Manchester Relays 2006
By Laura Dixon
It was a fine day for a small group of Hareys to forego the pleasant comforts of Cambridge and travel North in search of the Manchester relays. The eager anticipation that kept the runners awake during the bus journey was only slightly dampened on arrival with the realisation that they were about to run around a series of football pitches sandwiched between a motorway and a train track.
Still, Charlotte Forbes battled well with the starting pack of runners to place Cambridge in a very strong tenth position for the handover, a solid run from Laura Dixon and a barnstorming performance from Harriet Owles left the Cambridge girls in 13th place overall and eighth best university.
The men's race was a little harder for the spectator, not due to the fact that most of the race could be viewed from a cunning position in the centre of the field but because it was started in the middle of the woman's race and because there was no way of telling which leg other teams were running. In spite of this, there was general agreement that Lee Harper set the initial standard for Cambridge, placing the team near the front of the pack. Jo, Ulrich and Si maintained and improved on this position before handing over to Fresher James who had an excellent run. He passed on to Captain Will who sailed the boys home recording the fastest time for both the team and all the Leg Six runners (It was 13th fastest of the day too). Cambridge finished in 6th position and were the 2nd university, behind Birmingham A, D and B.
All enjoyed some high quality fast food from a well known fast food chain on the way home and were back in Cambridge long before last orders. Finally, big thanks go to Si for driving.