IVY LEAGUE

Cornell University have visited England in combination with either Princeton or Pennsylvania every four years since 1928. In 1962, a Penn-Cornell combination team was brought to Birmingham to compete for the first time against a non-Oxbridge University. Thus a tradition was set.

The visits of the American’s have had an enormous influence on the achievements in Birmingham. There have been more than 60 international athletes and several Olympians from Birmingham since their first visit. Loughborough University were needed to provide a worthwhile challenge during the 60’s but since winning the Universities Athletics title in 1970, Birmingham has been able to go it alone against the American’s. Invariably, the social interactions of the squads have left fond memories with the athletes and students from both sides of the Atlantic. Long may this continue.

This year the Universities of Harvard and Yale will be visiting in June, following Pennsylvania and Cornell University's visit in the same month last year. In 2016 it will be the turn of Birmingham athletes to once again visit the States.