Varsity Match blues

Despite months of careful planning for the Varsity Match, Phil Marsland was unable to account for the Cambridge minibus being stranded on the M11 for five hours. As a consequence, only JOK and DRONGO had the chance to test the Leith Hill individual courses on Saturday. Times were fast with DRONGO Daryl High taking 68 minutes for the men’s course and guest Abi Weeds taking 53 on the women’s. However, both having made significant mistakes the times could still get shorter.

Despite the light blue runners taking first and third in the men’s race, with four men and two women to count the JOK/DRONGO trophy was safely in dark blue hands. Meanwhile, OUOC enjoyed running some of the relay courses which sadly wouldn’t get the used the following day.

Cambridge did arrive at Holmbury St Mary Youth Hostel in plenty of time for the main event of the day – the boat race. JOK started well but faltered in the middle ranks allowing OUOC to catch them. The last men couldn’t settle the race and it was declared a draw. OUOC were awarded the trophy on a technical point (something to do with Luke’s T-shirt getting a little damp when he inverted his glass!).

Tim Smith then led the partying until the power cut out dead on midnight so that the hostel manager could get a good night’s sleep.

An early start the next morning saw snow falling as the first runners went out. On the men’s A, Alan Elder stormed round in 62:01, five minutes ahead of Oxford’s Joe Mercer. For the remaining counters it was a close call but the final results showed Cambridge with a seven minute lead.

Oxford’s Helen Gardner also beat the alumni’s times taking just 50:07. Unfortunately this eight minute lead wasn’t enough to secure victory for OUOC. Cambridge took the next three places giving them a lead of just under four minutes.

All that remained was for everyone to thank Phil for all of his hard work. Let’s hope he isn’t still in the car park trying to fit all of the control stakes in to his two seater sports car!

Full results.