TheresultsofthisracecanbeviewedonthisTempolinkduringtherace: https://www.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=16418&RId=925 orjustpointyourphone’scameraatthisQRcode.Itwillnothaveindividualnames, asrunnersareonlydeclaredonthedayitself.
Allourpreviousresultsfromthepast53years,aswellasadigitalcopyofthis programmeandalotmorecanbefoundonourwebsite: https://kinghenrys.co.uk/co-curricular/king-henry-viii-relay-race/ Fullresultswillbeprintedforthepresentations.
King Henry VIII School extends a very warm welcome to all the teams attending the 2025 Race. This year, 63 Boys teams and 52 Girls teams have entered the competition. It’s always a tremendous privilege to host this national event, with teams coming from all over the UK to race together, this year with more first-time entries than ever, and a host of new schools attending. We’re particularly thrilled this year to mark the silver anniversary of the Girls Race, as 2025 marks Henry’s 53rd Boys Race and the 25th Girls Race, here in Coventry.
All new to the Girls Race this year are Lancaster Girls Grammar, Meoncross School from Hampshire, Nottingham High School, and Pates Grammar, Cheltenham, along with long-time competitors from Loughborough College, St Columbas College and Bishops Vesey GS who are bringing girls teams with them for first time (or in Bishop Vesey’s case, the first time since 2013).
For the Boys Race, we are pleased to welcome Brentwood School, Essex, Pates Grammar, and Wirral Grammar, as well as Rikkyo School, London, who were introduced to the race by last year’s VIP guest speaker, Chris Finill! After their storming success in the Girls Race last year, New Hall School, Boreham are fielding a boys team as well this time, and The Skinners School are returning to compete for only the second time in over two decades it’s good to see you again. Finally, an especially warm welcome for our plucky Northern Irish team from St Michael’s, Eniskillen, who are battling Storm Eowyn and resulting power cuts to arrive a day early, in order to be well rested before the race
We are so pleased to see you all, and as always, we wish the very best of luck to all the runners in this year’s Relay; we’re looking forward to seeing some great sportsmanship and teamwork from everyone. As many of you will already know, former alumni of the race have set British and world records, won Olympic medals, and other garlands of victory in athletics, and it’s always great to see records being smashed, and new personal and team bests being recorded.
What follows is a rough guide to the teams and individuals whom we think will do well in the race today, as well as comments and background on schools who have performed notably in the past. This is based on information sent by schools, previous form at this Relay, and other events which have taken place earlier on in the XC season. We note that, increasingly, Relay competitors have profiles on the Powerof10website it’s wonderful to see athletes of exceptional calibre racing here, in teams from all over the country. As ever, be warned relays always throw up a few surprises: the complexity of choosing the best order for runners in each team is just one factor to consider. Whilst every effort has been made to get our facts right, any errors are on the part of the programme compilers!
Vest identification numbers 01–62 (boys) and 101–152 (girls) are shown in parentheses after the school’s name below. The identification will also show the actual lap for each runner, with the finalleg runner’s number coloured blue. All spectators are welcome to come to the school after the race, to enjoy the presentations.
After an excellent second place finish last year, with Quinn Miell-Ingram’s amazing 10:54 lap, the fifth fastest ever, we look forward to seeing them again today—could they knock Judd off their incredible fouryear winning streak?
William Pridden (Y13) returns to the Relay this year, after representing Team GB at the European Junior Triathlon Champs and Junior Cup in 2024; William is in the Next Generation England Triathlon team.
After finishing as third fastest runner of the day last year, Jack Sanderson returns with Giggleswick, having used last year’s race as a springboard to a great season’s racing. After gaining fourth place in the intermediate boys’ race at the English Schools XC, he won selection for two U20 GB teams in mountain running and finished the year by being crowned British U17 fell running champion. Jack recently won the Yorkshire U17 cross country championships.
