Cambridge Blue (colour)

Cambridge Blue is the colour commonly used by sports teams from the University of Cambridge.[5] There is considerable dispute regarding the exact shade of the colour that should be used. Most notably, the colour used by the Cambridge University Boat Club is different from that used by Cambridge University R.U.F.C.. The current Boat Club colour was created when Alf Twinn, Cambridge University boatman 1934–1984, added more yellow to this shade, allegedly in order to distinguish it from the rugby club's colour.[3]

Cambridge Blue
 
    Colour coordinates
Hex triplet#A3C1AD
HSV       (h, s, v)(140°, 16%, 76[1][2]%)
sRGBB  (r, g, b)(163, 193, 173[3])
Source[4]
ISCC–NBS descriptorLight yellowish green
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte)
H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred)

Background

The Cambridge University official colour style guide defines Cambridge Blue as Pantone 557; with RGB values of R 163, G 193, B 173.[4]

This colour is actually a medium tone of spring green. Spring green colours are colours with an h code (hue code) of between 135 and 165; this colour has an h code of 140, putting it within the range of spring green colours on the RGB colour wheel.

The other (less traditional) colours selected for the house style are Pantone 285 (blue), 158 (orange), 369 (green), 513 (purple) and 7466 (teal). Pantone 032 (red) and 109 (yellow) feature in the official University coat of arms.

One explanation to the origin of the colour goes back to the second Boat Race, held in 1836. Three of the participants in the Cambridge boat were from Gonville & Caius College and tradition has it that they asked to get a light blue ribbon, the colour of their boat club. After Cambridge won by 20 lengths, the University Boat Club asked the college whether the university could adopt the colour as well. [6]

Usage

The jerseys of the Australian NSW Waratahs and the New Zealand Northland Rugby Union have been Cambridge Blue since 1892 and 1920, but with the colour of Cambridge Blue having now changed, their original colours are now referred to as Sky blue.

Other teams that refer to the original colour, along with Oxford Blue, is the official colour of Brisbane Grammar School, Wesley College, Colombo, Wycombe Wanderers F.C., the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and the Argonaut Rowing Club, also based in Toronto.

The King's Own Calgary Regiment use both Cambridge Blue and Oxford Blue as their regimental colours.

Cranbrook School also use Cambridge Blue as the house colour for Davidson.

The coat of arms of the City of Cambridge, used by Cambridge City Council uses Cambridge Blue to portray the River Cam.

See also

References
  1. "#A3C1AD Color Information". Colorhexa.com. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
  2. "Color Conversion Tool set to hex code of color #A3C1AD (Cambridge Blue):". Web.forret.com. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
  3. Frank Grenfell; John Marks (2011). "Origins of the Cambridge Blue" (PDF). Hawksclub.co.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  4. "Cambridge University Identity Guidelines - Fifth Edition" (PDF). Cambridge University. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  5. "Cambridge Identity Guidelines". Cam.ac.uk. 2012-06-27. Retrieved 2013-12-24.
  6. "How Caius Blue became the Cambridge colour". Gonville & Cauis. Retrieved 2019-01-22.
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