Chapel Wardening
The College Chapel is not just for the religiously minded. It provides a haven from the outside, working world for all. There are two evening services a week at which we warden (Choral Evensong) and another of Latin Vespers, a service which was recently revived by Sidney and featured live on Radio 3. Chapel wardening is an excellent way of being a part of College life (even if you come just once). The choir are easily one of the best in Cambridge and provide much needed relaxation in the evening. We shall send out an e-mail at the beginning of term with more details of what is involved (and the surprising perks which come alongside!) In the meantime, enjoy your lengthy summer and hope to meet you next term.
If you are interested sooner please feel free to e-mail me (Simon) on sjw224@cam.ac.uk.
Christian Union
The Sidney Sussex Christian Union is basically a bunch of Christians in college (as you may have guessed), who meet up regularly to encourage each other and love to chat about Christianity with their friends. We held some college- wide events last year, including a 'Text-a-Toastie' evening and a BBQ in May Week, where people could enjoy great food and find out more about Christianity. Hopefully we'll be able to keep this up! We will also be putting on a free breakfast on the first Sunday of term (2nd Oct) where everyone is more than welcome to come along and meet new people. Afterwards there'll be an opportunity to join us in going to a local church service so that you don't have to go alone. Really looking forward to seeing you in October!
Any questions at all, just drop me an email at wwz21@cam.ac.uk - William Zong.
Cricket
What better way to escape Easter Term's long days of revision than taking to the sun-blessed playing fields of Cambridge for an afternoon of cricket? Although the season is brief, Sidney cricket is fun, relaxing and, contrary to the preconceptions of some freshers last year, played at a fairly relaxed standard itself. Whether you're a wannabe Blues star or someone who finds the concept of a game involving a spherical object a novel idea, we're an inclusive bunch of players and would love to have any freshers on board. The season consists of a Twenty20 'Cuppas' competition, together with the odd longer game thrown in before and after the main exams period, with net practice starting indoors in Lent. We'll see you there!
'The Anonymous Slogger'
Football
Football may not be the first sport that springs to mind when you think of Cambridge, but Sidney puts out two teams every weekend in the inter-college league and we've just returned from a highly successful overseas tour to Los Angeles in July. The first team is semi-serious, the second team definitely not and is open to all, regardless of ability. The year ends with the annual in-college five-a-side competition in May Week. Played for the prestigious Ayodele Fajuyigbe Memorial Cup, it represents the pinnacle of the Sidney sporting calendar. We'll hold a practice match/kickabout at some point during Freshers' Week and would love to see as many of you as possible there.
Hockey
Hockey What the Sidney hockey team lacks in skill and success, we make up for with enthusiasm. If you have ever played hockey before we would love to have you on the team. If not, then we'd still love to have you on the team - an extra stick on the pitch is never a bad thing!
Jenga
Founded in the winter of 2010 to facilitate the organised enjoyment of a sport deeply embedded in the Sidney Sussex psyche, which is played in rooms, corridors, kebab shops and streets in and around the college. Sidney Jengasoc is the college's only number one ranking in university standings (partly because no other college has a team). The society consists of able Jenga players, headed up by the predominantly female MotherJenga, the Manly Grand Wizard of Jengasoc and commander in chief by Field Marshall Jenga.
Jengasoc provides regular Jenga contests alongside drinking Jenga, ultimate Jenga, giant Jenga and the incomparable Human Jenga. Membership is free unless you want a leather jacket....in which case you can buy one yourself. (safety equipment provided)
Jonny Singer, Field Marshall Jenga 2010-Present
Rowing
Interested in getting involved in the most popular sport in Cambridge? Here's your chance. Most people at Cambridge have never rowed before and no matter if you're super fit or have never exercised before there's a place for you at Sidney Sussex Boat Club.
We have boats for serious competitors who want to win races, or for people that just want to turn up a get a bit of exercise and some fresh air. Almost everyone in Sidney will have tried rowing at some point in their lives and there's no better time than your first term. It's a great chance to get out of the library and get some exercise (and burn off all those late night kebabs!).
It's also a great way to socialise, there'll be swaps with other college boat clubs throughout term and at the end you get to attend the black tie Boat Club Dinner, a definite social highlight of any term.
Interested? Find out about all this and more at the Boat Club Squash in the Knox Shaw Room after Matriculation dinner where Sidney Sussex Boat Club will be providing more free drinks than you could shake a stick at.
For more information, email mens-vice-captain@ssbc.org.uk or womens-vice-captain@ssbc.org.uk, or visit our site at www.ssbc.org.uk.
Rugby
Sidney Sussex College R.U.F.C. has a long and proud tradition of casual, fun rugby and devastating curries. Though we've never been the most successful team in Cambridge, we are the smallest college to maintain an independent team rather than merging, and the focus is on having a good time rather than necessarily on winning. Not that we never win anything; we are the current holders of the Wallace-Hadrill Shield, having beaten our Oxford sister college, and this year we made our way to the semi-final of the Cuppers Shield where we were unlucky to lose to Emmanuel, who went on to win the final.
We are also, in the hope of starting a new tradition, going on a partially-funded tour to the United States over summer, to play universities like Yale, Harvard and even West Point Military Academy.
The two most important things about SSRUFC are our team spirit and our sense of fun. Everyone looks out for each other on and off the field, and we have a laugh, have a drink and have a good time. Players of any level are welcome, including complete beginners, and several "members" of the team don't or can't play due to injury or cowardice, but join us pitch side and in the pub. Rugby at Sidney is for everyone, and everyone enjoys it.
Netball
Ladies and Mixed Netball is a great way to get out and run around a bit without taking things too seriously. We normally play a short game once a week (7 minute quarters) so it's not a massive commitment. If you want to meet people in different years and experience Sidney's legendary team spirit, then it is definitely the sport for you. Ability ranges hugely, the only requirement is enthusiasm and a willingness to get slightly squashed occasionally, as mixed netball can be a little more vigorous than ladies'! Some people are members of just one team, some of both but regardless of whether you've played or not give it a go. There's also an annual dinner which is always a nice way to end a season.
Katie Hunter - Mixed Captain 2011-2012
New Arcadians (Drama)
As Sidney's own home-grown drama society, the New Arcadians aims to be a small and concentrated but also friendly and fun source of theatrical creativity. The New Arcadians is dedicated to putting on productions which rely on substance rather than show, and above all bring the approachability of Sidney Sussex College to the general theatre scene in Cambridge. We hope to nurture budding thespians with the confidence to explore the exciting opportunities Cambridge theatre has to offer, while always providing a home base and familiar support for more independent projects. So whether you're an aspiring Stephen Fry or an original Olivier, we'd love to have you!
Squash
Squash at Sidney is a very relaxed sport that you can play with minimal commitment while enjoying other activities simultaneously! Last year we taught some complete novices who ended up playing for Sidney, and had a captain who trialled for the university team, so all levels are absolutely welcome! We have our own court and are investing in new rackets and balls for everyone to use so just bring your indoor trainers to try out, or compete in, a very fun university sport!
Table Tennis
Sidney has an enthusiastic and sporadically successful table tennis club. We have 2 tables (located in the squash court) and try to cater for all abilities. Look out for us at the Sidney freshers' fair: we will be holding trials during freshers' week to work out how many teams to run for the coming year.