Macadam Cup
Encyclopedia
The Macadam Cup is a varsity match played between the sports teams of King's College London
proper (KCL) and King's College London Medical School
(KCLMS).
The championship is named in honor of Sir Ivison Macadam
, graduate of King's. Macadam also gave his name to a building at the King's Strand Campus, the site of many activities of the Students' Union (King's College London Students' Union
).
The cup was first instituted in 2004 after an election pledge by the incoming President of the Students' Union, Michael Champion. The motivation behind the competition was not entirely focused on sports; Champion enjoyed large backing from the Health schools and in a time where the political will of the College was to rebrand Guy's King's and St. Thomas's (GKT) to KCLMS, Champion saw the event as an opportunity to enshrine GKT identity through the vehicle of a sporting event. The ulterior motive of the Macadam Cup was designed to make it increasingly difficult for Champion's successors to merge the GKT sports teams with the KCL ones.
As Champion's year in office progressed it looked less likely that the Competition would materialise; funds for extraordinary ventures like this were not available and with the exception of the Vice-President (Student Activities), Ben Philip, Champion did not enjoy the support from his fellow Executive Board members.
When few thought the competition would go ahead, Champion found a dusty old St. Thomas's Rowing Club champagne bowl, took it to Asprey and Garrard
on New Bond Street and got it restored to its former glory for £1000. He had inscribed on the bowl: "Vicant Optimi" or "The best shall win". The shortfall in funds was provided by the King's College London Alumni Association, and so, in its first year, the Cup was called "The Alumni Macadam Cup".
As you can see from its inauguration in 2004 to 2010, King's College London had yet to win the Macadam Cup, leading to chants of "You'll never win Macadam"
In 2011, KCL won Macadam Cup.
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
proper (KCL) and King's College London Medical School
King's College London School of Medicine and Dentistry
King's College London School of Medicine is the medical school of King's College London, and one of the United Hospitals...
(KCLMS).
The championship is named in honor of Sir Ivison Macadam
Ivison Macadam
Sir Ivison Stevenson Macadam KCVO CBE was a Scot, who was the first Director-General of the Royal Institute of International Affairs , and the founding President of the National Union of Students.-Early life:...
, graduate of King's. Macadam also gave his name to a building at the King's Strand Campus, the site of many activities of the Students' Union (King's College London Students' Union
King's College London Students' Union
King's College London Students' Union is one of England's oldest students' union. KCLSU is an independent charitable organisation, being a registered Charity with the Charity Commission, and exists solely to further the interests of its members, the approximately 23,500 students who are at King's...
).
The cup was first instituted in 2004 after an election pledge by the incoming President of the Students' Union, Michael Champion. The motivation behind the competition was not entirely focused on sports; Champion enjoyed large backing from the Health schools and in a time where the political will of the College was to rebrand Guy's King's and St. Thomas's (GKT) to KCLMS, Champion saw the event as an opportunity to enshrine GKT identity through the vehicle of a sporting event. The ulterior motive of the Macadam Cup was designed to make it increasingly difficult for Champion's successors to merge the GKT sports teams with the KCL ones.
As Champion's year in office progressed it looked less likely that the Competition would materialise; funds for extraordinary ventures like this were not available and with the exception of the Vice-President (Student Activities), Ben Philip, Champion did not enjoy the support from his fellow Executive Board members.
When few thought the competition would go ahead, Champion found a dusty old St. Thomas's Rowing Club champagne bowl, took it to Asprey and Garrard
Garrard & Co
Garrard & Co is a luxury jewellery and silver company founded by George Wickesin London in 1735. Its current base is at Albemarle Street in Mayfair, London, its USA flagship store is in New York. The company also has a presence in Tokyo, New York, Dubai, Moscow and Hong Kong...
on New Bond Street and got it restored to its former glory for £1000. He had inscribed on the bowl: "Vicant Optimi" or "The best shall win". The shortfall in funds was provided by the King's College London Alumni Association, and so, in its first year, the Cup was called "The Alumni Macadam Cup".
Results
| Year | Date held | Winner | Events won by KCL |
Events won by KCLMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 8 March | GKT | 4 | 10 |
| 2005 | 22 March | GKT | 3 | 17 |
| 2006 | 15 March | KCLMS | 9 | 18 |
| 2007 | 21 March | KCLMS | 5 | 7 |
| 2008 | 27 February | KCLMS | 4 | 8 |
| 2009 | 25 March | KCLMS | 6 | 9 |
| 2010 | 31 March | KCLMS | 7 | 10 |
| 2011 | 30 March | KCL | 7 | 6 |
As you can see from its inauguration in 2004 to 2010, King's College London had yet to win the Macadam Cup, leading to chants of "You'll never win Macadam"
In 2011, KCL won Macadam Cup.