THE STEEPLECHASE We were fortunate that the weather stayed dry for the annual 2015 Steeplechase on the afternoon of Tuesday December 1st; yet despite this it was one of the wettest courses for some time, conditions underfoot particularly muddy and slippery. With the change of Tutor in B Social, the rumour on the street was that this was finally the year their eight years of
As the number crunching went on into the late evening it soon became clear that B Social’s hold on the overall trophy had slipped away and we were to have a new Social in charge. Whether this was as a result of the change of tutor or whether the previous tutor had simply handed Mr Scott-Malden a poisoned chalice we shall never know. Conspiracy theories abound. The Radley College Steeplechase is the only remaining all-school sporting event for Shell to Fifths, and even though the 6.1 and 6.2 race is voluntary, more runners take part than need to in 28
THE RADLEIAN
consecutive victories could be brought to an end. C Social were being primed on packing tactics by the Master in Charge of the event (though this seemed to have only a minimal effect, sadly), D Social were hoping their rowers would prove invincible and F Social were pinning their hopes on their newly-acquired ‘secret weapon’ in the Shells, Henry Insley (now Oxford County U15 Champion).
The race was competitive at the front, but a betting man would not have put money against the eventual winners, all favourites for the medals.The Shells managed to run the correct route this year and not take the massive shortcut of 2014, and most of the Seniors made it round, albeit some finishing almost in the dark and long after the kind marshals from Common Room were warming themselves with a cup of tea, or stronger.
celebration of the pain and manly image of cross country running (or occasionally in an effort to show off the latest fancy dress item or recently acquired biceps).
Individual Social results:
Individual Athlete Results
Winning Social in the Seniors: J Social
Shells: 1st Henry Insley; 2nd Ben Hoddinott; 3rd George Daly.
Overall Trophy: D Social (interrupting B Social’s winning streak of eight Steeplechases).
Intermediates: 1st Archie McChesney; 2nd Jake Dickie; 3rd Max Senior. Seniors: 1st Tom Jewell; 2nd Miles Rowse; 3rd Jamie Farr.
Winning Social in the Juniors: B Social Winning Social in the Inters: D Social
Anthony Williams Head of Cross Country