By Alfie Coan, Physics First Year
Welcome to Epigram's exclusive coverage of Derby Day 2024/25. From Football and Lacrosse to Netball and Tennis, here are the stories behind the biggest day for sport at the University. Brought to you by our talented team of writers.
Derby Day 2025 took place on Wednesday 26th March, bringing together more than a thousand athletes from 10 universities to play 25 different sports in what, for many players, was the final competition of their University career. For tennis, this meant Bristol University facing off against long-time rivals Birmingham University in a doubles showdown at Coombe Dingle Sports Complex (aka the Fortress).
Men's and women's teams composed of four players each played two single-set matches against Birmingham players in a thrilling battle. With many of the players representing Bristol for the very last time, the atmosphere was emotionally charged as both teams headed on court to warm up. Would Bristol's fortress prove impenetrable, or would Birmingham prove the stronger team?
Derby Day commenced with the men's matches first, with University of Bristol Tennis Club (UBTC) President Jamie Blunt pairing up with Vice President Max Canosa-Ede against an intimidating Birmingham University pair, sporting Derby Day green and representing Bristol University for one last time.
Both pairs look shaky in the first game of the set, potentially exhibiting some nerves. Despite their height, Birmingham struggle with their serving, and Bristol offer up some lacklustre returns. The opening game heads to sudden-death deuce (whoever wins the next point wins the game), an opportunity for both teams to set the tone for the rest of the set. First serve: out. Second serve: out again. Bristol take the first game, although not without difficulty.
A strong service game from Jamie takes them to 2-0 up. At 30-30 in game three, Birmingham double fault twice, allowing Bristol to pull ahead further to 3-0. However, a subpar service game from Max with two double faults allow Birmingham back in: 3-1, Birmingham to serve. An explosive service game finished with a blistering ace brings the score to 3-2, with Birmingham threatening to tie the set. Games are traded by either side and the score reaches 5-4 to Bristol: Jamie to serve for the set. Birmingham look dominant but a brilliant volley from Max results in another sudden-death deuce, 40-40. If Bristol take the next point, they win the set. If not, Birmingham still have a fighting chance. After a narrowly missed second serve, the scores are tied, 5-5.
With seemingly newfound confidence, Birmingham won their service game to convincingly pull ahead, 6-5 in games. Bristol respond to make it 6-6 with some pinpoint serves from Max. The match enters a tie-break (the first team to 7 points wins the set). After trading points back and forth, the final point is finished in style with a volley from Max, concluding the tie-break 7-3. Bristol are victorious in the first, and definitely the most thrilling, men's match of the day.
Simultaneously on the adjacent court, the second men's doubles match is being played. Bristol players Toby Comberti and Tommy More face off against a Birmingham pair. Off to a strong start, Bristol break in the first game with Tommy to serve in the second. Ferocious forehands from Birmingham threaten to tie the set, but a fantastic defensive lob from Tommy shifts the momentum back in Bristol's favour, and they take game two to make it 2-0. However, Birmingham come back to bite in the third game with a fierce service game, making the score 2-1. With Toby to serve, the pair pull off some sharp volleys and Bristol effectively take the fourth game, pulling ahead to 3-1.
The match progresses and reaches 5-4 to Bristol, with Tommy serving for the set. Met with vigorous resistance from Birmingham, Bristol fail to close out the set, and the match is tied 5-5. With some flawless doubles tactics and lethal volleying from both players, Tommy and Toby manage to take the next two games, finishing the set 7-5 with a win.
Next to play were the women's matches. The first pair, Alice Taylor and India Henke, faced relatively little resistance against their Birmingham opponents, pulling off a textbook 6-0 set. Their pinpoint volleys and consistently pressuring rally balls overwhelmed the Birmingham team completely.
The second pair, Chandani Rathnam and Lottie Forsyth, took the first game against their opponents and remained barely ahead at 3-2, at which point Birmingham threatened a comeback. However, Bristol didn't lay off and blazed ahead to take the set 6-3.
Epigram spoke to UBTC President Jamie Blunt after the matches, asking for a comment on Bristol's 4-0 win over Birmingham. 'Fun to play our last game, thanks to Birmingham for coming down. [We] almost lost, but it was good fun. Tennis wins.' Derby Day continues to be a much-valued event for many sporting societies across the University as a chance to play the final matches of their University career in a sport that has made up such a big part of their University experience.
Featured image: Alfie Coan
