Wesmen Athletics and Bisons Sports have once again announced the launch of another crosstown rivalry series with the kicking off of the 30th anniversary of the Duckworth Challenge this week.
The two athletics departments officially opened the Challenge Monday with a press conference at The Forks as the event turns 30 years old this year.
Introduced in 1991-92 by former UWinnipeg president and University of Manitoba Chancellor Dr. Henry Duckworth, the Challenge pits the basketball, volleyball and soccer teams of both schools against each other in an annual competition for city supremacy.
The Challenge will officially get underway on Thursday when Manitoba hosts Winnipeg for a women’s soccer match (6 p.m.).
The series will continue with volleyball matches at U of M on Jan. 21, 2022 and basketball games at UWinnipeg Jan. 22, 2022.
Due to COVID-19 cancellations, this will be the first Duckworth Challenge since the 2019-20 season.
UWinnipeg has taken the last three Duckworth Challenges dating back to 2017-18 and Manitoba holds the overall lead in victories, 17-12.
The university with the most victories is declared the winner. Should the soccer match end in a draw, and both schools are even in wins, a tiebreaking format kicks in where five points for each set won are given in volleyball and total points are counted in basketball to determine a victor.
DUCKWORTH CHALLENGE HISTORY
Manitoba: 17 (counting three ties)
Winnipeg: 12 (counting four ties)
- 2019-20: (Winnipeg 3-2)
- 2018-19: (Winnipeg 3-2)
- 2017-18: (Tie 2-2-1) - Winnipeg retains trophy
- 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)