Marc West meets Quidditch Chimeras to find out more about the Harry Potter inspired game... and no they don't fly!

With its distinguished history, scholarly collection of books and world-famous cathedral, it’s no wonder the Great Hall at Christ Church College was recreated in the studio to double as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter film series.

So, it’s fitting that undergraduates from Oxford University have taken quite a shine to the young magician’s favourite school sport – and it’s just been announced that the city of dreaming spires has pipped Paris and Rome for the honour of hosting next year’s European Cup on home turf.

Quidditch in our fair city was founded three years ago with a chaotic match in Worcester College garden – rules were close to non-existent and St Edmund Hall triumphed. Needless to say, the college groundsmen weren’t all that keen with it taking place on their carefully-tended lawns, so play moved to it’s current home in University Parks.

I turned up on Super Saturday, half expecting to have to don a pointy hat and jump on a broomstick, but let’s clear one thing up right now – they cannot fly!

However, what I did find is that Oxford Chimeras are actually a crack team that could probably give the England Rugby squad a serious run for their ‘quaffle’ – being the current British, Irish and European champions.

With brooms-up, the first games of the season got underway with visiting challengers from Durham University striding out on to the field bathed in autumnal sunlight. Two tribes were going to war each with the whites of their eyes fixed firmly on the prize – the inaugural Challenge Shield.

The mixed-gender full-contact sport is an amalgam of the gentleman’s sport hide-and-seek and American Dodgeball – with the iconic broom acting as a sort of handicap. Loosely, the aim is to get the quaffle through any of your opponents’ three elevated hoops to score your team 10 points – while also trying to avoid being hit by a bludger. As you can probably tell, it’s a fast-paced, intense and action-packed game. So much so, in fact, that a minimum of five referees are required throughout to oversee the rules – which are evolving all the time as this fledgling sport develops across 300 teams in over 20 countries (to date).

Then, exactly 18 minutes in, out of the corner of my eye, I spot the yellow-kitted snitch warming-up on the side lines for his (or her) physically-demanding and highly strategic role in the final throws of the game within a game. The 30 points on offer for catching this player’s booty (a tennis ball stuffed down their shorts) can completely throw the result.

In the end, the dark blues thrashed current Highland champs Durhamstrang 170-0.

Captain Jan Mikolajczak, 21, first found the sport while studying maths and computer science at University College and was instantly attracted to the inclusive nature of the game and the community surrounding it.

Oxford Mail:
Ollie Farrell, left, and Jasiek Mikolajczak

“I began playing as a joke really,” Jan told me. “I wanted to try all the crazy things on offer at university and soon realised it’s a proper sport and fell in love with it. We’re pretty aggressive on the pitch, but all best of friends off it – and always hug it out after a game.”

If you too fancy trying your hand at this exciting and innovative tactical sport, Oxford University Quidditch Club train every Wednesday and Saturday from Noon for two hours. No matter what your level of ability or commitment, the club’s second team Quidlings will take you under their wing – who knows, maybe one day you’ll graduate to the first team. Or, if you just fancy spectating, Oxford will go head-to-head with their old rivals Cambridge in a Varsity match… with a difference. The annual Christmas Cup fantasy tournament takes place in South Park on November 30 and all are welcome.

For details, visit oxfordquidditch.com

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