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King Henry VIII Relay Race 2022
In this section
50th Anniversary Race in 2022
Bablake and King Henry VIII School hosted the 50th King Henry VIII Relay Race on Wednesday 2nd February 2022, attended by 82 teams from schools from all over the UK. The Coventry War Memorial Park is the site of this much loved and highly regarded annual event, which has been feted as the best schools’ XC race outside of North America. Conditions on the day were perfect: dry but overcast skies meant no glare for runners, and generally dry weather in the lead up to the race, with just a little light rain, created good ground with no boggy mud to slow down the athletes in the off-road sections of the course.
Perhaps the delight that all the schools were feeling in being able to meet together and race for the first time since Covid also provided a little extra adrenaline—and it was no surprise to the many gathered in the park to watch that both the Boys and the Girls Races saw their second fastest runs ever!
The Boys Race had their fastest run since 1980, with some astonishing times; winners were the Judd School, in 70.44. In their last 14 years of attending the race, the Judd have taken first or second place in the Boys Race 13 times; their teams are consistently impressive contenders, and worthy champions once again this year. There were some exceptional individual performances from Fraser Sproul, of Sedbergh School, who took the Mark Randall Shield for fastest lap in an incredible 10.52—this is the second fastest lap ever in the 50-year history of the race, an exceptional achievement. The quality of the field was excellent, and a brilliant run was made by Rowan Miell-Ingram of Abingdon School, in 10.57 (placing him 7th equal fastest boy ever), and several other young men also put in times that will see them included in the All-Time Fastest records for the KHVIII Relay. Second place for the Boys Race went to Calday Grange Grammar School team (72.36), and third place to Shrewsbury School (72.58); both times extremely impressive.
The Girls Race also saw records being smashed, with Bradford Grammar School defending their title as 2020 winners with a best ever race time of 52.32, beating the record holders by over two clear minutes. Ellen-Mary Kearney of Upton Hall School was awarded the Andrews Shield—in its first outing recognising the fastest girl of the event—with her fantastic individual lap time of 12.30. This time easily places her as second fastest girl in 22 years of the Girls Race, led only by former European XC champion Harriet Knowles-Jones, who recorded a 12.07 time in 2016. Indeed, all ten of the fastest finishing girls this year will be adding their names to the All-Time Fastest records, including Shai King of Ratcliffe College, and Ruby Vinton of Woodbridge School with 12.34 and 12.44 times respectively. Teams from Upton Hall (54.07) and St Aidan’s (55.54) came second and third, with brilliant times—Upton Hall going straight into second position for all-time fastest Girls team.
As part of the special ‘Golden’ 50-year celebrations for this year’s event, there was also a one-off Alumni race, in which all former students, teachers and coaches were invited to compete. A varied field with some familiar faces made for a memorable race, and even here records were broken! In overall first place was Matthew Watson of Ermysted’s School, in the 40-49 age group, who finished his lap in a brilliant 11.05. This would put him 14th equal fastest boy in the Race records, and was apparently an improvement on his times when he competed as a school-aged runner, a couple of decades earlier!
Along with the competing alumni, it was wonderful to see many long-time supporters of the event attending this year to spectate. Special guest speaker David Moorcroft OBE has a lengthy association with the KHVIII Relay, and this year he was accompanied in presenting the awards by Ges Cosgrove, a member of the original winning team (from Bishop Ullathorne School in Coventry) back in 1972. A simple schools’ event, the KHVIII Relay has seen so many incredible athletes compete over the last 50 years—Lord Sebastian Coe, Andrew and Johnny Brownlee, and Richard Nerukar are well-known as past competitors here, but many more hold the race in great affection, and attended this year to enjoy watching some superb sport. A special welcome was reserved for Ted Norrish, founder of both the KHVIII Relay Race and the Coventry Marathon, an inspiration to many local runners over the years, and one who has encouraged and supported athletic excellence in our city since the 1960s.
This year’s race was a fantastic event—with many records smashed, old teammates reunited, and memories fondly relived—and it was truly wonderful to be back on the course, celebrating live sport together. BKHS School would like to thank all who came along as competitors, supporters and spectators, and for great support from the ground staff of the War Memorial Park. The 51st KHVIII Relay Race will be held on 1st February 2023, and all in Coventry and beyond are warmly invited to attend and enjoy another great day of racing.
