Teddy Hall Relays 2009

By Polly Keen

The runners met bright and early at the coach stop to be greeted by the news that the infamously unstable cyclist, Chris Bannon, had fallen off his bike the previous night so couldn’t run. Matt Grant shook his head. “Typical!” With Captain Fantastic resigned on running an extra leg for the B team, the epic trip on the X5 to Oxford was endured. The journey was pretty uneventful however notable topics included Tim ranting about anything and everything (Milton Keynes was a particular favourite until he considered the fact that several other passengers were probably from the very place). We arrived in Oxford to glorious warm sunshine; we obviously enlighten the darker place!

The Cambridge men’s A team had high hopes as the reigning champions. Matt Grant got them off to a very solid start covering the approximately 5.4 km course in 18:05 to hand over to James Kelly with the team in 4th. Mr Kelly had a great run (17:42) considering the number of races he has done this term to take Cambridge into the lead. The newly elected club captain in waiting, Robin Brown, then ran 19:14 so that the team was lying in 3rd as Matt Armstrong started the final leg. He had a storming run (17:52) to overtake Birmingham bringing Cambridge home in 2nd place behind Oxford.

Hannah Darcy, an absolute saviour for agreeing to run the day before because the team was short, got the Cambridge Women’s team off to a solid start running 23:19 handing over in 13th place. Naomi Taschimowitz was next to run and flew round the course in 21:23 bringing the team up to 5th. The anchor leg was taken up by Polly Keen who ran 21:35 to secure the girls the bronze medals behind Bristol and Oxford.

Tom Heslop ran the 1st leg for the men’s B team in 20:31. Next up for them was Joe Stevick (19:20) and then Tim Pattison (19:30). Finally James Kelly ran his 2nd leg of the day in 18:15 to bring the B team home in an excellent 6th.

Those of us who didn’t have to imminently rush back for various Cambridgey reasons (supervisions and dinners), then headed over to the post&mdash race tea in Teddy Hall for refreshments and the presentations. Because it was to be his 80th Birthday a few days later, the race was advertised as a celebration for Sir Roger Bannister, and we were lucky enough to have our medals presented by the very man himself. The men’s A team received silver medals (and champagne), the women’s team received bronze medals (and wine) and James Kelly got a medal for the 2nd fastest leg of the day (plus some port, I do believe). Not too bad a haul! We were also treated to lots and lots of champagne to toast to the first man to break the four minute mile barrier becoming an octogenarian. We managed to get a photo with Sir Roger, and he signed Joe’s race number — pretty exciting! I mean, it’s not everyday you meet a Sir, or such a legend in the athletics world! The excitement was slightly marred by the lengthy trip back on the X5, however overall it was a very successful and enjoyable outing for the Cambridge teams.