CATHEDRAL RELAYS

  With just 6 days of the new term having passed, the boys and girls at DUAXC were back in action on Sunday in the DCH Cathedral Relays. The race has gained much prestige over the years, with Nick McCormick, Ricky Stevenson, Alyson Dixon and Stacey Smith among GB athletes who have participated in the race. With the ground muddy and the winds blustery, it would be a challenge for all athletes involved.

Girls Race

Durham University A – 2^nd

Holly Page – 11.26

Ellie Wilson – 11.47

Briony Bendle – 11.37

A quite fantastic performance from the girls gained them the best position Durham Uni has ever obtained since 2004 – and there were four times as many teams this year! Holly Page took first leg duties and came home 5^th. She handed over to Ellie, who gained two places to bring the team behind the two Morpeth teams, before Briony brought the team home and gained another place in the process.

Durham University B – 12^th

Alice Lilley – 13.25

Bria Dickinson – 12.52

Alex Slotwinski – 13.20

Alice put in a good 1^st leg – never easy when the start of the race is manic – and finished in 23^rd place. Bria then took over and proceeded to pass an astonishing (and probably astonished) 9 runners to bring the team up to 14^th! Alex had final leg duties, and passed two more teams to bring the team home in a very creditable 12th.

Durham University C – 4th

Rebecca Farrell – 12.31

Yvonne Farrell – 12.45

Holly Page – 11.44

Rebecca did very well in the fast and manic 1^st leg rush. She was able to come home in 13^th place. Yvonne took over from her namesake and ran brilliantly to gain another three places to push the team nearer to the top 10. The fact she ran the same time as last year in the wind showed the improvement. Holly ran her second leg of the day and gained yet more places.

Men’s Race

Durham University A – 5th

Alex Robinson – 9.11

Rob Torch – 10.11

Jack Hillier – 9.53

  A very commendable performance from the men’s A-team put them in the top 5 teams. Alex Robinson did very well to hang on to the leading group, and unsurprisingly put in the fastest leg by any Durham Uni runner to put the team in 5^th. Rob was able to maintain the strong position of the team, losing just one place. Jack took glory leg duties and showed that he was free of all injuries, regaining 5^th place and putting in a sub-10 minute leg.

Durham University B – 12^th

Ed Hickman-Casey – 10.00

Rory Johnson – 9.54

Robin Linten – 10.32

  Ed continued his brilliant season as he went 10 seconds faster than last year despite the horrible conditions to come home in 20^th place. ‘El Capitan’ Rory took over, and while clearly channelling the spirit of Mo Farah, gained 10 places to bring the team up to 10^th. And to think that wasn’t even the most places gained by a Durham Uni runner! Robin brought the team home in 12^th with a good last leg.

Durham University C – 23^rd

Nick Thomas – 10.53

Chris Lowe – 10.37

Alistair Galt – 11.30

  Nick started for the C-team, coming home in 34^th place – a good run given how fast the 1^st leg was. Chris took over and proceeded to trump Rory’s achievement by passing 11 teams to come home in 23^rd! Alistair then ran a very decent leg to maintain that place all the way through to the finish.

Durham University D – 28^th

Josh Platt – 11.04

Nick Butler – 11.44

Oliver Cook – 11.28

   Josh made a case for performance of the day with an excellent leg, handing over in 35^th position. Nick took over and ran half a minute quicker than last year to gain 4 places – another good performance, and one he will cherish given his disappointment with last years run. I / Ollie / The Old Git had last leg duties – and despite still not shaking off a nagging cold, was able to gain three more places, though the time was not as quick as previous years.

And at this point, I should also mention three performances by Durham Uni students who ran for the Durham City Harriers. Dan Jenkin and Martin Proctor ran 9.36 and 9.34 respectively to take the mens  A-team to 4^th place – just 30 seconds behind a podium finish. Kat O’Mahoney also ran for the Harriers, running a solid leg in 12.55 as the DCH women’s team finished 8^th.    

Overall, a very successful day’s work from everyone – well done to you all. This definitely bodes well for BUCS, where I reckon we can turn in our best performance for many years.  As for the Runner of the Day award (in true Oscar style), the nominees include Alex, Rory, Yvonne, Bria and Josh. But the award goes to Holly Page, for taking on the responsibility of two legs and doing brilliantly both times.

This report ends here, otherwise it will turn into a full thesis – and not one I can submit!