• The OB Running Club have secured third place in the 'Over 60s' category in the annual national Alumni Race. 
• The younger running talent also drove Bradfield’s continued rise in the 'Open' category.

OB Runners have secured third place in the Over 60s category of the annual national cross country Alumni Race for independent schools, which returned to full competition in December 2021 after a year’s break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It was the third consecutive podium placing for the OBs which in the last two previous years of full competition has placed third in the Over 50s age group of the five mile race. The race has run over Wimbledon Common since the early 1950s and is hosted by the Thames Hare and Hounds.

The team’s most recent performance also saw it notch up one place to 15th in the overall Open event, out of 37 alumni teams from independent schools in the UK.

Bradfield’s placing was driven by excellent performances from OB runners Jamie Dellimore (A 10-15), the first OB home in 23rd position out of 222 runners with a lightning quick time of 30:52 and Adam Robinson (G 11-15), 37th in 32:48. Both Jamie and Adam were first time runners in the Alumni event.

The younger OBs were some way ahead of the rest of the team, who all ran strongly though in their respective age categories and packed well to boost Bradfield’s overall performance.

Third OB home was Ian Kenyon (F 75-79), 124th with a time of 39:36 closely followed by Ed Talbot (E 80-85) 138th on 40:24. Jon Salmon (B 73-78) was 149th on 40:57; and Tony Henderson (E 79-84) 178th in a time of 44:12.

Ian and Jon’s performance secured third place in the Over 60s behind first placed Eton College and second placed Winchester College, out of 15 teams in the category. In the Over 50s, Bradfield was fourth out of 24 teams, and eleventh overall out of the 37 teams in the age-graded competition.

Tony Henderson, Secretary of the OB Running Club, said: “It was a memorable afternoon for the OB team after not meeting last year, and another strong performance overall, particularly strengthened by standout runs by Jamie and Adam, and glory for the Over 60s. Hopefully we can look forward to the addition of further young talent to the side in coming years, inspired by Jamie and Adam’s exceptional performances."

OBs wanting to find out more about OB running events or join the successful Club can contact Tony by email at  tony@tonyhenderson.net