Tomorrow (Saturday), Wimbledon Common will be awash with athletes and officials of considerable intellect as Thames Hare and Hounds, the world's oldest cross country club, stages the annual clash of the Blues in the University cross country match, writes Tom Pollack.

Early form suggests Cambridge will complete a hat-trick of wins in the match after winning the men's tussle for the last two seasons.

But, over the testing seven-and-a-half miles circuit on Wimbledon Common which includes the treacherous water-splash across Beverley Brook soon after the start anything can happen.

In their course familiarity match with Thames a few weeks ago, one of the Cambridge University runners had the misfortune to run into a tree and almost knock himself out. He managed to finish dazed and bruised, though.

The men's match dates back more than a century to 1880 with Cambridge 56-54 ahead in the series.

Rivals

If they fail to block their rivals' hat-trick bid, the Dark Blues will at least be hoping to provide the individual winner in Nick Talbot, who has led the field home for the past two seasons.

Top British international Kate Skorupska, winner in 1997 and last year, leads a strong Oxford women's team which will be hoping to secure their ninth consecutive win to extend their 15 to 10 lead in the series.

However, she could face a strong challenge from the Light Blues' Ellen Leggate who has shown good form this winter.

The races start and finish on the Richardson Evans Memorial playing field on Putney Vale with the women off at 2.15pm and the men at 3pm.

On the other side of Wimbledon Common, at Caesar's Camp, the Veterans Athletic Club are hosting a match with Hercules Wimbledon while King's College School have their annual clash with KCS Old Boys from South Side.

Compete

Kingston and Polytechnic stage their club championships in Richmond Park, from Sheen Gate, Ranelagh Harriers compete in the Hec Petersen Trophy at Perivale, while Herne Hill Harriers stage their club championships in Brockwell Park.

Two local schools, Wilsons, Sutton and Tiffin Girls, Kingston, have teams competing in the English Schools cross country cup final at Stowe School, Buckinghamshire, tomorrow (Saturday) are qualifying through the regional round at Belvedere, Kent.

December 3, 2001 16:30