Selwyn Relays 2008
By James Kelly
A grey but mild Sunday afternoon saw the running of the Selwyn Relays, the final competition in the Chris Brasher College League. A high turnout reflected the importance of the occasion, with nearly every League title up for grabs. The excitement that followed befitted a remarkable campaign that saw course records shattered, fields consistently deep, and seamless organisation. But the day was tinted with a hint of sadness, as for many Hareys, the race was a final opportunity to don the College vest before moving on to greener pastures.
Any thoughts of retirement and any sense of finality were banished to the background as the first leg runners toed the start line. Both men and women started under the signal of co-League Organiser Aidan Brown to begin a lap of the 4.37 km course. Men's teams required four athletes to complete the distance, while women's teams consisted of three competitors each.
Jesus may have already clinched the men's team title in the College League, but there was still plenty at stake in the race. Promotion candidates Downing and Clare sought to claim the Division II title, while Queens' and Peterhouse required strong performances in order to avoid relegation. The individual championship was poised even more delicately; the absent Tim Pattison (Downing) headed the standings, but would be overhauled by David Yu (Trinity) if Yu finished in the top two.
As if the various permutations weren't enough, there was intra-team supremacy to be decided. The first leg boasted Blues Paolo Natali (Christ's), James Kelly (Jesus) and Matt Armstrong (Trinity Hall) as well as Half Blue Yu and a host of key contributors from November's IInds-IVths Match, and so promised to be a swift affair. Ultimately it was the in-form Kelly (12:40) who led the field into the first changeover, logging the fastest time on the course since 1997. He was followed in by Armstrong (13:12) and Yu (13:29), with Yu's third place position leaving him level with Pattison on points. It was to be a nervous wait for David as he awaited his final race position!
Co-League Organiser Chris Morris took up the baton for Jesus and consolidated their position with a strong leg of 15:02, building the team's lead over Trinity Hall, paced by an impressive debut performance by Robert Craig (15:27) to 57 seconds. A storming leg of 13:55 from Ulrich Paquet brought Wolfson into third place.
Morris' efforts proved to be crucial, as the duel between Jesus and Trinity Hall heated up. Liam Richardson (15:25) provided a solid example of front-running, running an evenly-paced leg to preserve the lead for anchorman Robin Brown. But a late charge from Ben Stevens (14:42) left Trinity Hall just 14 seconds behind. Behind Oliver Jardine (15:14), Wolfson established a considerable lead over the remaining challengers for the podium.
With the race very much in doubt, therefore, Brown and John Redshaw (Trinity Hall) set off to contest the title. Ultimately the strength and speed of Brown (13:58) trumped the injury-ravaged Redshaw (15:04) as Jesus claimed the Grand Slam with the win. Joe Stevick (14:08) returned to the Wolfson ranks with a sterling anchor leg, nearly overhauling Redshaw to bring Wolfson home in a very creditable third place.
Some of the top female talent also assembled on the first leg to ensure that the women's competition got off to an equally fast start. Charlotte Roach (Trinity), fresh off her superb 3rd place finish in the U20 National Cross-Country, fought off illness to post a leg time of 15:00, comfortably eclipsing the fastest time previously recorded on the course. She was followed into second place by Harriet Owles (Selwyn, 16:16), who was attempting to lead her college to victory in its namesake race for the second consecutive year. Laura Spence (Wolfson, 16:35) and Lauren Barklie (Magdalene, 16:46) followed Owles through with strong legs of their own running for mixed teams.
With runners coming and going in a steady stream, it became increasingly difficult to establish race positions. However, with Julie Addison (18:38) and Club President Joan Lasenby (17:14) to come, Trinity were in a very strong position and looked odds-on favourites to claim the League title. Selwyn countered with Alex Bell (19:24) and Jane Mackey (17:44). The strong trio put in a good performance but was unable to overhaul the victories Trinity. Indeed, Selwyn was overtaken by the mixed team of Barklie, Emma Figures (18:36) and Polly Keen (New Hall, 16:28), whose anchor leg produced the third-fastest individual time of the afternoon.
As the dust settled, it remained only to establish the destination of the College League titles. In the men's competition, Jesus were convincing League Champions, winning the title for the third consecutive year and completing the first Grand Slam since 2002-2003 (when the feat was also accomplished by Jesus). Wolfson finished runners-up in their first season back in Division I, while Darwin claimed third place.
In Division II, Clare and Downing had already clinched promotion to Division I for next year's campaign, but it was the depleted Downing side that held off their opponents to claim the division title. The two colleges will replace former powerhouse Queens' and Peterhouse in the top division.
Trinity, paced largely by the talented Roach, were comfortable winners of the women's College League competition with Newnham and Emmanuel, their closest pursuers for the whole campaign, having to settle for joint second place.
In the individual standings, Polly Keen successfully defended her title, with a season of consistency enabling her to accumulate a healthy number of points. The men's competition was somewhat less straightforward. David Yu's time from the first leg was challenged but unsurpassed by later competitors, meaning that he finished in third place on the day behind Kelly and Armstrong. More importantly, this brought him into a tie with Pattison for the individual crown. The result is probably a fair reflection of the contributions that both freshers have made to the club and to the College League, but nevertheless, suggestions for tie-breakers would be welcome!
All that remains, therefore, is to thank the many people responsible for the highly successful Chris Brasher College League campaign. First and foremost, League Organisers Aidan Brown and Chris Morris fulfilled their task with aplomb, often combining the stresses of organisation with the stress of competition! Thanks are also due to the many members of the club who marshalled the races, helping to protect the competitors from traffic, from wrong turns, and from each other. Sweatshop graciously provided numbers for the events, and their continued support of the College League is gratefully received. Finally, Club Captain Andy Duncan and Women's Captain Harriet Owles, both overseeing their final League event, must be thanked for their enthusiasm and leadership at all of the events.
With the Boundary Run, the Roman Road Run, Intercounties and the London Marathon rapidly approaching, the Hare & Hounds haven't yet finished for the year. But for many of the Selwyn Relays competitors, attention will now turn to the track as they seek to reinforce the ranks of CUAC in preparation for the summer.