Old Salopian Hunt team success at the annual Alumni Race

The OSH team came second at the 74th annual Alumni Race at Roehampton on September 12th

Organised by Thames Hare & Hounds, the Alumni Race is a five-mile cross-country race over Wimbledon Common, bringing together teams representing schools from across the UK. The course, which resembles a figure of eight, offers plenty of variation in terrain and, fortunately, this year avoided the deep mud that has sometimes featured when the race was held on wet December days.

The OSH team of eight was led by Captain Ed Mallett (S 2008-13 & Huntsman) and Hon. Secretary Liv Papaioannou (EDH 2014-16 & Huntswoman). The race started at 3pm, with the runners setting off across the Common towards the highest point of the course.

Will Bayliss (Rt 2011-16) appeared to be heading for a spectacular early finish, arriving in the finishing field after around 25 minutes to the considerable admiration and applause of the OSH supporters. Sadly, it later emerged that Will had taken a wrong turn and missed part of the course, resulting in his disqualification.

Ed Mallett was the first official OSH finisher, completing the course in 28:23. Louis Nares (Rb & I 2015-20) followed in an excellent 32:47 to finish 22nd overall, with Liv Papaioannou next in 35:46, taking 40th place. Tom Jackson (R 2015-20 & Senior Whip) completed the four scoring runners in 36:30, finishing 47th after a determined sprint to the line.

Chad Usher (S 2014-18), taking part in his first Alumni Race, finished just 14 seconds later, followed by Ed Bayliss (Rt 2016-21), who sprinted into 61st place after overtaking a Stowe runner. Rupert Lougee (SH 1988-93), returning to the team for the first time since 2022, completed the OSH line-up.

After refreshments and cake provided by Thames Hare & Hounds, the team and supporters headed to The Kings Head in Roehampton to dissect the race. Having won the competition in 2023 and again last year, expectations had been more modest this time around, particularly with a smaller team.

There was therefore considerable excitement when Captain Ed checked the results on OpenTrack and discovered that OSH had finished second.

You can see the results for yourself here 

https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2026/GBR/thhar  .

There's more on the OSH Facebook page too

https://www.facebook.com/groups/153818067997254

There were 136 finishers from 160 registered runners, with 33 teams competing. Sherborne took the King Henry VIII Trophy with 66 points, while Shrewsbury and Sedbergh both finished on 107 points. Shrewsbury was awarded second place, with Sedbergh third.

Another excellent team performance—and, as usual, the OSH team came away smiling and already contemplating a return next year.

Flickr album: The Alumni Race 2026 | Height: auto | Theme: Default | Skin: Default Skin