Fen DItton Dash 2009
By Declan Murray
Jesus First at Fen Ditton Just like the name ”Cindies“ has stuck despite the passing of time and various attempts at changes, everything always seems to stay pretty much the same in Cambridge. The second round of the Chris Brasher College League, the Fen Ditton Dash, demonstrated just this as the Jesus team once again dominated the Men’s 7.7km race, also taking the Women’s team title over the shorter 5.7km course. With Freshers’ Fun Run winner James Kelly absent, the Hare and Hounds Club Captain, Robin Brown (Jesus), was able to demonstrate that he is in fantastic form by taking victory nearly a minute clear of Homerton’s Matt Clark. The rapidly improving Johns’ fresher, Alex Young, finished in third with Clare’s Tom Heslop close behind in 4th. Declan Murray of Magdalene was crowned as ”King of the Bridge“. This alternative and prestigious title is awarded to the first competitor to reach the top of the first bridge of the course over the railway, roughly 500m from the starting line. However, with Murray having burnt out early on, it was another fresher, Ben Davis, who flew the flag for Magdalene taking a fine 5th place. Another impressive win came in the ladies race from Churchill‘s Amanda Scott who stormed away from the rest of the field finishing in just 21:38. This was again over a minute ahead of Sophie Baillie of Queens’, an exciting newcomer on the Hare &; Hounds scene, who took the runner’s up spot. Blues runner and Girton Captain, Anna Anderson crossed the line next ahead of yet another very promising fresher, Rachel Heard of Fitzwilliam who claimed 4th. As attention now turns from the intra to the inter–University scene, the Hare and Hounds will relax the college rivalries (for now) and turn their attentions to facing their sister club, Thames Hare and Hounds, and the RAF in the coming weeks. All this is in preparation for the biggest rivalry of all; that against the Dark Blue at the end of term.