University of Cambridge Sport

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Cambridge University Hare and Hounds
(Cross Country)
www.srcf.ucam.org/cuhh
President: Dr Mike Turner (retired at the end of the season after forty years as President)
Captain: Simon Rutherford, Girton
Ladies Captain: Catherine Wood, Queens’
Secretary: Matt Simms, Robinson
The Hare and Hounds is the University’s Running Club. Dating back to pre-1870, CUH&H is one of the oldest running clubs in
the world. It is also one of only 12 full-Blue sports clubs in the University and yet in no way is it elitist: it gives all of its members
the opportunity to compete for the University throughout the year. From committed, serious athletes to beginners and funrunners,
everyone is welcome and a valued member of the team.
Though primarily a cross-country running club (especially in the winter months), we cater for all aspects of running. In the
spring and summer, many of our athletes focus on the track and compete for Cambridge University Athletics Club (CUAC), in
middle and long distance track events. Our members also take part in many other disciplines such as road running (including
the London Marathon), fell running, orienteering, and triathlon.
Club Report
Running in Cambridge continued to prosper in 2005/06. The club-organised College League races, including the highly
successful Fresher’s Fun Run, once again attracted large numbers of competitors and the University also enjoyed some good
performances in national level competitions.
At the end of the season, Dr. Mike Turner, a former international athlete, stepped down as President after forty years in the
position. The new Club President, Joan Lasenby, is the first female to hold the position in the club’s one hundred and twenty
five year history. She is joined in this respect by this year’s Club Captain, Claire Day.
2005 – 06 was the first season in which the College Cross Country league, under the new name of the Chris Brasher College
League, received support from the Cambridge based branch of The Sweatshop. This partnership was very successful, with an
increased race attendance of almost fifty percent over the previous year. Particularly encouraging was the rise in numbers in the
women’s races. The College Cross Country league is now one of the most successful winter series of intercollegiate
competitions.
The 2005 – 06 season also saw the continuation of the “EZ Runner” scheme, which aims to introduce endurance running to
novices through short steady runs and beginners track sessions. In order to implement this scheme a new committee position
was created, the elected member’s role being to attend “EZ “runs and provide encouragement to those new to the sport.
In March 2006, the Cambridge Boundary Run, a race of near marathon length and open to members of the public, was revived.
The Sweatshop again provided much-valued assistance, helping with the organisation and logistics. The event was very
successful with almost forty runners completing the full distance. The Club plans to stage the race again in 2007 under the
billing of worthwhile preparation in the build-up to the London Marathon in April.
Blues awarded 2005 – 06
Paolo Natali, Christ’s
Will George, Jesus
Matt Armstrong, Trinity Hall
Ben Hope, St. John’s
Pat Ward, Churchill
Tricia Peters, Darwin
Varsity Match
3 December, 2005 Wimbledon Common
Half Blues awarded 2005 – 06
Owain Bristow, Churchill
Andy Bell, Queens’
Richard Ward, Pembroke
Charlotte Forbes, Girton
Claire Day, Queens’
Catharine Wood, Queens’
Kyla Bowen-la Grange, Pembroke
Sarah Kummerfeld, Trinity
The course (4 miles women, 7.5 miles men) is surprisingly challenging, incorporating several climbs, a water ‘jump’ (more
accurately a swim) and the infamous ‘butts’, which combine muddy trails with swift, stomach-churning variations in slope.
Facing these obstacles, runners tempted into overly fast starts over the initial fields soon regret their aggression.