Committee Profiles

Andrew Duncan - Club Captain

The Hare and Hounds has changed my university experience from being ordinary to extraordinary, and that's why I really want to live H&H this year. The club is so special, not only for its history, races and events, but also because of its members - from the international elites through to those newly introduced to running, everyone adds something different to the club.

I'm relatively new to running, beginning training in my last year of A-Levels, but H&H has really helped me improve - both my times over cross-country and on the track have dropped significantly. I really enjoy the challenges cross-country poses with varying terrain and fields, but I also hit the track in summer over 800m and 1500m, using my winter training in the mud to my advantage.

I hope you get involved in the club, for if your experience is anything like mine, you'll improve, achieve, and be all the richer in friends and memories for it. I'll see you on the start line at the Varsity Match!

Varsity Match Progression: 2005-27th (5ths), 2006-14th (2nds)

Harriet Owles - Women's Captain

If you'd told me three years ago that I would be the women's captain of the Cambridge University Cross-Country team I would have probably laughed - firstly because I didn't think I wanted to come to Cambridge and secondly because at school I always considered cross country to be inferior to other 'more exciting' sports (and possibly just because I seem to spend my whole life laughing!). I spent my first year at Cambridge playing uni lacrosse. It was only at the beginning of my second year that I started to train for cross country properly. Somehow only eight weeks later I was running in the most exciting sporting event that I have ever taken part in - the Blues Cross-Country Varsity Match - just showing that with a bit of training anything is possible! The Hare and Hounds is a fantastic club with a brilliant sociable atmosphere - I recommend you all to turn up to some training sessions and give cross country a go!

John Redsaw - Honorary Secretary

I started running in my first year in secondary school just once a week, but have gradually increased my mileage over the past seven or eight years. I was unfortunately ill-advised in my application, and instead of applying for land economy, (the closest to a full-time sports degree that Cambridge has to offer), I applied for the rather less interesting natural sciences. When not forced to work by a guilty conscience or angry supervisors, I spend a lot of my time running and procrastinating in my college JCR or Harey pub session, though as Secretary I may have to change my habits!

Varsity Match Progression: 2006-4th (2nds)

James Kelly - Men's Vice Captain and Press Officer

James is a chemistry PhD student who finds running to be a great excuse to get out of the lab (and conveniently to be an activity that has not to date been adversely affected by the accidental inhalation of various chemicals). He arrived in Cambridge in October 2006 having competed in cross-country and athletics for Harvard University in the USA, and his less-than-graceful transition to retirement has seen him remembering just how long cross-country races are when the courses are laced with thick mud! In his role as elder statesman, he hopes to help nurture the next crop of runners to defeat the Dark Blues and in exchange to be taught how to tie a bow-tie!

Varsity Match Progression: 2006-5th (Blues)

Polly Keen - Women's Vice Captain and Social Secretary

I'm completing my 1st year as a Physical NatSci at New Hall, however I have to admit that my real enthusiasm since arriving in Cambridge lies in the running scene. I've thoroughly enjoyed being a Harey so far for so many reasons, but one of the major ones has to be the social aspect, getting to know loads of other people who are also crazy about running. I love to party and socialise, and would love to help other Haries to do the same. Running wise, it's fantastic having great people around to train and race with. Also, the whole Varsity phenomenon is incredible, and I was thrilled to win the Blues race at my first attempt and be a member of the victorious team on that glorious day! Let's just hope that we can continue to beat the Dark Blue scum for many a year to come.

Please contact me at phrk2@cam.ac.uk with any questions, or suggestions for socials.

Varsity Match Progression: 2006-1st (Blues)

Jamie Brunning - Junior Treasurer

Jamie took up running after accidentally entering himself in the 2001 London marathon and has tried unsuccessfully to give up several times since then. An expert at injuries (torn posterior cruciate ligament cycling into a bollard, injured back crashing over the handlebars 10 miles into a 65 mile cycling race, twisted ankle falling out of a tree and a stress fractured foot are the highlights of the last couple of years), his main talent is running slowly for long distances. He's completed five marathons, one of which he wasn't injured for, and occasionally dabbles in rowing, triathlon and duathlon too. He enjoyed racing for the victorious Jesus College team in the college league and fell in love with the Hare & Hounds on training camp this year, so decided to hang around on the committee!

