Sporting battle lines will be drawn between students from NEW College Pontefract and their counterparts at Wakefield College when an inaugural Varsity Challenge takes place next month, on Wednesday 16 December. 

The two colleges will compete in a range of activities from traditional sports like football and rugby league, to activities such as dance and boccia.  Every winning team will claim their own trophy and also earn a point towards their college claiming to the 2009 Varsity Challenge Shield. The event has been sponsored by Peco Printing and Embroidery Limited from Leeds who are kindly providing each participant with a Varsity 2009 competition t-shirt. 

Events will take place at venues at both colleges during the day, with the showpiece event, the men’s first team Rugby League clash, being staged in the evening at Wakefield Wildcats ground. 

NEW College Physical Education teacher Jenny Taylor, who is organising the event with Wakefield College counterpart Nick Young, said: 'We're hoping the first year of Varsity in Wakefield will be a huge success, and will continue to run as an annual event between the two colleges. With over ten competitive fixtures in a range of sports, we are hoping the scale of the event will attract those students that are not already representing college, as well as those that are. It's a great chance to promote the sporting talent that we have in Wakefield, and encourage as many as possible to get actively involved in competition.' 

Nick Young, said: “Whilst the challenge has a distinctive competitive feel to it, the overriding theme is a celebration and showcasing of the wide range of talents of the young people enjoying Further Education across the Wakefield District.  All clashes, whilst sure to be highly competitive, will be underpinned by the values of sportsmanship, respect, fairness and friendship.”

 For more information or if you would like to buy a ticket for the showcase Grand Finale Rugby Match and Varsity presentation, please contact Jenny Taylor at Pontefract NEW College (01977 702139) or Nick Young at Wakefield College (01924 789 752). Match tickets are £1.50 each, and all proceeds are being donated to The Rugby Football League Benevolent Fund.