01.02.2017. This is D-Day.

D-Day returns to Loughborough bigger and better. 12 AU clubs take on the pretenders from the North across all corners of campus. It is a sporting event not to be missed. This campus-wide event is a great opportunity to experience a mini Olympic park right here in Loughborough; with sports from Lacrosse and Waterpolo among the nine with which Loughborough will don the African Violet and prepare for battle. D-Day concludes and the war will be decided; with a mouth-watering Double Header Finale in a ticketed event at the SDW Sports Hall.

01.02.2017. This is D-Day

The day begins bright and early at 10:00 with Mixed Golf in the glorious setting of the Park Hill Golf Course, where our golfers look to use home advantage to overturn an away 4.5-1.5 loss in a top of the table clash. Then at 12:30 in the Dan Maskell Centre the Women’s 2nd tennis team face an uphill task against our visitors, as they also look to overturn a loss from the away fixture.

Half an hour later over at the Rugby Rubber Crumb there will be a bruising encounter for the Women’s Rugby 1^st xv as they look to right some wrongs following their 27-5 defeat from November. Then it’s time for our first Showcase Fixture at 13:30, which sees another top of the table clash. First placed Loughborough Men’s Football team look to clinch the league title in style; when they take on the visitors who currently lie only one point behind at the Holywell Stadium.

Fixtures come thick and fast as we enter into the afternoon of the BUCS Varsity with two games scheduled for 14:00. Over at the Swimming Pool, our Men’s Waterpolo team face a very difficult match. Whilst at the Water-base Hockey pitch our men’s team look to go one step further in the first of the double header Hockey clashes. Following an end to end game that ended with both teams sharing the spoils, our Men look to turn the 2-2 draw into a victory against our lowly opposition who look set for a relegation playoff.

The fixtures keep coming with the Women’s Football 1^st team looking to put in another valiant performance in against their top of the table opposition as they look to overturn a 1-0 defeat from the away contest. Then it’s time for not only the second of our double header hockey fixtures, but our next Showcase Fixture at 15:30. Which sees the Women’s Hockey team, who like their male counterparts are looking to go one step further and take the spoils for themselves, by turning a 1-1 draw into an all-important win.

With the sun beginning to set on the day’s action the remaining two games before our showpiece event sees the Men’s Lacrosse team, looking to bring some pride back into their play as they look to put in a good showing before the playoffs over at the at the EHB. At 17:00 over at the Badminton Centre, our Men’s 1^st team look to make up for their surprise loss in November.

Now the showpiece event which Loughborough has been waiting for, the Double-Header Finale takes place at the SDW Sports Hall. In what will not only determine the overall varsity champion, but is set to be a mouth-watering clash between the two titans of British University Basketball. The D-Day 2017 series climaxes with a slam dunk. A 17:30 tip-off is the cue for our Men’s Basketball 1^st team to overturn their narrow loss from November and get the Loughborough faithful Walking on Water as they get ready for another win at the last fixture of the day. The evening entertainment also includes a half-time 3 point competition in which the #LboroArmy can get in on the action and take home a £50.00 gift voucher among many other prizes and competitions at the Sir David Wallace Sport Hall. With lots of stalls and spectator engagement activities to get involved in, Loughborough will be raring to go for our last game on campus. Tipping off at 19:30, top of the table Loughborough Women’s 1^st team look to continue their march onto #BUCSWednesday and unbeaten run against 2^nd place and bitter rivals, whom they beat in a high scoring contest 81-75; to close the day the right way, the Loughborough way…only winning will do.

Be sure to join the #LboroFamily in supporting our AU clubs on the 1^st of February.

The D-Day Schedule, plan your day, and join the chants of Loughborough Walks on Water.

Article by Norm Sadiq

Photo by Ed Radford