Shrewsbury
Annual OSH Day 2023
Members of The Old Salopian Hunt started arriving on The Drum from about 1pm, for the Annual Run with The RSSH,
Greetings and warm-ups were initiated, on this fairly calm day in mid-November, being one of the earliest dates for our meeting, to avoid a clash with School & Hunt Fasti arrangements.
By 2 pm, on Saturday 18th November 2023, there was a good crowd of OSH runners and supporters assembled with the boys and girls of The Hunt, ready to have several photos taken in front of Charles Darwin.
We started with a picture of everybody present, followed by one of The OSH Team of Eleven, with Special Supporters, Nigel Miller (S 1947-52 & Sen. Whip) on left, and Tim Bedell (S 74-78 & Huntsman) & Ed Bolland (I 81-85) on right, showing Ed Mallett (S 08-13 & H’), Cal Winwood (I 06-11 & H’), Michael Johnson (S 55-60 ), Liv Papaioannou (EDH 14-16 & H’), Sophia Urquhart in front (EDH 18-23 & H’), Sam Western behind (PH & S 15-20 & H’), Jonny Price (I 17-22 & H’), Kristian Tung (I 21-23 & H’), Oli Mott (Rb 98-03 & H’), Henry Exham (R 97-02), Sam Griffiths (OSH Hon. Member).
Then it was time for all Winners of The Tucks Run, with Nigel Miller, Michael Johnson, Ed Mallett, Liv P’, Sam Western, Oli Mott, Tim Bedell & Ed Bolland.
Finally, all Huntsmen & Huntswomen present were snapped, being Peter Birch (Db 66-71 & H’), Tim S (I), Cal Winwood, Ed Mallett, Sophia Urquhart (H’ for 2 years), Liv P’ behind, Kris Tung, Sam Western behind, Ellie L L (MSH), Oli Mott behind, Tim Bedell & Jonny Price. Everybody then lined up on Riggs Lawn, in front of The School Wall, for a “false start”, before eventually “throwing off” at 2.15pm.
Some of the parents and supporters made their way to Queen’s Terrace to await The Pack, after they had traversed Ashton Road, The Lower Common and Oldhams Gap. As we gazed down the footpath, into view came Ed and Kris, closely followed by Cal who were all powering on ahead to Canonbury. Not far behind were two of this season’s Hunt “Elite”, Harry P-M (I) and Finlay C (O) who looked very determined as they passed by. Despite plenty of previous rain, the paths of The Course were not overly slippy or muddy, and even the crossing of The Rad Brook was not deemed deep for the runners. Albeit Finlay managed to get a bloody wound to his leg, which added a bit of colour to the photos, thankfully without causing distress to Finn!
We looked down through the cold moist haze, towards the towpath, to get a brief glimpse of the leaders, from the top of the overgrown School Bank, making their way towards Port Hill and then their testing incline run up Ridgemount Drive, before a sudden scramble to the rear of The Cricket School. After that, it is just a matter of retracing the route around the bottom of The School Site and back up to The Moss Gates and the Finish funnel to the left of Central.
The Time-keeper clicked his stopwatch at 19 minutes 22 seconds for the first finisher Kris, who was so pleased to take the lead on this auspicious run, because usually his other Joint Huntsman of last season, Will Singleton, would probably have overtaken him if he had been here today.
Our OSH Captain, Ed arrived 23 seconds later, then Cal at 19:53, who both still run with conviction! Oli then came in 4th at 20:43, battling against Finn, who was one second behind, as the 1st Finisher for The RSSH Six, with Harry and Will R (O), Alex M (I), then The Huntsman Tim S, and Zac W (SH) all coming in under 22 minutes. Our fifth counter was Jonny at 21:45 and then our sixth counter was Sam Griffiths, at 23:29, who is a member of our Committee and happens to be Housemaster of Ingrams. Henry came in at 19th at 24:27 and is the Housemaster of Oldhams too.
The First Female to finish was our Hon. Sec. Liv, at 22nd in 25:08, which is her third annual win of The Peter Middleton Cup. Sam Western arrived at 26th, just in front of Sophia Urquhart. We were pleased to see our “Whipper-In” Michael Johnson arrive back into the funnel unscathed and ready for Tea in The Quod.
Out of the 44 finishers, 32 Hunt Boys and Girls gave good competition to The OSH. In fact, at the presentations, it transpired that there was only a nine point difference between our Teams, with Ed picking up The David Loake Trophy for The OSH, after Kris had been awarded The Will Ramsbotham Trophy for being first overall finisher.
After much chatter between bites of ham sandwiches and cake, it was time for some of The OSH Committee to go to The Hardy Room of Kingsland House to conduct our annual meeting, which always starts with our usual Toasts to the memory of Mark Mortimer and Bob Parker. Eleven of us joined the meeting, making sure that our club is operating correctly and demonstrating that The OSH is an important part of the Salopian Club.
Later, at 7.30pm, we welcomed 19 Diners to The Peterson Room, including Nigel Miller, who is one of our Club’s Founders and also The Huntswoman, Ellie L L and Huntsman, Tim S, along with Senior Whip, Massi W (R), and Junior Whip, Archie T (Rt) and also Sophia C (MSH) of The Girls Hunt.
This day back at The School always goes well, thanks to the help of many, including The Master-in-Charge of The RSSH, Frank Tickner and the many marshals around the course, and also the Groundsmen and the Caterers, for whose efforts we are very grateful, and encourages us all to do it all again in 2024.
Peter Birch. OSH Chairman. (Dayboys Hall 1966-71)
.jpg&command_2=resize&height_2=85 "Old Salopians take on the 'toughest race on earth' for charity")
.jpg&command_2=resize&height_2=85 "Old Salopians share careers advice at two Futures events")
