In windy, wet and very muddy conditions, Oxford took their first double victory in the University Cross-Country Races since 2017 on Saturday 7th December.
In the 48th Ladies’ Race, despite Cambridge having the top two home in Niamh Bridson Hubbard (Magdalene) and Bea Wood (Lucy Cavendish), Oxford packed their eight runners in the next nine places to take victory by 37 points to 47. This was their second win in a row and third in four years and they now lead the series by 28 wins to 20. Given the testing conditions, Bridson Hubbard posted a very impressive winning time of 23:34.
In the 133rd Gentlemen’s Race, Oxford finally ended a four-year Light Blue winning streak and in some style, packing their six scorers in the first six places to win by 21 points to 61. First home was international marathon runner and ex-Olympian Jared Ward (Keble) in 39:07. Just behind him was fellow American Matthew Kearney (Magdalen) and third was South African Nicholas Whittaker (Wolfson) in 39:22. This represented the largest victory in the men’s series since the famous fog race of 1952 and the second largest margin of victory since the eight-a-side, six-to-score format was adopted in 1948. The series score now sits finely poised at 67 wins for Cambridge and 66 for Oxford.
Having won all five of the races for their second to fourth teams last weekend, Saturday’s results completed a perfect 7-0 scoreline for the Dark Blues, a feat that had not been achieved since 1998.
Earlier in the day, Cambridge secured a consolation victory in the 32nd Old Blues’ Race, winning by 110 points to 193 (scoring 12-a-side). Jack Millar (University, Oxford) repeated is 2021 and 2022 victories to take the individual honours in 22:07. Oxford now lead this series by 18 wins to 14.
Given the number of race cancellations across the country and in London yesterday, Thames Hare and Hounds and the universities were delighted to be able to put the races on and we are very grateful for the support from the volunteers who helped pioneer the course, the Wimbledon Common Conservators and groundstaff at the Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields.
Full results can be found here.