Harrow made a very impressive team last year, coming third. Otis Farrer-Brown (Y11), Harry Jodrell (Y10) and Michael Cattini (Y13) were all members of that excellent effort, and are joined this year by Harrison Gray and Henry Barker. Otis specialises in road races from 5k to 10k and track events 1500m and 3000m, with impressive 4-minute 1500m and 32-minute 10k times, and competes regularly in British triathlon super series races for London. Harry has already clocked an impressive 5k time of 17 minutes flat, and earned a third-place finish at the Knole Run. Harrison excels in the 800m and 1500m, with an impressive 4:33 for 1500m, 8:30 for 2.5k, and 18:30 for 5k Michael has posted 14:47 for 5k, 8:36 for 3k, and 3:55 for 1500m. Henry runs 2:00 in the 800m and placed second finish at the Knole Run, running for Brighton and Hove AC
It’s always a thrill to see what Judd will do at this Relay: Coach Simon Fraser just keeps building and building on an intimidating record: with an unbroken podium place since 2008, a win this year would be five cups in a row. While they aren ’t expecting any runners in the top six or seven fastest laps this time, Judd are fielding a very solid A team, all of whom have raced here before. Captain Mark Bridger was 8th in the Knole Run (9:10 3k, 4:14 1500m), followed by Tom Beghein, 9th. Oliver Head represented Kent in the 3k at English Schools last year with a PB of 8:47 though has lately struggled with injuries. Peter Fitzmaurice (4:15 1500m), James Petrie (4:18 1500m) and Will Bachelor (4:20 1500m) are all Y11. Also look out for B team members Felipe Fujimori, Toby James and George Bishop.
Returning for his sixth Relay, Douglas Garnett (Y12), had a good XC month qualifying for English schools for West Midlands after finishing sixth in the WM champs and finishing ninth in the Midlands counties, which should qualify him to run for Warwickshire in the Inter Counties. Henry’s team spans Year 8 to Year 12, so there’s a mixture of both seasoned athletes and developing runners competing for Henry’s today.
St Aidans bring with them this year Luke Shacklock, a strong performer, having been silver medallist at the ESAA U17 Steeplechase, ranking second place at the event in the UK.
Relay faithfuls St Albans haven’t missed a Relay since 1973, always placing high in the table, and having won the Race a dozen times.
The St. Anselm’s team boasts a strong lineup of athletes competing at the English Schools Cross Country Cup on March 1st across both the senior and intermediate boys’ levels. Team captain, Oberon Kearney, represented Team Wales in the Home Nations Fell Running Champs in September; James Jones, Jac Chapman, and Michael Phelan will represent Merseyside at the prestigious English Schools Championships in April, and formidable athletes Max Done and George Goulding complete this strong A team In the B team, Sam Clarke is making his return after a long-term injury, with co-captain Malachi Harty (Y10), XC runner and English Schools Javelin competitor. Returning runners Matthew Merriman and Toby Price will be well supported by Gabriel Pearse and Patrick Cuthbert making their Relay debuts.
It’s a pleasure to see St Michael’s College from Enniskillen join us again this year, after their debut in 2024. Travelling over 350 miles to get to the Relay, this dedicated team have already stayed overnight to be ready to race, and last year performed brilliantly, placing fifth.
UPPINGHAM [57] [58]
Ollie Hayward is running for the Uppingham A team. Ollie represents Bermuda in the triathlon, and in the World Triathlon Age Group Championships in November, he finished eighth in the 16-19 age category
WIRRAL [61]
Owen Oswick (Y8) is running again this year for the Wirral team. A brilliant young runner, with huge potential, Owen’s fastest 5km is 17:22
How can we forget the outstanding performance from Woodbridge’s Henry Dover last year, with his astonishing course record of 10:45? Who might they have for us to watch in their team this year?
Archie Peaker (Y12) is a Keighley & Craven AC member, and fell-running specialist who recently competed at the British and Irish Mountain Running Champs where he came seventh in the U17 race and was part of the gold medal winning England team. He will also compete for Woodhouse Grove’s Senior Boys Team in the English Schools XC Finals in March this year, having previously placed ninth in the English Schools Finals in 2021.
