate frisbee, golf, and cheerleading. Esports debuted prominently in 2024 with a student-voted fixture centered on Overwatch 2, alongside options like Super Smash Bros, Rainbow Six Siege, and Valorant in open formats to engage gaming communities. Ultimate frisbee features outdoor and indoor variants for men, women, and mixed teams, promoting agility and teamwork. Golf is contested as a mixed event, cheerleading as an open performance-based competition, and dodgeball adds high-energy, inclusive team play. This growth builds on historical expansions. Special fixtures enhance the programme's ceremonial aspect, notably the Vice-Chancellors' table tennis match, an exhibition event pitting the vice-chancellors and sports presidents from Lancaster and against each other, symbolizing institutional rivalry beyond student athletes. The overall structure prioritizes inclusivity through mixed and open divisions, enabling participation from diverse student groups including staff and in select events.

Scoring System

The scoring system of the Roses Tournament allocates points to each or fixture based on the outcome of the competition, with the host university determining the point value for each event to reflect its significance and to balance the overall total. Points are allocated per fixture based on predetermined values varying by and tier. Typically, the winner receives all points for that fixture, draws split them equally, losses yield 0, and incomplete matches may award half points. Aggregate scoring sums the points from all participating sports to determine the overall winner, with the tournament structured so that the team exceeding half the total possible points secures victory; this system alternates venues annually, allowing the host to subtly factor in home advantage through point allocations that favor local conditions or team strengths. For example, major sports like rugby or often carry higher point values (up to 10 or more), contributing significantly to the totals, while minor or events may be worth fewer points. The variety of sports ensures a broad base for scoring, emphasizing comprehensive participation over dominance in a single discipline. Tiebreakers are applied if scores are tied or disputed, prioritizing head-to-head results in the affected sports; if necessary, overall participation metrics, such as the number of athletes fielded, serve as secondary criteria to resolve the outcome.

Results and Records

Overall Standings

The Roses Tournament, contested annually since 1965 between and the , has resulted in a closely contested historical record, with Lancaster securing 30 victories, York 28, and one draw occurring at Lancaster in 1974. Of Lancaster's wins, 24 have been at home and 6 away, while York's include 24 home victories and 4 away; the draw remains the sole tied result in the competition's history. Both universities have demonstrated strong home dominance throughout the tournament's history, with York maintaining an undefeated record on home soil for over three decades as of 2015. This pattern underscores the advantage of hosting, as away wins have been rare for each side, contributing to the overall balance in the aggregate tally. York held an early edge from the tournament's inception in through the , including a historic three-win streak at the decade's start that solidified their lead during that period. Lancaster experienced a resurgence in recent years, achieving four consecutive victories from 2022 to 2025—the longest in the competition's history—which has tipped the overall record in their favor. Notable records highlight the intensity of individual tournaments, such as Lancaster's 241–102 triumph in 2022, which produced the largest margin of victory ever recorded and exemplified the potential for decisive home performances. The evolution of total points scored in each tournament reflects the expansion of the sports program over time, with early events like the 1965 inaugural featuring modest tallies of 13–5 due to fewer disciplines, compared to modern scores often exceeding 300 combined points across over 50 events. These standings are derived from a scoring system that allocates points for wins, draws, and placements in matches across the included sports.

Recent Tournaments

In the 2010s, the Roses Tournament saw competitive balance with notable upsets and tight races. The 2010s featured close contests that kept the rivalry alive, with both universities alternating wins and demonstrating strong performances in core sports like football and rowing. Entering the 2020s, the tournament shifted toward Lancaster's dominance following the post-COVID return in 2022. Lancaster secured a record-breaking victory that year with 241 points to York's 102, the largest margin in history, driven by sweeps in team sports such as football and netball. The following year, 2023, Lancaster continued their streak with a 200-126 win at York, crossing the required points threshold early on the final day despite York's home advantage. In 2024, hosted by Lancaster, they triumphed 217.5-126.5, extending their lead in overall victories to 29-28. The 2025 tournament at York saw Lancaster claim their fourth consecutive win in one of the closest modern contests, finishing 184-160 after a nail-biting final day. Notable events in recent years include the integration of esports since 2018, which has boosted youth engagement by adding digital competitions like , with taking an early 2-0 win in that discipline. The 2025 edition featured high participation with 144 fixtures across over 40 sports, reflecting the event's growth despite challenging weather conditions that affected outdoor events. Trends in the 2020s show increasing total points due to the expansion of the sports program, now including more than 40 disciplines and around 140 fixtures, up from earlier decades. This has heightened the scale and inclusivity of the tournament. Efforts toward emerged in 2024, with eco-friendly practices at venues such as reduced plastic use and carbon offset initiatives for travel. Overall, these developments have maintained the historical balance while emphasizing modern engagement and environmental responsibility.

