For the 16 ODs who competed, that result was 5th out of 32. Plus, given that we were the only non-UK school to field a complete team we can (and will) claim to be the best out of the rest of the world!

From Sydney to Vancouver, from the icy tundra which is Chicago to the boiling plains of Cape Town and many places in between, our boys did a fabulous job. Great pictures and route maps — all incredible. 

In the photo above from left to right with location shown in brackets (top): Ant Maarten (1990S, Chicago), Chris Gleimius (1976G, Vancouver), Brett Ormrod (2007M, Cape Town), James Deane (1990B, Sydney); (bottom): Rob Brink (2013K, north London), Chris McPetrie (M, 2010, north London), Craig Tedder (B, 1990, Seattle), Rowan Nicholls (2010O, Wimbledon) and Caelim Parkes (1990O, north London).

Not in the pictures but integral to the team were: James Klatzow (2008K, Oxford), Matt Heydenrych (2013G, south London), Gordon Robinson (1990F, somewhere posh), Chris Molteno (2010G, Cambridge), Darren Bosman (2007O, London), Ross Wright (1990W, Cape Town), Anton du Plessis (1989W, north London)

Our intrepid captain, Rowan Nicholls, reports:

"After COVID-19 put a stop to what would have been the 68th running of the race on Wimbledon Common, the event took a turn for the virtual. Entrants were given 48 hours in which to complete a 5 mile (~8km) run anywhere in the world and submit their results online, with the fastest 4 times from each school constituting their 'first-team'. Enticed by the prospect of reliving their glory days of representing Bishops, no fewer than 16 ODs dusted off their shoes and took up the challenge - record participation for us. And the 'virtual' format meant that our team could be properly international, stretching almost the entire globe from Canada to Australia.

Loudest plaudits must go to Brett Ormrod, running in sunny Cape Town (and, according to his post-run urine sample, with a massive hangover), who led the OD team home with a time of 30:26 to rank 13th overall. Robert Brink (15th), Darren Bosman (31st) and Chris Molteno (46th) were not far behind and rounded off the Bishops first team. Special mentions also go to James Deane and Chris Gleimius for coming in the top 10 in their age groups - 7th and 4th respectively. The team's position of 5th overall, a major leap up from our 2019 effort which saw us come 20th - congratulations all!

Coach Nicky Bicket had the following to say, "Fantastic result from the chaps today. It's such a pity I had to stay back in the clubhouse and keep watch over the beers, otherwise I totally would have been out there with them".

With pubs in London being affected by the Tier 3 restrictions our usual recovery method was sadly not available. Fortunately, however, the next race is a full year away so we have plenty of time to catch our breath and work up a thirst before coming back faster than ever!"

Below are the official team results showing BCTSA (Bishops Cape Town South Africa) in 5th place overall, behind, Shrewsbury, Harrow, Oundle and Sedbergh. Ahead, though, of traditional rivals (among others), St John's Leatherhead, Winchester, Ampleforth, Sherbourne, Wellington College, Eton, Dulwich and Stowe.

Taken from Nicky Bicket’s UK January newsletter. Click here to view the January UK Newsletter.