Michaelmas 2002

The captain speaks

Ok. I'll spare you the crap. It time for us to get down to some serious hardcore running. Cuppers has been run, the teams for the Varsity Matches have been picked, its now time for the Light Blue Machine to oil itself up, pull out all the stops, and get ready for some awesome performances over the next few weeks.

We clearly have the potential to annihilate the ?dark side' in all of our Varsity races. The training has been done; all that now remains is the mental preparation. This is simple. We cannot lose. We will not lose. Cambridge University Hare and Hounds WILL be the winning team. Period.

If you have been selected for any of the races, it is now down to YOU to perform on the day. Every place in every race counts. Do not let the club down.

If you have not been selected or are injured, feel free to come along and support at either the 2nds-5ths races (Sat. 30th November at Wandlebury) or the Blues matches (Sat. 7th December on Wimbledon Common).

Once the Varsity Matches have been won, the Christmas holidays will be upon us. However, this does not mean that the running will stop. After turkey has been eaten and beer (copious amounts) has been drunk, the CUH&H training camp will take place in the Lake District, between Tuesday 7th January to Saturday 11th January 2003. I will contact the list shortly to ask about numbers. A mini-bus bus will be leaving Cambridge on the Tuesday, or you can make your own way there.

I look forward to seeing you all giving it 110% at Wandlebury on Saturday.

Believe the hype???

Jim

The ladies captain speaks

Hi girls

OK, now it's here!! The time has finally come to put all our inspirational or simply gruelling training (for most of you apart from the Blues runners who have another weeks hard core training) behind us and focus on one goal. Simply VICTORY.

Well done to everyone who ran cuppers. What began as a cold, wet, miserable arrival turned into a great race as everyone flew round Wandlebury. You all put loads of effort in and it showed. Everyone can be proud of the way they ran. This sets us all up really well for the next two weeks and the historic clashes against Oxford in the Varsity Matches. Whether its 2nds to 5ths or the Blues match the day itself will be like no other. The 2nds and 3rds have a major advantage that the course was exactly the same as you ran today. But this does not take anything away from the danger Oxford bring. Therefore be prepared to race your heart out, to feel like you simply can't go on as your lungs burst and legs scream out, but also know that there is no way you're going to stop and no way that Oxford runner will ever get passed you. Believe in yourself and support your team mates. We can all work together to bring victory that little bit closer and encouraging each other can make such a difference. Therefore try to get to the team socials if you can and even if your not running your support, whether at 2nds to 5ths or the Blues match would be invaluable.

We did not actually win any of the ladies matches last year and this has made me even more determined to right that wrong. It was close but Oxford proved that little bit stronger. So far there have been some good practice races against the RAF and Thames Valley. This coupled with the hard core Jesus Green sessions, where we ended up soaked but thoroughly motivated, should make us determined to see our potential fulfilled. We've trained together and raced together, now let's win together.

Luv Karen

CUH&H v. RAF v. Eastern Counties

Cambridge University Hare and Hounds, the cross-country running club, took on the best of the RAF and the Eastern Counties Athletic Association last weekend on Magog Down outside Cambridge. This season had started very successfully with easy wins for both the men's and ladies' team in the Chariots of Fire Relays, held in Cambridge during September, while in the first inter-university race of the season, the Manchester Relays, the team fought well in the face of injury and absence to finish a very creditable 6th. The RAF and EAA always provide tough opposition, but although last year the Hare and Hounds achieved individual and team victories, the team was still not up to full strength. Despite this however, Cambridge achieved 2nd place for both teams, and individual victory in the ladies' race.

Driving wind and rain added to the trial of an undulating course on one of the region's rare hills, but this early in the season the ground underfoot had not yet deteriorated into the deep mud which becomes a dominating feature of the winter races. The Cambridge men were led in by an excellent run from Ben Hope (St John's), who has improved rapidly this year, to finish in second place, just behind a runner from the Eastern Counties. He was followed by fresher John Friedman (Jesus) in 4th, and the Club Captain, James Mason (Selwyn) in 8th. Rowan Hooper (St Edmunds) and Henry Brown completed the team, to put Cambridge into 2nd place.

For the ladies meanwhile, Emily Ferenzci (New Hall) had a magnificent run, winning by over half a minute, and was followed soon after by Rachel Horn (Magdalene) in 3rd and Emma Pooley (Trinity Hall) in 7th. Although this gave Cambridge a joint victory with the RAF, a technicality in the scoring system pushed the university into second place. However, the Cambridge ?B' team beat the Eastern Counties ?A' team, demonstrating the strength in depth which the club possesses, and which will be all important in the approaching Varsity matches, with the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th team races on home ground in only 3 weeks time. From the evidence of this match, a full strength Cambridge team offers a definite hope for revenge against the Dark Blues, after last year's defeat in all but one Varsity race.

Phil Scard

The Social Scene

The social year got off to a good and pretty alcoholic start with Peterhouse hall, it was great to see so many freshers turn out. However, after seeing the performances in the bar afterwards I sincerely hope that some of you have been putting in some pint downing training for 2nd-5ths! Next we come to the pub crawl. Full marks for costume effort to those of you who turned up, especially THAT wand! And shame on the rest of you, I mean I thought you guys were supposed to enjoy going out for a drink or two. Firework night was more successful, with Ben once again demonstrating that it is somehow possible for him to be better in the kitchen than out on the cross-country courses! Next day was Caius hall for the girlies and the uni footie lads. I must admit to being quite impressed by the food......considering it was Caius anyway [told you so! Ed.]. Unfortunately I was unable to stay for the trip to Life afterwards, but Captain Karen has given positive reports. I was also absent from Girton hall due to prior commitments at the Toploader gig, but again I heard interesting rumours! Although details remain somewhat hazy I think that if I mention Jim, Chris, a wheelie bin and a phone-box your imaginations will be able to do the rest.

