On January 19, the annual Duckworth Challenge reaches its exciting conclusion on the University of Manitoba campus! The Wesmen and Bisons renew their heated rivalry in men's and women's basketball, with the trophy handed out at the night's end.

It's also a SPIRIT CUP WHITE OUT. Wear white and cheer on The Herd!


WOMEN'S BASKETBALL: 6 PM
MEN'S BASKETBALL: 8 PM

Tickets are $10 and both University of Winnipeg and University of Manitoba students get in FREE with student ID. 17-and-under fans get in free as well. Wesmen season ticket holders can get in for half price.

More info... https://www.facebook.com/events/325267081297187/

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27th annual Duckworth Challenge concludes on January 19, 2018 with basketball portion at Manitoba

In 2017-18 edition, Manitoba and Winnipeg are tied so far after women’s soccer with volleyball portion on Thurs., Jan. 18 at Winnipeg; Bisons celebrate 30th anniversary of 1987-88 national championship team

The 27th annual Duckworth Challenge pits the University of Manitoba versus the University of Winnipeg Wesmen in women’s soccer plus volleyball varsity competition and concludes this season with the basketball portion on Friday, January 19 at the Investors Group Athletic Centre (U of Manitoba campus) with both women’s and men’s basketball teams playing at 6 and 8 p.m. CT. During Jan. 19, the Bisons will celebrate the 30th anniversary of 1987-88 national championship team.

The 2017-18 edition of the Duckworth Challenge is tied so far heading into the volleyball and basketball matches. Women’s soccer started the Challenge as it was played at Winnipeg with a 0-0 result on Oct. 8. The second portion is volleyball held at the Dr. David F. Anderson Gymnasium at the Duckworth Centre (University of Winnipeg campus) on Jan. 18 prior to the conclusion with basketball games.

All the games during the 27th annual Duckworth Challenge will count in the Canada West standings, as they are conference regular season matches.

The two universities have made the Duckworth Challenge into a competition of five games over three sports with the winner of the title in a best three-out-of-five. If the soccer match ends up in a tie, the Duckworth Challenge will revert back to the tie-breaking formula if needed.

In the 2016-17 season, Manitoba won the Duckworth Challenge trophy with a 3-1-1 victory margin. Manitoba currently holds a winning Duckworth Challenge overall record of 14-6-6 (17 titles counting tie-breakers) in the contest's 26 year history.

Overall, Manitoba’s Duckworth Challenge 26 year record in all games stands at: 63-44-2 with the Bisons breakdown in women’s soccer matches at 3-0-2; basketball games overall record at: 21-31 (women’s: 8-18; men’s: 13-13) and volleyball matches overall record at: 39-13 (women’s: 19-7; men’s: 20-6).

The Duckworth Challenge was started by Dr. Henry E. Duckworth (president of the University of Winnipeg from 1971-81 and Chancellor of the University of Manitoba from 1986-92) in an effort to profile the intense but friendly cross-town rivalry between the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba. It originated in the 1991-92 season. A new trophy was presented at the end of the 24th annual Duckworth Challenge to replace the original shield handed out.

Duckworth Challenge Notes: A tie-breaker process was implemented in 2009-10: For one of the universities to win the event, one school seeks to win a minimum of three of the five games played. The tie-breaking formula will be used only if the Challenge ends up tied for each university.

Tie-breaker first used: In the 2011-12 season, the Bisons retained the Duckworth Challenge trophy with a 2-2 victory margin and won on the tie-breaker (+5) – the first time the new tie-breaker system came into effect.

Tie-breaker process for the annual Duckworth Challenge

  • The volleyball matches will be scored on a five points per set won basis, and the basketball games plus women’s soccer will be scored on a every point counts basis. 
  • Whichever university is ahead on the points would win the tie-breaker.
  • If the points end up as a tie, the Duckworth Challenge title remains with the defending champion.

