Nopesport

Edinburgh University took home the BUSA title in what was an impressive weekend for what was an injury hit team. A good show of university teams turned out for BUSA which was being organised by Durham University this year but it was the big hitters of ShUOC and EUOC who battled it out for the title again. Both clubs had lost experienced runners but still boasted several internationals and it was probably the most experienced of those who took the individual titles on the Saturday. Oli Johnson and Rachel Elder showed their superior form by winning for ShUOC by a convincing margin however a good high grouping by EUOC particularly in the mens race taking 2nd, 4th & 5th meant that they led overall after the individual day. I good battle was also unfolding between Oxford & Cambridge with little between them in terms of points going into the relays.

The party was next up and ShUOC's luck continued to elude them as they lost the beer race to EUOC too, a title that had been a banker to ShUOC in previous years was also heading to Edinburgh. Next it was dance-off time and ShUOC looked to have bagged it with a dancing pope (don't ask!) until a last minute 'move' from Doug Tullie clinched it for EUOC!

The EUOC domination came at a price however as the relay teams looked a little worse for wear and the title was theirs to lose. In the mens race it was dance off winner Doug Tullie 1st uni team back with ShUOC 2nd team next. ShUOC's 1st team came back in 7th but a strong run from new recruit Marcus Pinker got them back in contention finishing in 3rd. Andrew Llewellyn capitalised for ShUOC's 2nd team by coming back in the lead and it was down to John Rocke to hold off EUOC's Duncan Coombs and fellow team mate Oli Johnson. He couldn't do it and was paased by both of them. A storming run from Oli, who posted the 2nd fastest time of the day despite having the long gaffle, got the ShUOC 1st team right in the fight and was with Duncan until the last few controls in the buildings where he made a mistake, Duncan got away and brought EUOC home in 1st.

In the womens race it was quite so tight in the end but a good battle none the less. Durham Uni lead the way by a huge 7 and half min margin after the 1st leg, liz Bridge making local knowledge pay off. EUOC came back in 3rd but two of the strongest runs of the day were to come from EUOC's 2nd and 3rd leg runners ensuring another win for the scottish university. ShUOC battled back well from 8th place after the 1st leg to 3rd after the 2nd leg. With Rachel Elder going out on final leg there was still much optimism, unfortunately a 3min mistake put pay to the chase and they had to settle for 2nd spot. An impressive performance from Birmingham Uni's 'Yummie Brummies' clinched 3rd spot for them.

Full results, splits and routegadget at the udoc website