King Henry VIII Relays see "most impressive Hunt Run ever seen"

In many ways the highlight of the Hunt season, the 51^st running of the King Henry VIII relays in Coventry’s Memorial Park saw a full-strength RSSH squad hopeful of improving on last year’s impressive showing.

It was great to field full A and B squads in both the boys’ 6 stage relay and the girls’ 4 stage.

The boys’ race begins 5 minutes before the girls’ at Coventry, and Kristian T (I,UVI) (A) and Hamish G (PH, LVI) (B) were looking to get their respective teams off to a flying start. Kris sensibly held back a little over the first half of the loop, before gearing up in the latter stages to hand over just a little back from the leaders, after 11m27s fast running. Hamish’s 12m29s was a time that would have been good enough for nearly all attending schools’ A teams. Whilst Brad K (R, LVI) (A) and Massimo W (PH, LVI) (B) were charging around their second leg runs, the girls’ race was already underway, with Iris D (G, UVI) (A) and Ellie L-L (MSH, LVI) (B) competing magnificently. Iris was only narrowly beaten into second place after leg 1, demonstrating her superb form only a few days out from her overseas indoor 800m in Boston; Ellie ran excellently too, showing typical resolve and endurance before passing the baton to Kitty F (MSH, IV).

With two races underway, and two RSSH teams within each, the leg handovers started to come thick and fast. The distinctive Hunt vest was never far away from sight, and, as the races progressed through the legs, the volume of support and sense of urgency grew ever more amplified. In the boys’ A race, Dan G (O, UVI) had succeeded Brad, before handing over to Jack K (PH, V) and then Harry P-M (I, V). Jack’s 11m44 was a remarkable split for a 5^th former running considerably over distance, whilst Harry took the team from 4^th place to just shy of 2^nd, giving Will S (R, UVI) the perfect opportunity to anchor us home to a podium finish –more of which later.

Sophia C (MSH, V) has taken over from Iris in the girls’ A race, before Georgia G (MSH, III) and Sophia U’s (EDH, UVI) efforts saw the team home in a highly creditable 10^th place. Iris’ 12m57s was good enough for 7^th fastest on the day, and 15^th fastest all-time (in the race’s 23^rd year). The girls’ B team managed a very respectable 22^nd place overall, with April H (MSH, IV) and Amelia B (MSH, IV) adding to Ellie’s and Kitty’s earlier efforts. In the boys’ B race, Johnnie T (Ch, IV), Dom W (Rb, V), Tim S (I, LVI) and Zac W (Rb, IV) had all run consistently quickly to come home in 19^th overall, second B team to the all-conquering Judd School, and 20 seconds or so clear of Abingdon.

Returning to the boys’ A team, there had been a real sense of hope that Shrewsbury could go one better than last year and secure a silver team medal. Will S took over 10 seconds or so down from Abingdon, and the spectators were relishing the duel ahead. Will’s blistering pace soon extinguished any threat Abingdon might have posed.

In what must be one of the most impressive runs the RSSH has ever seen (arguably the most impressive) – Will tore round to finish safely in 2^nd, with a time of 10m55s. This was not only the fastest of the day, but the 6^th fastest of the 51-year history of the race. Will’s time ranks him above the likes of Sebastian Coe, Richard Nerurkar and the Brownlee brothers. It was a privilege to watch, made all the more remarkable by the considerable battles Will has had with illness over the last year. One senses this might well prove a fulcrum moment in Will’s running career.

It is worth adding that the boys’ A team managed to run 2 minutes quicker than last year’s 3^rd placed Hunt team. At 70m50s, their time was, we think, the 8^th fastest on record, with he fastest ever time coming in at 69m05s, a record that had stood for 40 years.

Frank Tickner

Master i/c RSSH