Duckworth Challenge titles:

Manitoba: 17 (counting three ties)
Winnipeg: 9 (counting three ties)

2017-18: (TBD)
2016-17: Manitoba 3-1-1)
2015-16: (Manitoba 3-2)
2014-15: (Manitoba 3-2)
2013-14: (Manitoba 5-0)
2012-13: (Winnipeg 3-1)
2011-12: (Tie 2-2) - Manitoba retains trophy
2010-11: (Manitoba 3-1)
2009-10: (Manitoba 4-0)
2008-09: (Winnipeg 3-1)
2007-08: (Tie 2-2) - Winnipeg retains trophy
2006-07: (Tie 2-2) - Winnipeg retains trophy
2005-06: (Tie 2-2) - Winnipeg retains trophy
2004-05: (Winnipeg 3-1)
2003-04: (Manitoba 3-1)
2002-03: (Tie 2-2) - Manitoba retains trophy
2001-02: (Tie 2-2) - Manitoba retains trophy
2000-01: (Manitoba 3-1)
1999-2000: (Manitoba 3-1)
1998-99: (Manitoba 3-1)
1997-98: (Manitoba 3-1)
1996-97: (Manitoba 3-1)
1995-96: (Winnipeg 3-1)
1994-95: (Manitoba 3-1)
1993-94: (Winnipeg 3-1)
1992-93: (Winnipeg 4-0)
1991-1992: (Manitoba 4-0)

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Duckworth Challenge - 27th Annual

Starts: Sunday, October 8, 2017
Women's Soccer at University of Winnipeg
Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex
Women: 2 p.m. CT

Middle: Thursday, January 18, 2018
Women's and Men’s Volleyball at the University of Winnipeg
Dr. David F. Anderson Gymnasium at the Duckworth Centre
Women: 6 p.m.; Men: 7:45 p.m. CT

Ends: Friday, January 19, 2018
Women's and Men’s Basketball at the University of Manitoba
Investors Group Athletic Centre
Women: 6 p.m. CT; Men: 8 p.m.

How the Duckworth Challenge Began: The Duckworth Challenge was started by the late Dr. Henry E. Duckworth (president of the University of Winnipeg from 1971-81 and Chancellor of the University of Manitoba from 1986-92) in an effort to profile the intense but friendly cross-town rivalry between the University of Winnipeg and the University of Manitoba. It originated in the 1991-92 season.

Format: What makes the Duckworth Challenge unique is the format. Events are held at both universities in Winnipeg, and involve the sports of volleyball, basketball and now women’s soccer. Each year the venue for the sports is alternated.

Bisons Duckworth record: In the 2016-17 season, Manitoba won the Duckworth Challenge trophy with a 3-1-1 victory margin. Manitoba now holds a winning Duckworth Challenge overall record of 14-6-6 (17 titles counting tie-breakers) in the contest's 26 year history. Overall, Manitoba’s Duckworth Challenge 26 year record in all games stands at: 63-44-2 with the Bisons breakdown in women’s soccer matches at 3-0-2; basketball games overall record at: 21-31 (women’s: 8-18; men’s: 13-13) and volleyball matches overall record at: 39-13 (women’s: 19-7; men’s: 20-6).

Prices at U of Manitoba for Duckworth Challenge: Admission to court sport games is $10 for adults, Non U of M Students (other than U of W), U of M Alumni and Seniors: $5; Children 12 and under plus U of W students are free at Investors Group Athletic Centre.

Duckworth Challenge ‘First’ Stats: First games played on January 25, 1992 at the University of Manitoba (Bison East Gym) with Bison women’s basketball winning 76-74 and Bison men’s basketball beating the Wesmen 99-66. In the volleyball matches, Manitoba beat Winnipeg 3-0 in women’s and 3-2 in men’s action for the first sweep.

Sweeps at the Duckworth Challenge?: Four total so far – Manitoba with three times in 1991-92 (4-0), 2009-10 (4-0) and in 2013-14 (5-0) – first-ever time for a 5-0 sweep; Winnipeg in 1992-93 (4-0)

The first Duckworth Challenge women’s soccer match result: Manitoba won 2-0 at home on Saturday. September 20, 2013 in the first match of women’s soccer included in the Duckworth Challenge.

Non-conference, pre-season matches in 2009-10: For the first time and only time in the Duckworth Challenge history, the basketball and volleyball games were part of the non-conference, pre-season schedule for both university teams during the 2009-10 edition.

Tie-breaker first used: In the 2011-12 season, the Bisons retained the Duckworth Challenge trophy with a 2-2 victory margin and won on the tie-breaker (+5) – the first time the new tie-breaker system came into effect.

Tie-breaker process implemented in 2009-10: For one of the universities to win the event, one school seeks to win a minimum of three of the five games played. The tie-breaking formula will be used only if the Challenge ends up tied for each university.

More at http://www.gobisons.ca
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