GIGGLESWICK [106]
Last year’s team mainly consisted of Year 7 and 8 runners, and the same team should be back, just a little bit older! Mia McGoldrick ran the 15th fastest time in 2024, and she has since run for Yorkshire at the intercounties cross country and recently won the North Yorkshire Schools Junior Girls’ race.
Earning a strong third place at the Relay last year, the Judd Girls team returns for this season with two county runners: Polly Moses finishing fourth, and Ruby Masson placing eighth in the Kent Schools Cup.
Hattie Garnett (Y13) is in her final year of captaincy for the Girls for Henry’s this year. She has been an excellent captain, bringing on a capable A team with Freya Robson, Scarlett Cullinane, and Marta Haas, and backed up by an increasingly strong B team, comprising Rose Andrews, Polly McMullan, Myah Chaggar, and Megan Cullinane.
Only their second outing to our Relay, but New Hall started with a bang in 2024, winning the cup and with an excellent fastest lap from Olivia Forrest. Since then Olivia (Y11) has become third fastest U15 all time for 5KM, and last summer won a bronze medal at the European Under 18 Championships in the 3000m. New Hall will also be bringing back Ava King (Y9) for her second Relay. Ava ran for England XC last winter, and Heidi Woodley (Y9) who ran 4:38 for 1500m last year.
Holly Cross returns to the Relay after her team came an impressive second last year. Holly represented England at SIAB Cross country and GB in European and World Biathlete Championships; she is the Northern Champion for XC and 1500m, represented England at the School games 3000m, and finished fourth in the Mini Marathon.
Holly Diprose runs for Sevenoaks AC, and finished second in the Senior Knole run this year. She is also the Kent U20 XC Champion 2025 taking the title at Brands Hatch. Holly came first in the Kent league at Swanley and Danson Park, Foots Cray, and she is unbeaten in the Kent league so far, finishing 35th in the English school XC last year.
Charley Clark-Taylor (Y11) runs with Otley AC. Charley is the Woodhouse Grove’s female star runner, and she has broken many school athletic records. Recently going sub-40 minutes at the Leeds Abbey Dash, and being selected to represent Yorkshire in the U17 women’s team are just a couple of her recent achievements. Charley is also an active triathlete and part of the Yorkshire Triathlon Academy and Talent squad.
Next year’s race will be on Wednesday 28th January 2026
We hope to see you all again!
If you want to see more about your team and your school’s XC athletes in the programme, remember to send in your Team Profiles information sheets promptly next January, or simply email details to relayrace.khviii@csfoundation.org.uk to have them included.
RACE ORGANISER, CLERK OF COURSE & PRESENTATIONS OFFICER T Andrews
STARTER & ANNOUNCER M McKenzie & D Butler
TAKE-OVER JUDGES & STARTERS’ MARSHALS T Miles, D Butler
DECLARATION OFFICERS N Amlani & M Field
TIME-KEEPERS & RESULTS SERVICE P Davies & S Davies TempoEvents
DATA SUPPORT
COURSE OFFICIALS
COURSE MARSHALS
PHOTOGRAPHY
N Amlani and pupils from King Henry VIII School
L Ainsworth, T Crowfoot, W Crowfoot, P Dearden, C Dowding, L Harrison, P Huxford, AJ Tracey
60+ pupils of King Henry VIII School
S Jackson, N Bhuhi, R Selormey
FIRST AID COVER M O'meara & J Warrender (RLSS UK L3)
COURSE SET UP
T Andrews, D Butler, M Field, J Parsonage and J Tanner, and pupils from KHVIII School.
King Henry VIII School would like to extend thanks to all those who have helped in staging this race, including:
• Officers from the War Memorial Park, Coventry Council Leisure Services Department, especially for their work in the woods making it clear and safe to run through.
• Is Andrews for being lovely, Star Runners & VIP Biography.
