President’s Introduction
Gentlemen Hawks,
Welcome to the November newsletter which provides an update on the Club and the achievements of Hawks.
It is a great honour to have been elected President of the Hawks’ Club in its 153rd year and taking over from Cameron Mitchell, who did a stellar job over the past year, it is clear that I have sizeable shoes to fill. As always, the club continues to celebrate the highest sporting excellence at the University and represents the best traditions of Varsity sport. I am pleased to be leading an excellent Resident Committee representing 6 sports clubs; rowing, rugby, hockey, cricket, golf and football.
The Summer Term was, as ever, a lively and memorable conclusion to the academic year. A full calendar of Varsity matches, fixtures, and events unfolded alongside the challenges of exams, creating a unique blend of competition and celebration that characterises this period in Cambridge life. It was also a time of transition, as many Hawks prepared to leave the University and take their next steps in a wide range of fields. The Hawks’ Committee marked its own changeover with the traditional handover dinner, ensuring a smooth continuation of the Club’s work and traditions. The term, and the year, concluded with the Hawks’ and Ospreys’ June Event, a highlight of the social calendar and a fitting end to another successful year.
Alumni support at all Varsities was considerable last year, contributing to a real sense of momentum behind sport at Cambridge and has been reflected in some fantastic results (full Varsity results here). This support is increasingly important as the gap between amateur and professional sport grows, ensuring that Varsity Sport continues to provide high-level opportunities for academically inclined athletes — and even for those who claim not to be! Furthermore, many athletes will have been funded by your generous donations to the Charitable Trust. The awards were made in June where we heard stories of the various representative, national and international competitions that these awards enabled our athletes to compete in, and I remain immensely grateful for these direct contributions to the success of Light Blue Sport.
2025 promises to be another exciting year for the Hawks’ Club, with a full calendar of events including the Steele-Bodger Match, the London and Welsh Dinners, the Varsity fixtures, and the Hawks’ and Ospreys’ Event. I will be in touch again soon with a full schedule of Varsity matches and venues so that you can get these dates in your diaries early. I am always pleased to hear from Hawks and to answer any questions about the Club, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch via president@hawksclub.co.uk if you’d like to share any news or updates.
Once a Hawk, always a Hawk and it continues to be a pleasure to welcome members, of all vintages, back to Portugal Place.
GDBO,
Lewis Gray (CUBC, St Catharine’s)
Hawks’ Club President 2025-26
New Committee
The Hawks’ Club thanks the outgoing Committee for all their hard work and is pleased to announce the new Committee for the 2025-25 academic year.
President – Lewis Gray (St Catharine’s, CUBC)
Hon. Secretary – Will Laird (King’s, CUHC, CUCC)
Junior Treasurer – Ben Munton (Gonville & Caius, CUGC)
Membership – Nick Barclay (Queens’, CUHC)
Clubhouse Operations – Fin Edwards (Downing, CURUFC)
Events – Luke Beever (Emmanuel, CUBC)
H&O Event – Tristan Martin (Christ’s, CUAFC)
Merchandise – Freddie Ogilvie (St Catharine’s, CUGC)
Communications – Will Stubbs (Fitzwilliam, CUHC)
Alumnae – George Bland (King’s, CURUFC)
Hawks‘ Golf Day 2025
For once, the weather gods were not smiling upon the 40 Hawks golfers who made their annual pilgrimage to The Sacred Nine of Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club. However, the steady rain which soaked golfers and their scorecards, may have dampened the enjoyment of the golf but not the spirits of those pilgrims, which were then restored by the camaraderie and hospitality of an excellent lunch. The Ospreys must have known something as they stayed away with feathers dry and unruffled.
Some of us travel to The Sacred Nine hoping for a golfing miracle with cures for high slices, shanked approach shots and missed 3 foot putts. Others come merely seeking redemption and solace. And some good golfers come to enjoy the challenge of the country’s finest nine hole course – home to Cambridge University golf, deceptively innocuous in appearance, but remorseless in punishing those whose ability to get down in anything less than at least three from 100 yards out is beyond redemption. Your correspondent can testify that, whilst his golfing prayers went unanswered, his visit left him spiritually refreshed in all senses of the word.
For the first time in living memory, the event was oversubscribed with 40 golfers out on the course – testament to the spreading of the word by HawksGolf Day disciples and underpinned by a strong bench of replacements for the inevitable one or two last minute dropouts.
This meant that the legendary welcome and hospitality of the clubhouse team at Worlington was tested but not found wanting, as the lively conversation and bonhomie of a full house in the club dining room testified. The speeches gave those Hawks present a chance to thank the captain of Worlington for the privilege of holding this annual event at such a special venue. Long may that tradition continue.
