BUCS XC 2024

This week saw our team travel North for the one and only BUCS XC. Three days, two nights, and 8 hours on the coach, we weren’t sure if the race, the travel, or the afterparty was the greatest test to our stamina.

The women’s short race began the day’s efforts, at 11:15, where Maryam Hussein took 238th, Kevina Oniscenko finished 327th, Annie Mae Wright 341st, and Tahreem Sajjad 514th.

The ground shook beneath our feet as the largest race of the day, the men’s short race, went off, where Karl Martin finished 512th, Chris Harrop came in 524th, Charlie McDevitt in 544th, Ned Whittle in 614th, Sebastian Lloyd-Young in 625th, Callum Campbell in 635th, Tommy Japes in 648th, his rival Philip Walsh in 653rd, and Benedict Novak in 664th. 

The women’s long race was comprised of a very strong field, with Nayana Jain racing outstandingly against the best of the best to scrape into the top 50, with a 49th place finish, followed by Laura Ogilvie in 76th, Charlotte Adamo in 129th, and Abi Richardson in 135th.

Finally, to end the day and take on the mutilated terrain, the men’s long race began. Liam Vandamme crossed the line for Barts in a superb 139th against the fastest athletes in the country, followed by Joe Thompson in 222nd, and the dream team of Walter Buttery, Alex Ribera-Edwards, and Darpan Rekhi finished off the day of racing in 259th, 266th, and 267th respectively.

Biggest shout-out of all goes to Joe and the rest of the committee for organising the trip, and keeping us all safe from the elements and the questionable accommodation in Leeds.

Congratulations all!