On Saturday 6th December, Thames will once again host the University Cross-Country Races with this year’s contests celebrating the 50th ann
iversary of women’s cross-country at Oxford and Cambridge.
There are contrasting prospects for the two student races. Last year’s ladies’ race marked the passing of a generation of Oxbridge runners and with none of last year’s top seven competing, it is difficult to identify a clear favourite for the team honours. This is underlined by the fact that the 16 runners who will toe the start line collectively only have six previous race appearances between them. Rebecca Flaherty’s (St. Catherine’s) European selection is undoubtedly a significant blow for the Dark Blues as, having finished third on debut last year, she looked to be the most likely race winner. However, their team still has a very solid look about it, with less than a minute separating the seven who ran in the Chiltern League race in November. Added to this, fresher Ella Davey (Pembroke) – who missed that race – should bolster the front of their team.
The Light Blues appear to have a stronger top end, particularly in the shape of Aimi Weightman (Murray Edwards), Beth Rogers Beth Rogers (Jesus), Ana Sophia Rashid-Cocker (St. John’s) and Eva Dey Johnson (Trinity Hall). It is also probably fair to say that they are not as strong in depth as their rivals. Ultimately, the team outcome may come down to how well Oxford can pack the upper middle order of the race. If Hanna Andrejczuk (Lincoln), last year’s captain Anika Schwarze-Chintapatla (Trinity) and Beth Rawlinson (St. Hugh’s) can fill those places, it could turn the tide their way. Cambridge enter the race as marginal favourites; however, the outcome is very far from clear and it should provide for an enthralling contest to mark the event’s 50th anniversary.
In the 134th gentlemen’s race, despite losing the first three home from their exceptionally strong 2024 team, the Dark Blues should enter the race in quietly confident mood, buoyed by the Tortoises’ comprehensive victory over the Spartans last weekend. They are also the more experienced team, with two of them running for the fifth time and a total number of appearances between them of 14, compared to the Light Blues’ eight. Tom Wood (St. Anne’s), Chris Parker (Corpus Christi) and Alex Gruen (Keble) should form a very strong spearhead, with plenty of support coming down the order from the likes of Jack Johnson (Corpus Christi), Thomas Renshaw (St. Hugh’s) and Alex Bampton (Green Templeton).
Cambridge will also be fielding a very competitive team and Ewan Spencer (Trinity Hall) and Terry Fawden (Wolfson) in particular should be heavily involved at the front of the race. They also have runners, most notably in Cameron Deverill (St. Catharine’s) and promising undergraduate fresher Owen Wallek (Sidney Sussex), who should be able to provide them with valuable support. However, on paper, their eight perhaps does not have quite the same depth as the Dark Blues and this, combined with Oxford’s top-end strength, may prove to be sufficient for them to level the overall series.
Further details on the 2025 races can be found here. Details on the history of the races can be found here.
As ever, the two student races will be preceded by the Old Blues Race, which will run over the ladies’ 4-mile course at 12.30 p.m. The race is open to any former members of the OUCCC and CUH&H. Entries can be made here (and will close on Friday 5th December at 9.00 a.m). PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO ENTRIES ON THE DAY.