COVID-19 Adaptations

Virtual Roses 2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated national lockdowns in the United Kingdom, the planned physical Roses Tournament for 2020 at Lancaster University was cancelled in March 2020. In response, the students' unions at Lancaster and the University of York collaborated to adapt the event into virtual formats, enabling remote participation while maintaining the rivalry's tradition. The summer edition occurred on 1–2 May 2020 and encompassed over 20 virtual sports and challenges open to students, staff, and alumni. Activities included online fitness challenges, quizzes, the Great Roses Bake Off, pet obstacle courses, flash dancing, and digital head-to-head competitions across various sports clubs. Entries were submitted via dedicated Facebook events, fostering widespread involvement despite physical distancing requirements. York won the edition with 2337 points to Lancaster's 1971, marking a narrow but decisive victory in the adapted format. The event raised £4703 for charities, highlighted by contributions from York's netball club (£1500 to NHS Charities Together), women's rugby (£800 to Independent Domestic Abuse Services), and women's cricket (£700 to Chance to Shine). A winter edition followed on 27 November 2020 as a scaled-down continuation, focusing on core elements of the amid persistent restrictions. It featured 10 virtual sports, such as chess matches and debates conducted online. The format incorporated tracking apps like for activities including runs, and awards ceremonies were live-streamed to engage remote audiences.

Roses Unlocked 2021

The Roses Unlocked 2021 event marked a hybrid evolution of the Roses Tournament, facilitating a cautious reintroduction of in-person elements following the entirely virtual format of the previous year. Hosted at the from 30 April to 2 May, the competition adopted an "unlocked" theme to reflect the partial lifting of restrictions, while incorporating strict capacity limits and pre-event testing protocols to prioritize participant health. This setup allowed for limited on-site attendance and controlled interactions, contrasting with the fully remote adaptations of 2020 by blending physical and digital participation. The format featured 15 sports in a mix of live and virtual modes, emphasizing low-contact disciplines such as and to reduce transmission risks. The , involving running, rowing, sprinting, , and , was conducted live and streamed online to enable broader engagement without large gatherings. Other events, like and e-sports, were delivered via video link or hybrid setups, ensuring fair competition across campuses while maintaining . This structure highlighted innovative adaptations, such as team "bubble" systems that isolated groups to prevent cross-contamination. York secured overall victory with a score of 115 to 57, underscoring the effectiveness of the safety-focused approach in delivering a competitive yet secure experience. The event's emphasis on extended beyond athletics, as it raised £5,000 for charities, including Mind and Lancashire Mind, through donations and awareness campaigns. This initiative not only supported student welfare amid challenges but also set the stage for the tournament's complete in-person revival the following year.

References

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  50. https://www.yorkvision.co.uk/sport/yorks-sports-clubs-raise-over-4700-for-charity-during-virtual-roses-tournament/28/05/2020
  51. https://lancastersu.co.uk/articles/virtual-roses-2020-complete
  52. https://lancastersu.co.uk/articles/roses-unlocked-2021-starts-here
  53. https://portal.lancaster.ac.uk/intranet/news/article/lancaster-to-take-on-york-in-roses-unlocked
  54. https://scan.lancastersu.co.uk/2021/05/05/roses-unlocked-2021-lancaster-hits-bullseye-with-a-darts-win/
  55. https://scan.lancastersu.co.uk/2021/05/08/roses-unlocked-2021-taking-to-the-screen-like-a-duck-to-water-lancaster-esports-prevail/
  56. https://scan.lancastersu.co.uk/2021/05/08/roses-unlocked-2021-lancaster-runners-edged-at-the-finish-line/
  57. https://uyswc.co.uk/roses-tournament
  58. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rosesunlockedlancaster
  59. https://portal.lancaster.ac.uk/intranet/news/article/roses-mind-roses-unlocked-lancaster-and-york-support-student-mental-health
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