So all in all quite good on the social front so far. However, apart from Captain Jim and his daughter [!!! There are a lot of unanswered questions there? Ed.] there has not been too much scandalous sharking so far ? I am most disappointed. Still, there is always the 2nds-5ths party to get some action happening, though I wouldn't recommend anyone repeating my GROSSLY EXAGGERATED exploits of last year! ;-)

Finally, GOOD LUCK to everyone in varsity - keep the hard work going so you can party even harder afterwards!

Claire Willer

The Mob Match

Uncle Bulgaria was, it transpires, quite an athlete in his day. Not many of those who delighted in his daytime activities (all-day litter collection being the very embodiment of childhood utopia) realised that early each morning, before the camera crew arrived, the old man would head out for a swift lap of Wimbledon Common.

So dedicated was he to his training than many locals were inspired to take up the sport themselves, and a small group would congregate every morning on the edge of the common to run together. The men would follow UB around his long course, a 7.5 mile figure-of-eight, whilst the ladies usually chose to blast round a shorter route of about 4 miles. And thus was the Thames Hare and Hounds running club formed (or so a nice older boy told me on the coach).

Anyway, on Saturday 9th November the CUHH coach rolled into London, whilst the northerners within started to get competitive over who'd been to our beautiful capital the fewest times before. On arrival we found our way up to the clubhouse. The oldest running club in the world is forced to reside in a few poky rooms on the second floor of a football pavilion. Perhaps this indicates that we've all chosen the wrong sport if we want prestige and glamour. Only John Friedman, though, could truly be considered the 'David Beckham' of the team ("I was hoping to run to the halfway point of the course and back as a warm-up"), whilst Darren would doubtless rather be considered the 'Sean Goater'.

After a group warm-up and a few strides, the Thames team suddenly materialised (perhaps emerging from the underground tunnel network of the common?) and congregated at the start line. The boys' and girls' races were run at the same time, so from the gun the greater proportion of the men watched Ellen disappear steadily over the horizon. However, the horizon was certainly never far away, because both courses contained a splendidly vicious mix of short, steep rises, overhanging brambles, tree roots and streams to jump over. Honed over nearly 150 years, it's certainly a great place to race. And, of course, a great place for CUHH to soundly trounce Thames for the second year running. Ben Hope continued his recent run of good form with a strong second place, and Cambridge men packed out the top ten with John Friedman, Jim Mason, Rowan Hooper and Francis Malone-lee placing 4, 5, 6 & 7 respectively. Henry Brown, arriving at the start a good 5 minutes after the gun, deserves credit for catching some of Thames best (sprightly old gits) and finishing 25th.

The ladies race was slightly marred by the absence of a Thames team, but Ellen's victory was impressive nonetheless. Strong performances by Captain Ellison, Emma Pooley, Leah Walland, Satomi Miwa and Nicki McDougal cemented a certain victory over any imaginary Thames (or indeed Oxford) team that might have been there!

So with the drunkenness of victory, plenty of sugary tea and cake and the knowledge that City had beaten United that very afternoon inside them, the Cambridge team returned satisfied with a good day out. One can only assume that the Thames team returned sulkily to their litter collecting. That common was incredibly clean.

Tom Offord

College Cuppers

After the initial promise of a day of , British cross-country weather, the threatening rain abated to leave a glorious, sunny afternoon, perfect for the intercollegiate battle that is Cuppers, and the race which determines this weekend's Varsity match teams. It took place at Wandlebury, Cambridge's nearest hill (being a relative term), and a surprisingly long journey away when travelling in a septuagenarian London bus. In the men's race Peterhouse had the title to defend, and Catz as always brought half the college along, but Jesus and Caius had dominated the earlier league races, and were looking strong again. Girton meanwhile were defending the ladies title, but currently lay only third in the league.

A large ladies race [...] set off first, and some might say the final result was never in doubt. Half-way round the first lap Ellen Leggate had already created a commanding lead, and maintained it to win by over half a minute. Julia Bleasedale ran excellently to finish in second, despite having suffered from injury for most of the term. In the team results, it was the ladies colleges that dominated, with New Hall beating Newnham, and Girton pushed into third.

There were over 50 entrants in the men's race, and some stiff competition at the front to determine the final blues places. Andy Baddeley had declared his intention not to lead at the start, but after two-thirds of a lap decided enough was enough and pulled away to create a 200m lead, also going onto win by half a minute. Captain Jim was hot on his heals in 3rd, followed by a fantastic run from Daz, lately recovered from an injury.

With Frankie Malone-Lee and John Friedman both in the top ten (and crossing the line together!), Jesus didn't give any other colleges a chance. Caius were not far behind, just beating Catz into 2nd place, while Peterhouse dropped all the way to 5th. With two more races in the league to go, Jesus and Catz are battling it out for the title, with Caius clear ahead in the second division.