Manchester Relays 2009 Report

An intrepid band of Oxford athletes headed north for the first of OUCCC’s Michaelmas term races; the Manchester Relays. Chauffeured adequately by ex-Captain Darling, the team arrived in one piece and set about a quick walk over some of Manchester’s finest cross country running countryside. First off for the Dark Blues was Joe Mercer, who produced a fine 11:24 to bring the team home in 11^th place. Andy “I’m legal I promise” Heyes had to be carefully shepherded away from the DUAC women’s team in order to take over the baton, but despite clearly having his mind on other things produced the fastest leg of the day (11.15) to take Oxford up to 5^th. Fortunately, he handed over to the engine room of the team in the form of Aussie Michael Osborne(11:59) and Canadian Adam Lewandowski (11:57) who prevented Oxford getting too carried away with themselves and consolidated the team in 7^th. After new kid on the block Jake Shelley (11.40) had done sterling work for the team on the 5^th leg, dragging it up by 2 places, Tom “safe pair of hands” Samuel took over on the anchor leg. A sizzling 11:43 fended off the pursuing Birmingham runners and secured Oxford an excellent 5^th place for the A-team.

In the women’s event, the Oxford ladies worked their way up form 12^th to an excellent 8^th position,. Captain Natasha Poole (14.14) was ably backed up by Charlotte Bates on the anchor leg (14.29) and Rachel Deegan, who managed to be the only Dark Blue to dip under 14 minutes with a fine 13.50.

In the Men's B team Jamie Darling led the team off with a hard fought (12.04), before handing over to Anupam Das (12.02), who scythed his way through the field to 20^th. An unusually sprightly Dan Titheridge found some magic on leg 3 (12:25) to snaffle a place from Birmingham’s C team, before Captain Chris McGurk (11.49) forwent his pre race relaxation ritual hoist the team back up to 15^th . He handed over to Dave Taylor (12.30) who blooded his recently purchased spikes and consolidated the Bs in 14^th. Finally Joe “swollen lymph glands” Mercer claimed to be the only man in Oxford tough enough to attempt two legs, an impression which was undermined when he rocked up on the start line wearing the same pair of spikes as his girlfriend, and then complained volubly that he had a sore big toe. Despite this handicap he closed the B’s in 12.10 and 13^th place overall. All in all, a good day out for the Dark Blues; notable performances included Andy’s 11.15, Joe’s fine 11.24 and 12.10 and captain Chris’s 11.49 which, although fast, was not quite fast enough.

The results bode well for a strong performance from Oxford’s men’s and women’s teams at Birmingham, and looking further afield, to the Varsity Match.