The Universities of Oxford and Camrbidge compete annually for The Humphry Challenge Cup which is the Match Rifle Varsity Match. It is the second of the two full-bore varsity matches shot by CURA and OURC, the other being the Chancellors’ Challenge Plate. It is a long running competition which first took place in 1869. At the time, it was named the Inter-University Long Range Match but A.P. Humphry MVO presented The Humphry Challenge Cup in 1881.
Originally, Oxford and Cambridge alternatively hosted the match until 1874 when there was no competition for three years. In 1878 the match was shot at Welwyn before being placed in the NRA programme the following year. Wimbledon hosted the competition until 1890 when the NRA moved to Bisley where it has remained since.
This match has always consisted of four man teams firing 15 rounds at each of three ranges. Originally these ranges were 800,900 and 1000 yards and any rifle was permitted. In 1897 the type of rifle used was limited to Match Rifle. The match changed to the longer ranges of 900, 1000 and 1100 yards in 1910 continuing at these ranges until 1963, when the distances changed to the presently shot ranges of 1000, 1100 and 1200 yards.
Although Cambridge have won the Humphry in the majority of recenty years, Oxford took a historic win in 2020 with a very strong performance and the match has remained very competitive since.