Varsity match progression: 2004-rather not say, I hadn't run for 6 months and was injured! (5ths) 2005-2nd (5ths), 2006-9th (3rds)

Lee Harper - Social and Transport Secretary

Awaiting profile...

Chris Morris - League Organiser

Rather unkindly described as an unfit child, I took up rowing when 13 and started running as training for rowing. Soon I found myself Royal Borough of Kingston Champion a couple of times and competed in Counties and Nationals for Surrey County and Surrey Schools. My transformation continued as I was school XC, steeplechase and long distance track champion for a few years. Career highlights to date include Surrey schools Senior Boys 3K Champion (2004). 3 times winner of the Thames Valley oarsmen's cross country race and four trips across the marathon distance, including London (2005, 2006, 2007) with a PB of 2:56 and Berlin (2006). Although I am really still a rower, having been silver medalist at National Championships (2004) and trialed CU Lightweight Rowing Club (2006), I am keen on long-distance running in general, and in particular the College League Races (in which I captained the double-winning Jesus team despite some rather dodgy personal performances!). I aim to continue my progress in the Hare & Hounds by securing a 3rd team spot for Varsity and to beat the 2:45 championship time for the marathon. In the meantime, I want to attract as many people as possible to the College League!

Varsity Match Progression: 2005-14th (4ths), 2006-23rd (4ths)

Aidan Brown - League Organiser

Aidan brings a deep love of flour and assorted baking ingredients to the post of league organiser. He is a keen wholefood fan: this year runners will just have to grit their teeth and learn how to spot brown arrows on brown mud. A small price to pay for Bran and Wheatgerm!

Varsity Match Progression: 2004-1st (5ths), 2005-14th (3rds), 2006-12th (2nds)

Liam Richardson - Kit Secretary

Liam can't seem to get trousers to fit. Let's hope he is more successful with the club kit. Here are a few words about him...

With a PE teacher for a father, it was perhaps no surprise that Liam started running cross-country at school. It is perhaps more surprising that he continued to run after leaving school. Coming to Cambridge in October 2005, he suffered from a nasty bout of boatieness, which persisted all year, and limited his running to the college league and a handful of training runs. Fully cured by his second year, Liam threw himself into the Hare and Hounds with gusto, running in the newly-enlarged 4th team at Varsity, and making the trip down to Bath to run in the BUSA B race. As Kit Sec, Liam is looking to make the Hare and Hounds the most stylish club in Cambridge. When not running, Liam can often be found in the bar, or, occasionally, in the History Faculty!

Varsity Match Progression: 2006-17th (4ths)

Ed Dickins - Sponsorship and Alumni Secretary

Although I am entering my third year at Peterhouse I have just finished my first year of Geography after deciding my initial choice of Engineering did not allow sufficient time to indulge in extra curricular activities. Prime among these is running, which I indulged in from a young age at school when it became obvious a distinct lack of skill meant speed and fitness were the only ways I would ensure selection for all the sports teams. Coming to university opened my eyes to a whole new level of running and standard of running club. Unfortunately this coincided with the start of a long term injury which has restricted me to tea runs and similar social activities ever since. Outside the Hare & Hounds I am also involved with Cambridge University Orienteering Club and the Officer Training Corps of the Territorial Army, all of which periodically leave me feeling at home wallowing through mud in torrential rain.

Varsity Match Progression: 2005-32nd (5ths), 2006-1st (4ths) (Given my stunning lack of training over the last year I cannot attribute this improvement to anything other than prolonged exposure to the enthusiasm of the Hare & Hounds and common desire to beat the old enemy!)

Joe Stevick - Website and List Manager

Joe Stevick is currently on loan from the US Pacific Northwest, where he placed second in the Annual Stevick Family Decathlon and Toby Trail Mix Eating Event this year. His primary goal in life is to become a Hollywood stuntman and to that end is currently starting the second year of his PhD in the department of clinical neurosciences. Joe is in a perpetual state of 'getting back into running' and likes to stretch the definition of cross-training to include skateboarding, paragingliding, and Kubb. He also likes setting fire to things.

