Old Sedberghians are all warmly invited to participate in the annual Alumni Cross Country Race on Wimbledon Common, London, which this year will be held on Saturday 12th September 2026.
This is a long standing race hosted by Thames Hare & Hounds for old girls and boys of schools with strong cross country running traditions. It started in 1953 and has grown in popularity, now attracting around 300 runners from around 60 schools. The course of 5 miles on Wimbledon Common is a shortened version of the Blues Race course. The OS Running team has participated for a number of years with a growing number of runners.
All ages and running abilities are welcome! Seventy-year-olds compete with eighteen-year-olds – the fastest time is usually close to 25 mins and the back markers closer to 60 minutes.
There are four team competitions within the race:
The Henry VIII Trophy – an open race to be won by the team whose first four finishers have the lowest score, the winner of the race scoring 1 and so on upwards.
The Old Brentwood’s Trophy – Veterans’ 40 race, participants to be aged 40 or over on race day, with three to score.
The Chataway Trophy – the Veterans’ 50 race, participants to be aged 50 or over on race day, with three to score.
The Old Denstonian Trophy – the Veterans’ 60 race, participants to be aged 60 or over on race day, with three to score.
The Norman Berry Cup for the individual winner, who must be one of a team of at least three.
Event Information:
Annual London Alumni Cross Country Race Saturday 12th September 2026 Race Starts at 3.00pm (Please arrive by 2:00pm for registration) Course is 5 miles (Please visit the Thames Hare & Hounds website for more details)
Wimbledon Common is located on the A3 at the Richard Evans Memorial Playing Fields (Roehampton Vale, SW15 3PQ). The meeting venue is the Pavilion/Club House which overlooks the playing fields. There is ample parking located adjacent to the A3 and in front of the Pavilion/Club House.
This will be followed by the usual custom of OS drinks and dinner at the Green Man Pub, Putney Heath.
If you interested in taking part in the Old Sedberghian Running team we would be delighted to hear from you – please contact Benjamin Collins at bpc@sedberghschool.org.
In this article, we explore the wider world of drinks, looking at the huge array on offer, including the vast world of wine, taking a look at specific regions, including lesser-known areas or lesser-known wines from more well-known regions.
One such region that has always intrigued me is Alsace. Known for its blend of traditional and forward-thinking producers, this region’s wines are a perfect match for my love of Riesling, one of my favourite grapes. Alsace lies in the far east of France, on the west bank of the Upper Rhine, bordered by Germany and Switzerland. This unique location has shaped the region’s distinct cultural identity, reflected in everything from its language to its winemaking traditions.
As a region, it’s super historic, with picture-postcard villages straight out of the Middle Ages, half-timber buildings, and ruined castles. It’s heavily influenced by both France and Germany, which is extremely apparent in its cuisine. Think pork, cheese, sauerkraut, Coq au Riesling and Flammekueche (Tarte Flambée). The wines, too, are steeped in history, with influences from both France and Germany, yet they produce some unique wines. Though tradition is ever present, for example, all wines, by law, are bottled in distinctive tall bottles typical of the region, but there are those daring to stand out and try something a little different, which provides a real mix.
White wine varieties are king here, with up to 90% of all wines produced being white. Riesling is considered by growers in the region to be the finest variety, and as a result, it is the most widely planted, with the majority being bone-dry. Gewurztraminer is popular, but I feel it has a bad reputation in the UK, which I feel is solely due to the poor examples commonly available on our supermarket shelves. Find a good example, and you will discover a wine with a rich, intense, and full-bodied character, which exquisitely unravels on the palate, revealing an astonishing array of spices, fruits, and floral notes. Other common grapes are Pinot Gris (which takes on characteristics of both Riesling and Gewurztraminer) and Muscat. These four make up the four noble grapes of Alsace. Other varieties include Pinot Blanc (a substitute for Chardonnay grapes, which are forbidden in anything other than Crémant d’Alsace), Sylvaner (a difficult grape to grow, with low yields but creates some amazing young and fresh wines) and a series of others, which rarely make it onto the label.
Just because red wine production isn’t as popular doesn’t mean that those created aren’t any good. When we think of French Pinot Noir, we think of Burgundy, but in reality, it’s the same red varietal found in the Alsace region. The difference is that Alsace red wines are lighter, fragrant, elegant, yet rustic and not as concentrated as elsewhere in France, with some examples aged in oak, producing fantastic results, but most are best enjoyed young. Domaine Léon-Boesch’s ‘Les Jardins’ is a great example of Alsatian Pinot Noir, light, elegant, slightly perfumed with crunchy red fruits and fine tannins.
Crémant D’Alsace is the local bubbly; the grapes used are strictly controlled and include Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, which can appear alongside Auxerre’s Riesling and limited parcels of Chardonnay. Other wines to note include Alsace rosé, which is exclusively made using Pinot Noir grapes and the local fizz made in the same way as Champagne. Crémant d’Alsace can often produce stunning results, with the bonus of being considerably cheaper than Champagne itself.
Most producers, even the big ones, are family-owned. Here are a few examples.
Bert-Hartweg is one of the historic domaines of the region, dating back to the 16th Century. Florian and Mathilde are the 16th generation at the domaine, and despite their young age (early 30s), they’ve already gained a solid reputation due to their skilled and progressive approach. Inspired by the Japanese farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka, they utilise biodynamic approaches in their wine making, producing fantastic results, including ‘Granit’, which is a fascinating treat.
By contrast, Domaine Lissner comes in at a fairly decent price point but also produces some outstanding wines. A father and son team, fully focused on biodiversity throughout their vineyards. For example, the vines are not ploughed, mown or trimmed. They almost leave surrounding plants to run wild amongst the vines, encouraging the vines themselves to adapt and self-regulate in line with their environment. Their Pinot Blanc is a cracking wine, at a good price, but their Grand Cru Riesling, Muscat and Gewürztraminer are exceptional.
Domaine Bohn, an ancient vineyard dating back to the 12th century, reflects true Alsatian terroir. The Bohn’s have been vignerons in Reichsfeld for over three centuries. Now, an environmentally conscious father and son team produce some amazing wines. The father Bernard has always been experimental, which has been further reinforced by his young son Arthur, who has joined the team and has begun experimenting with sulphur-free, skin contact wines. Their Sylvaner wine ‘L’Indigène’ is stunning and a little off the page.
Finally, Lucas Rieffel has almost reached cult status in the natural wine world. A slightly younger vineyard, still third generation and started before World War Two, but young for Alsace. The family have developed over the years, acquiring new plots and moving to organic status in 2009. Their Crémant is much sought after, and sometimes difficult to find, so I always try to have some stored in the cellar. Their Pinot Noir is very different, almost mind-boggling, with great depth, yet still being light, with pepper and spice and all things nice, in terms of fruit.
Wines featured can be purchased online through www.vinetrail.co.uk or https://newcomerwines.comThe Black Bull
