HARE &; HOUNDS CONTINUE TO FLY
Polly Keen and Declan Murray
Saturday saw the Cambridge University Hare and Hounds take on the RAF and the Eastern Counties Athletics Association in the annual triangular cross country match held this year at RAF Halton, Buckinghamshire.
Naomi Taschimowitz (Trinity) destroyed the rest of field in the Women’s race over the three mile course taking victory by a clear minute. She was well backed up by Mairead Rocke (Churchill) in 4th and Polly Keen (Murray Edwards) in 5th taking the Cambridge girls to an impressive team victory over the Eastern Counties. Other strong light blue performances were seen from Rachel Heard (6th), Women’s Captain Emma Figures (8th) and Christie Noble (9th). The strength of Cambridge’s women this year was shown by the fact that their B team, with 3 scoring for each team, finished in 3rd place overall.
In the Men’s five mile race, Cambridge’s top performer came in the form of Matt Grant (Queens’) who unfortunately finished second to the familiar face of former Oxford Captain, Ian Kimpton, this time representing the Eastern Counties. Will Mackay (Robinson), who came 5th, was the only other Cambridge runner to break into the top 10 against a strong Eastern Counties team. In face of such opposition, the men weren’t quite able to emulate the result of their female counterparts finishing in 2nd to the Eastern Counties but well ahead of the 3rd place RAF team.
Considering several of the club’s strongest runners had chosen to rest this weekend in preparation for Cuppers on the 21st November the day’s results are still encouraging given there’s less than three weeks left until the big one!
[Anyone can compete in the Men’s IVths or Women’s IIIrds teams in the Varsity Match regardless of ability or experience. If you are interested, email Club Captain Robin Brown (rbb29)]