The 2022 Ware Cup, postponed from 17 November 2022, took place at Roding Valley Recreation Ground on Saturday 28 January 2023 over a wet and muddy 7.7km course. Thankfully the icy and flooded sections of the previous week had largely disappeared. The weather was cool and dry.
Despite the clash with the Southern XC Championships in Beckenham the field was only four runners smaller than in 2021.
Jack Henson of Eton Manor AC was a clear winner of the men's race. In front at the first corner, Jack extended his lead to finish in exactly 29 minutes, well ahead of triathlete Olly Mountstephens (Loughton AC). Humfrey Jeakins of Eton AC completed the podium.
The women's podium featured the same teams in the opposite ratio. Home athlete Zoe Oldfield (Loughton AC) continued her fine season by winning the women's race. Eton Manor's Jess Verrall was second, followed home by Loughton's Mary Knapman, one of the race organisers.
Both winning individuals were backed up by strong teams. Eton Manor packed four athletes in the first nine places (Jack Henson, Humfrey Jeakins, Craig Stevens, Dylan Williams) and were clear winners of the men's Ware Cup. It's the first time in over a decade that the men's Cup has been won by a club other than defending champions Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets or Orion Harriers.
Loughton AC took home the women's trophy for the first time since 2006 (Zoe Oldfield, Mary Knapman, Ali Trauttmansdorff, Victoria Thompson).
| Team results (men) | | Team results (women) | |
1st | Eton Manor AC (1, 3 ,6, 9) | 19 points | Loughton AC (1, 3, 6, 11) | 21 points |
2nd | Loughton AC (2, 5, 11, 12) | 30 points | Eton Manor AC (2, 9, 10, 15) | 36 points |
3rd | Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets (4, 7, 8, 13) | 32 points | Orion Harriers (4, 7, 8, 21) | 40 points |
4th | Orion Harriers (10, 15, 23, 25) | 73 points | East London Runners (14, 26, 27, 31) | 98 points |
5th | East London Runners (17, 24, 25, 36) | 102 points | Ilford AC (16, 19, 28, 40) | 103 points |
Individual results (men) | |
Jack Henson (Eton Manor AC) | 29:00 |
Olly Mountstephens (Loughton AC) | 30:08 |
Humfrey Jeakins (Eton Manor AC) | 30:40 |
Individual results (women) | |
Zoe Oldfield | 33:33 |
Jess Verrall | 34:11 |
Mary Knapman | 34:25 |
Download the full results below
The day also featured U15 and U17 competitions over 5.4km contested by runners from Orion Harriers, Ilford AC and Loughton AC. Fifteen minutes before the senior race, 38 U11s and U13s from Woodford Green with Essex Ladies, Loughton AC, Ilford AC and Orion Harriers raced over 1.5km. Results are available through Team Managers.
The organisers would like to thank all the athletes who attended, and particularly the course layers, finish team, marshals, refreshment team and other volunteers who made the event possible.
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