Stepping off the coach into the cold sunshine decorating Wimbledon Common, the Cambridge Blues Teams’ focus was obvious. The supporters, faces decorated with light blue, were also feeling the intense passion for the day’s races. It was Saturday 5th December 2009; Blues Cross-Country Varsity match day.
The supporters’ race saw several strong performances from the Cambridge runners, however as many had competed in the IInds-IVths races the week previously, they couldn’t score. Oxford secured a victory in the Old Blues’ Race with last year’s captain, Ian Kimpton, leading them home to a 98-165 scoreline however the focus of the day was still to come…
The 34th ladies’ race began with Cambridge having very realistic hopes of registering their first win since 2006. In the early stages, it looked as if these hopes would be fulfilled with Amanda Scott and Naomi Taschimowitz taking the lead, splashing through the stream, with the main body of the Light Blue team packed in the middle order.
However, as the course flattened out towards the half-way point, it was the Dark Blues who started to emerge ominously with Michelle Sikes, last year’s winner, moving into second and solid support forming behind her. The Oxford girls picked off the Cambridge runners and crucially relegated our fourth scorer to 10th. With Oxford holding a narrow advantage as the runners hit the heavy mud of the butts, the result was still in doubt. However, the Dark Blues’ strong team work meant that they were able to hold their positions and unfortunately secure a 17 points to 21 victory. Light Blue pride was still emanating thanks to Cambridge’s Taschimowitz’s stunning individual victory and Scott’s 3rd place.
Buoyed by their ladies’ performance, the youthful, but talented, Oxford gentlemen’s team produced an outstanding performance to take the honours in the 119th race of their series.
From the off, it was last year’s first two, Richard Franzese and David Bruce, once again making the running over the wet 7½ mile course, accompanied by team-mate, Andrew Heyes, and experienced Light Blue, James Kelly. Behind them, and emulating their ladies’ team, Oxford were backed-up by a good supporting pack.
By just after half-way, Oxford were looking extremely strong and it appeared that only misfortune could deny them. However, it was to be their day and with Andrew Heyes pulling away from Kelly in the closing stages, they were able to secure a 1-2-3 and a 28 points to 52 victory. The individual honours were taken by David Bruce in a very fine time of 38:02. In fact, all the times posted in the men’s race were very impressive; Cambridge just weren’t quite fast enough this year…
Ladies
1. N.Taschimowitz Cambridge 23:22
2. M.Sikes Oxford 24:03
3. A.Scott Cambridge 24:29
4. H.J.Munn Oxford 24:44
5. N.R.Lopez Oxford 24:55
6. F.I.MacInnes Oxford 24:59
7. M.Rocke Cambridge 25:08
8. C.R.Kane Oxford 25:30
9. B.J.Gardner Oxford 25:35
10. R.Heard Cambridge 25:41
11. A.M.Anderson Cambridge 25:47
12. L.K.Barklie Cambridge 25:59
Oxford win by 17 points to 21
Gentlemen
1. D.J.Bruce Oxford 38:02
2. R.C.Franzese Oxford 38:09
3. A.R.Heyes Oxford 38:25
4. J.M.Kelly Cambridge 38:36
5. L.A.Caldwell Oxford 39:27
6. A.F.R.McGowan Cambridge 39:30
7. J.Shelley Oxford 39:36
8. R.B.Brown* Cambridge 39:50
9. S.M.Lindner Cambridge 39:54
10. J.M.Mercer Oxford 39:56
11. C.G.McGurk* Oxford 40:08
12. C.A.M.Bannon Cambridge 40:11
13. M.A.A.Grant Cambridge 40:39
14. M.E.Johnson Oxford 40:43
15. W.J.Mackay Cambridge 40:48
16. M.J.R.Clark Cambridge 45:57
Oxford win by 28 points to 52