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The Wellington Community was thrilled to welcome pupils, Old Wellingtonians and their families back to College on Saturday 28th February 2026 for the fourth annual OWs vs College Cross Country Race.
Now firmly established as a favourite in the calendar, the event once again brought together OWs of all ages, with current pupils and alumni lining up shoulder to shoulder for a lively and good-natured contest. Families, friends and staff gathered at the finish line to cheer runners on, while Chris Potter (C 65) and Adrian Jarvis (O 02) made special guest appearances.
This year’s race followed the College’s new 5K course, beginning on Bigside before winding down to Farm Field and the golf course, through Edgbarrow Woods, along the Kilometre and finally back round Turf for a competitive sprint finish.
Congratulations to our top finishers:
- First Boy: Daniel O, 15:23
- First Girl: Eva D, 19:54
- First Man: Matthew Blagg (S 97), 16:54
- First Woman: Claire Woolf (Ap 01), 20:11
On taking part, Daniel O said “I really enjoyed the race on Saturday; it’s really inspiring to see OWs still running and still being part of Wellington. When I leave Wellington, I hope to join them and take part in these great events.”
More than just a race, the day was a celebration of community. OW families came along to support, with the next generation of Wellingtonians enjoying the chance to see where their parents lived and studied.
Organised in partnership with the OW Cross Country Club (OWXC), the event continues to grow year on year. OWXC now boasts more than 100 members and competes in various other fixtures during the year, the highest profile event being the Annual Alumni Race on Wimbledon Common in September. In both the 2024 and 2025 Alumni Races, the OWXC women won the Old Johnian Ladies Trophy so it was good to celebrate at College by re-uniting the team [pictured: Lauren Woods (Ap 02), Claire Woolf (Ap 01), Miranda Simmons (Ap 85) and Natalie Blagg (Ap 00, not pictured)] with the silverware.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Gary Lloyd (M 63), our brilliant OWXC Representative, without whom the event simply would not happen, to Deirdre McDermott, Teacher in Charge of Cross Country, and to everyone who took part or came to support.
We look forward to welcoming even more runners back to the start line next year!
