2023 ALUMNI WIMBLEDON RACE REVIEW
The Alumni cross country race took place again in September with a good field of around 200 entrants. The weather was however not typical cross country, with very warm temperatures, dry and dusty trails across the Common. ‘The dust, the heat, the glare’ perhaps not what Sedberghians are used to! The Sedbergh squad had 8 entrants on the start line, Charles Sykes, Richard Wells, Peter Lehmann, Henry Bolton, Robert Buchanan, Ben Collins, Benedict Nowak and Geoff Watson. The team rules now allow for a current member of staff to compete in a team and Richard’s inclusion was a great asset to the teams.
Charles Sykes led the Sedbergh team home in 7th place overall in a time 29:39 with Richard 14th (31:05). Peter Lehmann 21st (32:08) and Henry Bolton 37th (33:25) were 3rd and 4th counters for the open race (King Henry VIII Trophy). Robert Buchanan was close behind in 40th (33:37). The team sealed an initial 3rd equal place with Bishop’s Capetown, but on revision were later elevated to 2nd by 1 point! Interestingly in the last 28 years since a team 2nd in 1995 we have been first or second team 17 times. A consistent team!
Further to the 2nd place in the main event, the team counters brought a fair haul of silverware back in veteran 40 / 50 and age graded categories.
In the V40 category Charles Sykes came home first V40 with Richard Wells in 3rd. Richard also claimed 1st V50. These great performances coupled with Henry Bolton as 3rd V40 team counter sealed a team win in the Brentwood trophy. Again in the age graded team Shrewsbury trophy the top place veterans shone through. Charles and Richard’s category wins plus Henry Bolton and Peter Lehman’s good age grade efforts sealed a win on that trophy. Charles took 1st place individually in the age graded event winning the Wyndham Halswelle with Richard in 2nd.
It was a very successful day at Wimbledon with a string of trophies for the team. Many thanks to all who made the effort to come and run and support the team.
Thanks also to Bill Sykes for taking photos of the team and the race. Next OS team event will be the Morgan Run in January 2024.
Geoff Watson (E 89-94)
| TH&H 71st ALUMNI RACE – 2023 | |||
| TEAMS | |||
| OPEN | The Henry VIII Trophy | Points | |
| First | Shrewsbury | 56 | |
| Second | Sedbergh | 78 | |
| Third | Bishops Capetown | 79 | |
| Ladies | Old Johnian Cup | Points | |
| First | St John’s | 61 | |
| Second | Shrewsbury | 49 | |
| Third | Wellington | 51 | |
| At least three to finish | |||
| Age-graded | Shrewsbury Cup | Points | |
| First | Sedbergh | 7381 | |
| Second | Shrewsbury | 7136 | |
| Third | Winchester | 7050 | |
| V40 | The Old Brentwood Trophy | Points | |
| First | Sedbergh | 12 | |
| Second | Rochester Maths | 27 | |
| Third | Wellington | 44 | |
| V50 | The Chataway Trophy | Points | |
| First | Eton | 25 | |
| Second | Bradfield | 48 | |
| Third | Epsom College | 60 | |
| V60 | Old Denstonian Cup | Points | |
| First | Sherborne | 29 | |
| Second | Winchester | 34 | |
| Third | Epsom College | 34 | |
| V65 | Jane Bubear Cup | Points | |
| First | Kent College | 7 | |
| Second | Eton | 11 | |
| Third | Warwick | 12 | |
| INDIVIDUALS | |||
| Open | Norman Berry Cup | Team | Time |
| First | Edward Chuck | Kings Canterbury | 26.57 |
| Second | Ed Mallett | Shrewsbury | 27.27 |
| Third | Tom Hole | Sherborne | 27.39 |
| Ladies | Old Coventrian Cup | Team | Time |
| First | Deirdre McDermott | Wellington | 33.33 |
| Second | Gina Galbraith | Roedean | 34.35 |
| Third | Sophie Kirk | King Henry VIII | 34.59 |
| Age Graded | Wyndham Halswelle Cup | Team | Points |
| First | Charles Sykes | Sedbergh | 7983 |
| Second | Richard Wells | Sedbergh | 7933 |
| Third | Ed Mallett | Shrewsbury | 7764 |
| V40 | Name | Team | Time |
| First | Charles Sykes | Sedbergh | 29.39 |
| Second | Jonathan Potts | Oundle | 30.53 |
| Third | Richard Wells | Sedbergh | 31.06 |
| V50 | Name | Team | Time |
| First | Richard Wells | Sedbergh | 31.06 |
| Second | Barnaby Gray | Milton Abbey | 33.14 |
| Third | Stefan Massingham | Rochester Maths | 33.58 |
| V60 | Name | Team | Time |
| First | John Shaw | Winchester | 34.53 |
| Second | Chris Finill | Harrow County | 34.54 |
| Third | John Bennet | Epsom College | 39.07 |
| V65 | Name | Team | Time |
| First | Peter Kennedy | Kent College | 41.15 |
| Second | Shane MacKean | Eton | 42.53 |
| Third | Martin Garrett | Warwick | 47.52 |
| V70 | Name | Team | Time |
| First | Peter Kennedy | Kent College | 41.15 |
| Second | Paul Newby | Epsom College | 48.39 |
| Third | David Jenkins | Winchester | 51.56 |
