Downing announces new sports grounds partnership with St Catharine's College
Downing College is pleased to announce a 10-year partnership with St Catharine’s College that will increase the outdoor sports facilities open to our student sports clubs, who use the space to train together and compete in intercollegiate matches.
Under the agreement, all outdoor sports grounds/pitches and associated equipment (such as goal posts and tractors used to cut the grass) under the control of Downing and St Catharine’s are being combined and made available to members of both Colleges for the next decade.
The facilities will be managed by a shared groundskeeping team: Chris Tovey and Rhys Nightingale, who have been employed by St Catharine’s for 37 and 19 years, respectively. While each College will retain responsibility for maintaining their pavilion, these buildings will be open to users from both Downing and St Catharine’s.
Philip Law, Estates Director at Downing, said: “Chris Tovey and Rhys Nightingale are widely acknowledged as two of the best College groundsmen in Cambridge and we are delighted to have them tending our playing surfaces.
“This opportunity is one that offers efficiency and resilience. We are pleased with this successful collaboration with St Catharine’s College.”
Published 15 February 2024