Manchester Relays 2007
By David Yu
A cool, overcast day saw the successful start of the 2007-2008 Cambridge University Hare & Hounds season. Nine Hareys clambered into the dinosaur of a 16-passenger van for the trip to Manchester, the vehicle a bit smelly and filled with dirt, grass and sleeping pads. Owain assumed the wheel of the worrisomely rattling beast for the three-hour drive.
Arriving at Manchester University's sports grounds, the Hareys were pleased to meet near-perfect race conditions, with a dry 2.2 mile course and cool temperatures. The women began their three-part race first, with second-year Polly Keen (13:45) assuming lead-off duties, fresher Anna Anderson (12:53) picking off 8 runners en route to the 16th fastest individual leg, and fresher Helen Rollins (12:23) completing the deed for a 5th place finish, running the 9th fastest leg of the day. The men's race started amidst some confusion about 45 seconds after Anna began her leg with fresher David Yu (10:54) and fourth-year Rich Mathie (11:46) finishing their legs in 8th and 11th, respectively. Joseph Stevick (11:12) picked off three competitors on the third leg, by which point lapped runners made it near impossible to discern a proper race order. Captain Andy Duncan (11:29) held place on the fourth leg, fourth-year Owain Bristow (10:54) charged the fifth leg to catch two more opponents, and Lee Harper (11:19) held off a challenge from a Birmingham runner for a 6th place finish.
After corralling Helen and Anna in from an insane hour-long warmdown, the Harey van departed the course. A stop for dinner at one of England's luxury rest stops concluded with Captain Andy having a brief special moment with a young gallant wearing a Scottish flag as a cape, a rather out-of-shape woman in a neon green, belly-baring top reminiscent of Borat's infamous swimsuit, and indeed the better part of a bus full of drunken younguns. Another three hours in the growling dinosaur brought the end of a successful day for the Hare and Hounds. Thanks to Owain for driving!