For some reason there was a strong turnout of Welsh golfing Hawks. This may have something to do with their being able to drive across England to the club at more than 20 miles an hour because they otherwise don’t get out much. However, it did pose some accounting challenges in processing numerous payments from various “Davies“. All was eventually reconciled and the turn out and absence due to the rain of on course refreshments meant that for once the Hawks Golf Day accounts generated a small surplus which will be put towards a more permanent trophy for the overall foursome’s winners.
Speaking of which, the roll of honour this year was as follows:
- Overall Foursome Winners: James Skelton & Alex Clarke
Runners up: Mark Denny & Paul Flood
- Third Place: Andrew McGahey & Mike Jones
- Nearest the pin: Paul Flood
- Longest drive: Martin Dannhauser
By the time lunch had finished, the weather had improved enough for one or two Hawks to go back out for more golf or search for the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
For the rest of us it was back home after another memorable Hawks Golf Day with excuses rehearsed and every intention to return next year for more and to play better.
The date to put in your diaries for next year is Friday, 28th of August 2026. Make sure you spread the gospel to your Hawks golfing friends, and we will be in touch in good time for you to reserve your places.
Best wishes,
Andrew & John
John May (Christ’s 1976) | 07831 746312
Andrew McGahey (Fitzwilliam 1978) | 07834 566739
Hawks’ Club & Ospreys Golf Day, Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club, Friday 28th August 2026
Hawks’ Club Resident’s Photos
The whole Club and Committee photo, taken at H&O Event this summer, can be viewed and purchased here.
Hawks’ Club Sportsman of the Year
Congratulations to Fergus Hughes (St Edmund’s, CURUFC, CUCC) who is the Hawks’ Club Sportsman of the Year for 2024/25. Fergus has performed at an exceptionally high standard across both Rugby and Cricket achieving a Blue in both sports.
A three-time Varsity Match winner, Fergus played a pivotal role in the Blue’s record victory before going on to captain the side in 2024/25. Under his leadership, the team produced a remarkable 35-28 win, overturning an 18-21 deficit at half-time in a performance that will long be remembered. Demonstrating extraordinary commitment, Fergus played much of the season with a fractured scaphoid, exemplifying the grit and determination that defines a true Hawk.
Beyond rugby, Fergus also distinguished himself on the cricket field, earning a Blue in the One-Day Varsity Match and featuring in the Four-Day fixture as well. His achievements across both sports make him a thoroughly deserving recipient of Hawk of the Year.
Hawks’ Club Team of the Year
Congratulations to the Cambridge University Athletics Club who are the Hawks’ Club Team of the Year for 2024/25.
2025 was an exceptional year for CUAC marked by historic success and international achievement. CUAC secured 5 victories out of the 5 Men’s Varsity matches throughout the year, including the landmark 150th Athletics Varsity Match. The milestone event was celebrated with support from World Athletics, who organised an exhibition recognising the history and significance of the fixture.
The club also hosted the second year of the Para Athletics Varsity Match, which is the first para varsity match of any sport to our knowledge, demonstrating CUAC’s continued leadership in inclusion and accessibility in university sport.
Internationally, CUAC strongly contributed to the Achilles Club team who claimed victory over Harvard & Yale in the prestigious Transatlantic Match and earlier in the academic year defeated the 4 Wings Club, a combined team of top Japanese universities, highlighting the club’s strength on a global stage.
London Dinner 2025
The Hawks’ Club London Dinner will be on Thursday 27th of November at the Royal Automobile Club. Ticket sales have close but if you would like to be added to the waiting list please email Ed Hyde (erbh2@cantab.ac.uk). Complimentary Cobra Beer will be served from 6.15pm, with dinner served at 7.45pm.
Our speaker, Andy Macdonald (Hughes Hall, CURUFC, 1989), is a former Scotland rugby international and Cambridge Blue. He has played for the Barbarians and Southland Province in New Zealand. He was first capped against the All Blacks in 1993.
Our chairman, Trevor Borthwick (Magdalene, CURUFC, 1981-1985), graduated in law and in 1984 before going on to gain an LLM in 1985. He represented the LX Club against Oxford in 1982, 1983 and 1984 before winning his rugby Blue in 1985. He represented Sussex rugby against Canada and, after leaving Cambridge, combined his early career as a lawyer at Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman) with playing rugby for London Scottish reaching the semi-final of the John Player Cup (as it was then) in 1989. He was selected for the Anglo Scots squad that defeated France in 1989.
Trevor became a partner at Allen & Overy in 1997 and enjoyed a 23-year career at the firm, becoming Global Head of General Lending, before moving to Mayer Brown as a partner for the final three years of his career as a lawyer. He now works part time as a consultant in West Sussex where he lives with his wife and their three children. In his spare time, he enjoys trying to improve his golf and tennis.
The dinner promises to be, as always, a stellar occasion in the Club’s calendar. Formal Hawks’ Club merchandise, including bowties, cummerbunds and cufflinks, is available to order ahead of the event via the website here.
