Varsity 2024

Michael Miskin | Sunday, December 1st, 2024

Wimbledon Common – home of the Wombles and, perhaps more importantly for this report, home of the Blues Varsity Cross Country Matches. Taking place on Saturday 7th December, the historic (and somewhat muddy) course even caught the attention of World Athletics, who took to Instagram to say “Now this is cross country” with regards to the impressive river crossing and steep banks.

In the Blues Ladies’ Race, Niamh Bridson Hubbard once again led the runners home, followed by Bea Wood. After the first two Oxford runners crossed the line came Milly Dickinson. The remaining six Oxford runners followed next before the six remaining Cambridge runners of Maia Hardman, Stella Wernicke, Niamh Thompson, Ella Colbourn and Lea Meinecke rounded out the field.

In the Blues Gentlemen’s Race, the first Cambridge runner home was Joe Massingham in 7th, closely followed by Terry Fawden. After one more Oxford runner came Tom Spencer, Ewan Spencer, Max Walk, George Ogden and Thomas Dugré. Behind Oxford’s last runner followed Cameron Deverill.

These results were not what might have been hoped for, but it was still an excellent day of cross country. Notable in her absence from these results was Poppy Craig-McFeely who would be racing in Antalya the following day as part of the U23 Women GB team at the European Cross Country Championships, alongside Cambridge Alumnus Peter Molloy in the U23 Men’s team.

The previous Saturday saw the II-IVs matches taking place at Shotover, Oxford where, similarly, the results did not go our way with Oxford being the winning team for each and every race.

Our only victory of the day came from Louise Shanahan who had an impressive run to take individual gold in the Women’s IIs. Beth Rogers had a stellar run to finish as the second Cambridge scorer, despite only being called up the day before!

In the Men’s IIs, Jamie Edgerton and Dillon Hobbs for finished as our first two scorers and also were selected as reserves for Blues Varsity. Another standout run came from Ed Brewer who excelled on the technical course, finishing closely behind Jamie and Dillon.

For the Men’s IIIs, James Ackland had a strong run to finish as our first scorer, in yet another race where Oxford packed very closely.

Considering that only eighteen men and twelve women turned up to Shotover two years ago for our Mob teams, it would be somewhat unthinkable to have two Mobs each of eighty Cambridge runners taking to the starting line this year. It simply would not have been possible without our committed social running team – it was only in the name of Health & Safety that this record-breaking turnout wasn’t any larger.

Runs of the day came from Colleen McGovern who was the first Cambridge scorer in the Women’s mob, and Maxime Gadioux who was the first Cambridge Man home despite having only completed one training session prior to Varsity.