• S Lees for printing services
• School caterers, Holroyd Howe
• Commbus, Coleshill, for PA
ProgrammepreparedbyTAndrews2025
Having founded the King Henry VIII Relay Race in 1972, by the 1990s, we began to see a number of teams requesting girls as members of their teams – the appetite to compete was clearly evident, and in 2000, race organiser Phil Mahiques started the first Girls race. Phil also established the second-place cup, which is named for him.
This first race had 10 teams, and numbers have steadily risen by about 7% per year. Covid reduced teams again, but we are delighted to be welcoming a record 52 teams this year!
You may recognise some of the names in the fastest lap record – or from the list here, which shows the fastest time from each year. Unlike the boys’ race, the girls’ times have been generally decreasing, showing the speed of the top runners at our girls’ event is generally improving, which is a great sign girls running in the UK.
Fastest Lap each year (mins)
In 1991, as a result of changes in the Memorial Park, the course was shortened by 90 metres. Team Times: The time in brackets has had 1:36 taken off - use that value to compare to the latest team times Individual Times (on separate page): For the pre-1991 runners their time has been reduced by 16 seconds, and marked with a *. You need to add 16 seconds to get their original time. If you know a missing first name for the boys please email TDA@CSFoundation.org.uk
(Intheeventofarunnerachievingmorethanonequalifyingtime,onlythebestisshown)
1 Henry Dover, Woodbridge School
2 Neil Appleby*, QMGS Walsall
3 Fraser Sproul, Sedbergh
4 David
5
5 Dave Miles*, RGS Newcastle
5 Quinn Miell-Ingram, Abingdon
8
9
10 Matt Skelton, The
10
12 G Thompson, Ardingly
12
15
17 Thomas Sharland, Ipswich
19 Steven Kendall*, Wednesfield
(24)
(80)
(22)
(84)
(06)
(90)
(02)
(76)
19 Euan Brennan, Giggleswick Sch 11.05 (19)
21 Richard Nerurkar*, Bradford GS 11.06* (82)
22 Antony Rayworth*, Bishop Vesey GS 11.07* (82)
23 I Murray*, Lenzie 11.08 (76)
(91)
(15)
Finn Birnie , Truro School 11.16 (19)
Freddie Meredith, St Ambrose College11.16 (23)
Anthony Ford*, West Park 11.17* (83)
D Pickering, QEGS Wake 11.17 (92)
23 Tasso Asteriades*, Cheadle Hulme 11.08 (80) 71 Tom Curr, Marling 11.17 (11)
23 J Robinson*, Calday Grange 11.08 (85)
Joe Hudson, Ermysted's 11.17 (19)
23 Jonathan Brownlee, Bradford 11.08 (07) 75 Clive Prestt*, QEGS Wake 11.18* (76)
27 Basil Martynuik*, Sir T Richs 11.09* (77)
27 S Rose*, Beechen Cliff 11.09 (82)
29 Graham Williamson*, Lenzie
(76)
29 Terry West*, St Cuthbert’s 11.10* (87)
75 John Sharp*, St Brendan’s 11.18* (78)
75 Steven (Stan) Horton*, KHVIII 11.18* (80)
Roger Lillie*, The Judd
(81)
S Bell*, Marple Hall 11.18* (83)
29 Mark Hudspith*, St Cuthbert’s 11.10* (87) 75 Jamie Macdonald, Judd School, The11.18 (23)
29 M McNeill, Bradford GS 11.10 (91) 81 David Minter*, Maidstone 11.19* (78)
29 Cameron Scott, Watford 11.10 (08) 81 Dan Hayes, Calday Grange GS 11:19 (22)
29 Ricky Lutakome, John Fisher 11.10 (18) 83 Seb Coe*, Abbeydale 11.20* (75)
35 Derek Wright*, Bishop Vesey GS 11.11* (73) 83 David Price*, Sir Thomas Rich 11.20* (80)
35 Robin Pepper*, Haberdashers 11.11* (74) 83 Luke Armitage*, St Albans 11.20* (81)
35 Nigel Martyn*, William Ellis 11.11* (82) 83 Alex Hodgkinson, St Albans 11.20 (03)
35 Steve Fury*, Sir J Williamson 11.11* (86) 83 Dominic Easter , St Albans 11.20 (08)
35 A Bailey*, RGS H Wyc 11.11* (88) 83 Jeremy Gilmour, Manchester GS 11.20 (08)
35 Ethan Brady Jones, St Anselm's College11.11 (23) 83 Will d'Arcy, Abingdon 11:20 (22)