Mark Coley - Website and List Manager

Mark started running after being dared to enter the Freshers' Fun Run in 2005 by fellow Grad Medic James Gill (see below). After running in two Varsity Matches and numerous times around the boundary of Cambridge (not all in one go though) he managed to complete the London Marathon in 2007. He has moved on from dreaming in HTML (see last year's profile) and now only dreams about the pharmokinetics of ancient medicines, no doubt due to the stresses of pharmacolgy exams.

Varsity Match Progression: 2005-58th (5ths), 2006-57th (4ths)

Simon Gilbert - Marathon Secretary

I'm a Natsci at Downing College and am happy to be charged with persuading people that running 26.2 miles is a good idea. I've run 4 marathons (including two Londons) and they've been some of the best days of my life. On a shorter note cross country running is fun too.

Varsity Match Progression: 2006-38th (4ths)

Laura Spence - Boundary Run Organiser

I came to Cambridge as a single sculler. After 2 year of sitting in traffic on the Cam, being showered with maggots by fishermen and getting up in the dark and cold to train on my own, I decide to rethink my sporting interests. I then realised that the ideal sport in Cambridge is cross-country running. Not only do we have an abundance of muddy fields here, but one of the most active and sociable sports clubs devoted to it. I'm hoping my enthusiasm for the flat and muddy landscape of Cambridgeshire will help me recruit interest to this year's Boundary Run, a multi-terrain marathon (or half-marathon) around the city boundary.

Juliet Cowen - EZ Runs Officer

Juliet is a third year Classicist at Clare. She has always been an 'outdoorsy' type, but it took CUH&H for her to realise the joy in running and she has done EZ runs regularly since coming to Cambridge. Despite injuries hampering her in the past, she is very much looking forward to the running year ahead, and is committed to providing suitable sessions for less experienced runners.

Victoria Butler - EZ Runs Officer

Victora has just finished her second year as a Bio NatSci at Downing. She has never tried running before uni but was persuaded to join the EZ runs by friends and has been running regularly ever since. Her greatest running achievement to date was finishing the half-marathon boundary run. She is keen to encourage others who have never tried running to give it a go.

James Gill - Poster Secretary

I'm your super-busy, happy-go-lucky Grad medic Poster Secretary. I have been running with the club since October 2005 when I came to Cambridge and I love everything about it, especially the hard work and support of the captains. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as League and Boundary Run organizer and want to continue to give something back to the club as a member of the committee. I do not have many running achievements as yet, but I have had a fair few good results in triathlon. I hope to further improve my running with the lovely Hare and Hounds over my next few years and certainly have a lot of energy and enthusiasm to channel into Posters publishing and race promotion!

Watch out for posters!

Varsity Match Progression: 2005-15th (5ths), 2006-5th (3rds)

Owain Bristow - Co-opted

Having finally tasted Varsity victory in 2006, Owain is hanging around for another year at Cambridge under the guise of teacher training. He is hoping that the additional mileage achieved by chasing up (or being chased by) Britain's youth will be beneficial to the 07/08 cross-country campaign. Surely 7.5 mile races are a piece of cake compared to Friday afternoon physics with Year 9?

With some good performances over the country and 2.5 XC Blues to his name, Owain still prefers races that last longer than thirty minutes, don't involve tarmac or spikes below 9mm and put minimal strain on his lactate shuttle. Nevertheless he will be giving the track season a go until he succeeds in his quest to break 2:05 for 800m or moves up to running marathons.

Varsity Match Progression: 2004-14th (Blues), 2005-14th (Blues), 2006-8th (Blues)

Rich Mathie - Co-opted

Awaiting profile...

Hannah Brice - Co-opted

In October 2007 I shall begin my third year at Clare College studying Physical Natural Sciences. Long distance and cross country running has always been a part of my life and for three years running I represented my county in the English Schools Cross Country Championships. However, the Hare and Hounds is the first running club I have been a member of, and what a fantastic group to be a part of. Since being a member, my running has gone from strength to strength, though the achievement for which I am most proud has to be winning the "Animal of the Camp" award at last year's Winter Training Camp!

Varsity Match Progression: 2005-12th (2nds), 2006-8th (2nds)

Matt Grant - Co-opted

Awaiting profile...