Hyde Park Relays 2012!

Race in progress

A glorious, sunny Hyde Park played host to the 64th Hyde Park Relays organised by Imperial College Cross Country Club. The format was as ever teams of six running 5km with Ladies' teams of four runners running 3km; both courses looping round the Serpentine before heading back to the changeover points near the bandstand.

The race was contested by around 140 teams, with foreign runners from all over Europe including Poland, Holland and Italy along with university teams from across the UK and a large majority of runners from our very own Imperial College.

The race was dominated by "Cambridge University Hare and Hounds" taking victories in both the mens/mixed and ladies' races. A competitive men's race saw Cambridge overtake the UEA team in the final leg, winning in a time of 1hr 38m 52s. The Imperial College Men's 1st team finished an agonising fourth. The Cambridge Ladies' team put in a dominant performance to beat St Mary's and Zeus Dames from the Netherlands into second and third with a time of 52m 59s. The fastest runner was Glenn Watts completing the 5km loop in a rapid 15m35s while the fastest lady was Polly Keen in 11m55s.

In the internal competition, the 'West Kensington Estate' team beat team 'CivEng', while the Ladies' internal race was won by 'Parson's Cheeky Cheetahs'. Internally, the faster man was Sam O'Neill, bolting round for 'We Like Mangoes' in a time of 17m52s and the fastest internal female in the Ladies' race was Katie Wright in 14m22s.

After the race, everyone was invited back to the SCR to rehydrate and enjoy some hot food. The day was wrapped up with the awards presentation in the union followed by the after-party.

Thank-you to this year's organisers: Alan Murrell and Vicki Solly for organising a successful race. I hope everyone who took part enjoyed themselves. Overall, a fantastic day of sport which I recommend you not to miss next year!

Top 5 Results

Men:

Cambridge University Hare and Hounds - 1h38m52s

UEA Trojans 1st team - 1:40:12

University of Bristol MEN - 1:44:11

Imperial XC 1 mens - 1:44:57

Politcenico Milano - 1:48:20

Ladies:

Cambridge University Hare and Hounds - 52h59s

St Marys - 53:42

Zeus Dames - 53:52

University of Bristol - 55:24

Oxford University 1 - 55:29

Full results can be found here