Saturday January 17th saw the most recent instalment of the college league competition for the Cambridge University Hare and Hounds. With only one more race to go, it seemed clear that the outcome of Coldham’s Common would be instrumental in shaping the individual and team standings come the end of term.
On top of this, the event was also to double-up as a selection race for BUCS cross-country that will take place in Brighton on the final weekend of the month. With only six runners being chosen for the men’s A team, competition for places was guaranteed to be fierce.
There were no team positions at stake in the women’s race, which saw Liz Mooney come away as clear victor in a time of 15:47. In doing so, she also took the individual league title, impressive stuff with the Selwyn Relays still to come. Emma Elston ran well to finish second in a time of 17:56, a fraction ahead of Sarah Needleman in third. With the support of Chloe Beckett in fifth, Homerton took team victory, keen to retain last year’s title.
The men’s race was guaranteed to be a more heated affair, with seven of the eight Blues runners from last term’s Varsity race all taking part. Club Captain Lewis Lloyd was first home, finishing the 5.2 mile course in a time of 27:37, ahead of Kelvin Gomez (27:50) and Phil Crout (28:11) in second and third respectively. Alex Milne and James Chettle ran well to also secure BUCS A team places, and those five will be joined by Varsity match winner Alex Short. Pembroke took the team victory.
Rich Ollington currently leads the men’s overall standings, but he is being closely pursued by Alex Milne who has an excellent chance of taking the title at Selwyn Relays. In the women’s competition, Newnham are tied with Clare but currently ahead on count back, and both these teams are being closely pursued by Trinity, Corpus and Homerton. The men’s competition is also delicately poised, with Robinson ahead of Girton by a mere point, and Trinity a slender two points behind them.