Tim Ellis (Jesus, CUSBC, CURC)
It is with deep regret that we must inform the membership of the passing of Tim Ellis.
After growing up and studying at the Prince of Wales School in Kenya, Tim matriculated at Jesus College in 1965, reading History and Geography, and graduating with a 2:1 and 2:2 respectively. During his time at Cambridge, he was an enthusiastic and talented sportsman, representing the University in both rifle shooting and small-bore shooting.
Although Tim was not elected a Hawk during his student days, he was elected as a member of the club in 1987, and from that moment became one of the Club’s most dedicated contributors. He played a pivotal role in the development of the Clubhouse at Portugal Place and was instrumental in the creation and management of the Club’s database. Over the years, Tim served as a Director of HCL, as a committee member of the DRC, as a Trustee of HOCT, and as Chairman, giving decades of committed service to the Hawks’ community
It is difficult to capture the full extent of Tim’s contributions. He gave so much of his time, energy, and expertise to the Club, and was truly a Hawk who bled maroon and gold. He will be deeply missed by the Club and by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Sightings of the Club Colours
Cameron Mitchell (Robinson (CUCC, CUGC) sporting the Club bucket hat and Hawks’ Swimmers in Sri Lanka
Will Stubbs (Fitzwilliam, CUHC) sporting the Club baseball cap at Pulpit Rock in the Norwegian Fjords
Will Laird (King’s, CUHC, CUCC) and Lewis Gray (St Catharine’s, CUBC) sporting the baseball caps in Kyrgyzstan
News from Alumni
Sydney Hawks’ Lunch 2025
In August, Simon Callaghan (King’s, CUCC, CUARFC, 2022-2023) organised an event for Hawks in Sydney prior to the Lions vs Australia test match – here is Simon’s report on the event:
It was wonderful to have 2025 Varsity Match winners Dr Ben Gompels and Jack Allinson join us in Sydney for a jovial fireside chat over lunch before the Lions v Wallabies Test in Sydney. It was great to hear Jack and Ben sharing their stories of mateship, and what it means to have taken the field in such a globally revered rugby match.
The theme of friendships also echoed through the experiences of other guests’ stories playing sport for the University of Cambridge:
- John O’Loghlen, Cambridge University Boat Club Blue from the 2000 The Boat Race Company;
- Jason Kururangi, CFA Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club Blue in 2010 and 2022;
- Raconteur Ollie Phillips CURUFC Blue 2017 and 2018, England 7’s, in Australia on the Lions Legends Tour; &
- Ben Woods CURUFC Blue 2004, also on the Lions Legends Tour, playing against the Classic Wallabies.
Thank you to Simon for organising the event!
James Ganendra takes on ancient pilgrimage routes – Camino de Santiago
This summer, I swapped the rush of daily life for something slower: the Camino de Santiago. For centuries, pilgrims have walked these routes across Europe to reach Santiago de Compostela and earn an indulgence — something I figured I could use after my years as a Hawk! Today, motivations are more varied: I met walkers seeking healing, adventure, or simply the joy of being offline for a while.
I chose the Littoral Way, a spectacular 280-kilometre coastal route from Porto, Portugal. Twelve days of sun, sea, and steady walking — all under the guiding motto: “no vino, no Camino.”
Each day found its rhythm: wake, walk, swim, repeat. The ocean was never far away, nor were the tabernas offering a cold drink and lively conversation. I returned with sore feet, a lighter pack, and a clearer head.
I cannot recommend it enough — the Camino is not just a walk; it is a joyful mix of reflection, laughter, and, of course, the occasional glass (or two) of vino.
James Ganendra CEng FLS MA (Cantab.)
Alex Moen Reaches Victorian Hockey Premier League Grand Final
Alex Moen (CUCC, CUHC, CURC, Magdalene, 2018-2022) recently reached the Grand Final of the Victorian Hockey Premier League playing for the MCC (Melbourne Cricket Club) Hockey Section. Alex moved out to Australia after graduating from Cambridge and he also plays for Malvern Cricket Club’s 1st XI in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association alongside Nick Taylor (CUCC, Clare, 2018-2022). Alex will be captaining Malvern CC in the upcoming season. Please find a summary of the season from Alex below:
It was another outstanding season for MCC Hockey Section across the board, with 14 senior teams making finals, 11 making grand finals, and six winning premierships. The Men’s Premier League side secured the minor premiership for the first time in the club’s history, finishing six points clear at the top of the table and scoring 99 goals in the process, the highest tally ever in the current format of the Victorian Premier League.
MCC took on Waverley in the semi-final. A closely fought encounter saw MCC twice pegged back and the final score at 2-2 after regulation time. A dominant shootout performance got MCC over the line and into the big dance against Southern the following week.
