St Catharine’s students are playing leading roles in Cambridge University sports clubs this year, including Jess Poon (2021, Geography; returning for an MPhil in Polar Studies) and Alexander Apostolides (a third-year Natural Sciences undergraduate). Jess is the new president of the Cambridge University Athletics Club (CUAC) and Alexander is the captain for Cambridge University Mixed Lacrosse Club (CUMLC). We caught up with Jess and Alex to find out more about the experiences that culminated in them taking on leadership roles and what they are looking forward to in the year ahead.
Jess Poon (credit: Nordin Ćatić)
How did you first get involved with your respective sports?
Jess: “I was a bit sporty when I was younger but it was only when I got to secondary school that I tried athletics for the first time. I started out with long jump and was then asked to fill in for sprint races and relays. However, COVID-19 restrictions, injury and A Levels meant that I wasn’t able to train consistently but I decided to stick with it when I arrived at Catz and I’ve been sprinting ever since!”
Alexander: “I’d never played lacrosse before I arrived at Catz! I was actually a swimmer at school and, like Jess, my training and competitions got disrupted by COVID-19. A lot of the credit/blame for me getting the lacrosse bug goes to Sheri Che (2021, Natural Sciences) and Omeet Atara (2021, HSPS), who were co-captains of the Catz mixed lacrosse team and were formidable in recruiting novices. My first year of lacrosse was a great introduction, with Catz getting promoted twice (jumping from Division 3 to Division 1), and Sheri and Omeet cultivating a friendly vibe.”
Alexander (far right of top row) with the St Catharine's Mixed Lacrosse Club
When did you get involved with University-level sports?
Jess: “I joined CUAC training sessions soon after arriving at Catz and found it was a great way to make friends from across the University. I was made captain of the women’s second team (known as the Alligators) in my second year, and then captain of the women’s first team (Blues) in my final year as an undergraduate. Now I’m back for my MPhil, I’m honoured to serve the club as president.”
Alexander: “Sheri, the Catz co-captain, was already playing for CUMLC so I had a link with the club through her. I joined her at informal sessions during Lent Term and Easter Term of my first year, which focused on game play rather than drills and provided a respite from revision and exams. I signed up properly in the first term of my second year – while it was a big step up to be playing against other universities, the team was super supportive and other players helped me improve by sharing tips.”
What are your fondest memories from your time with the club?
Jess: “It was really fun travelling to Japan with five other Catz students for the Achilles Club vs 4 Wings Friendship Athletics Meet. Formed in 1920, the Achilles Club brings together current and former members of Oxford University Athletics Club (OUAC) and CUAC, and has relationships all over the world thanks to international tours and alumni around the world. It is rare for amateur athletes to have the chance to compete abroad and it is only through big meets like this and Varsity that student athletes have the opportunity to travel and compete together as a team – apart from relays of course! Highlights from the tour were both the men’s and women’s teams winning, and the wonderful reception kindly organised by our hosts from four universities in Japan.”
Alexander: “CUMLC lost only one match last season and I was proud to be playing defence for the first team when we won our Varsity match against Oxford (after the seconds also won their match!). Last year ended on a bittersweet note though: as defending national champions, we managed to make it to the national final but we sadly had to resign our place because the final was scheduled at the same time as University examinations.”
Jess with other CUAC sprinters (credit: CUAC)
What are you looking forward to most from the year ahead?
Jess: “2025 is a milestone year because we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Men's Varsity and 50th anniversary of the first Women's Varsity on 17 May in front of a home crowd at Wilberforce Road. We'll also have the second para-athletics Varsity match too, after the inaugural event last year. It's particularly special as both Cambridge and Oxford athletics clubs have female presidents coinciding with the Women's Varsity anniversary, and I can't help but reflect on this legacy and how far athletics has come since Varsity competitions began''
Alexander: “As captain, I’m looking forward to running sessions with our coach, teaching beginners, selecting our team, and attracting and retaining players. We’re aiming to retain our Varsity crown in 2025 and to do well nationally.”
Centre, facing camera: Alexander Apostolides in action (credit: Dik Ng)
What's your advice for students who want to get involved this year?
Jess: “I’d really encourage people to join up so they can access our training facilities and get to know student athletes from other colleges. CUAC is open to students of any ability and we train together as one club regardless of experience so please reach out to me if you’d like to know more.”
Alexander: “CUMLC manages to maintain a competitive edge while being a friendly and supportive club to train with. As long as you’re able to commit the time, novices can improve fast and there’s no reason not to explore both College and University teams. If you’re unsure, then definitely do what I did and try the Catz team first, with the option to move up to CUMLC whenever you feel comfortable.”