41 Nick Martyn*, Kingswood 11.12* (73) 83 Tom Claridge, Judd School, The 11.20 (23)
41 Andrew Saker*, Maidstone 11.12* (82) 83 Dan Galloway, Thomas Telford 11.20 (23)
41 David Coney*, Maidstone 11.12* (82) 92 Dave Glassborow*, KHVIII 11.21* (72)
41 Spencer Duval*, Millfield 11.12* (87) 92 Kevin Stewart*, Skinners' 11.21* (81)
41 Ian Hudspith*, St Cuthbert’s 11.12* (89) 92 Ian Horsfall-turner*, Cranbrook 11.21* (85)
41 Alex Thompson, Ermysted's 11:12 (22) 92 M McBeth*, St Aloysius 11.21* (90)
41 Harry Hewitt, Bourne Grammar School11.12 (23) 92 Ash Rymer, Marling 11.21 (07)
48 Ges Cosgrave*, Bishop Ullathorne 11.13* (72) 92 James Kingston, The Judd 11.21 (20)
48 Gary Crowther*, Manchester GS 11.13* (81)
* = original time minus16sec's, due to course change in 1991
(Intheeventofarunnerachievingmorethanonequalifyingtime,onlythebestisshown)
1 Harriet Knowles-Jones, Loreto
2 Zoe Gilbody, Thomas Telford
4
(19) 5 Shai King , Ratcliffe College
15 Emily Gibbins, Bradford GS
17 Becky Straw, Bromsgrove Sch
(22)
(11)
(22)
(23)
(23) 20 Esme Davies, QEGS Penrith
(18)
23 Lizzy Bird, St Albans
24 Rowena Cole, Tile Hill Wood
(13)
(08)
(22)
(17)
(19)
59
This map shows theapproximatelocations of the teams that are here. Runners from over 550 miles apart are competing today in Coventry .
Chelsea FC African Talent Scout, Seyi Olofinjana has been a professional athlete for a quarter of a century, beginning his successful Premier League footballing career as a midfielder with Nigerian clubs Crown FC and Kwara Utd, and being chosen for the Nigerian national team in June 2000. Seyi was a member of the international squad between 2002-2010, earning 56 caps for Nigeria, which includes helping them win the third place at the African Cup of Nations in 2010. After developing his skills in Europe with Norwegian side SK Brann, he signed with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2004. Since then he has played with Premier League clubs Stoke City and Hull City, as well as stints at Championship clubs Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday.
A tough knee injury saw Seyi retire from playing in 2014, to work with old friends Wolverhampton Wanderers in coaching and player development. Going from strength in this new career, he has since become Chelsea’s scout across the whole of Africa.
Seyi is a great example of brains perfectly complementing athletic talent in addition to his first degree in Chemical Engineering, he has developed his technical understanding of sport through continuous study and development off the pitch as well as on, with qualifications in governance from Edinburgh University, and a Masters in coaching and sports management from the Manchester Metropolitan University.
Seyi has always been popular with his teammates and club colleagues—these comments from friend Oliver Finlay, a sporting consultant, are typical… Aquickwit,slowtojudge,withgenuinehumanity,Seyiisconsideredandthoughtful,with sharp observation skills… combined with a real passion for developing other people throughthesportthathasgivenhimsomuch.Seyihasgenuineintegrity,honestyand humility.
Seyi is married to Jainaba, and they have two boys, Oluwafemi (19) and Oluwafisayo (11). Femi is also pursuing a path into professional football. We are delighted Seyi can join us today, to award the Relay Race prizes. We are delighted Seyi can join us today, to award the Relay Race prizes, and share some of his insights into what it takes to develop your own athletic talent, and balance sport, studies and character.