Mob Vs Thames Hare & Hounds

The time is nigh!

RANELAGH, dust off your spikes, lace up your trails, don your vests and have the mud-scrubbing brush ready for after. It’s time for ALL HANDS ON DECK for our 1st mob match of the season; against our friendly neighbours in Wimbledon Common, Thames Hare & Hounds.

All are welcome (read, greatly encouraged) to participate in a running rivalry that dates back to the early 20th century, when THH ‘established its most enduring fixture against Ranelagh (later to evolve into the Mob Match in 1973/74)‘.

The tally is 22 Ranelagh wins against 26 Thames wins; and the tide is hugely in our favour to make it 23 wins!

Everyone can (must?) take part in our mob matches; simply put, the more starters we have, the better our chance of victory. If a hard race doesn’t fit in with your training plans, just take it as a training run – it’s the number of bodies on the starting line that’s the important thing.

There is always a convivial and entertaining supper after the Thames match so COME ON RANELAGH – let’s come together for a ‘good run in the country side‘, in support of our club and for another chance to chant our Club Cry:

Hobble Gobble
Razzle Dazzle
Zis Boom Bah
Ranelagh Ranelagh
Rah Rah Rah.

A reminder from the late Stephen Instone who wrote in the RANELAGH HARRIERS E-NEWS # 159 (20 November 2004) that “since the benefits of running a Mob Match for Ranelagh may not be immediately apparent, it may be worth considering that…

Mud is good for the skin, and preserves old fossils.
You get a feel for what it was like to live in ancient Sparta.
You gain experience in tolerating crushing defeat and ignominy.
It’s good for the physiotherapy industry.
You can philosophise over whether 50 counts as a mob.
Spikes aerate the soil.”

RACE INFO ⬇️

🔢 1pm: PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY to allow time to register & collect numbers @ THH clubhouse.
🏃‍♀️ 2pm: Race start. Course is approx. 7.5 miles (12km) over cross country terrain. See map below
🏆 3.30pm: Results & tea at clubhouse
🍝 6.30pm: Supper @ King’s Head, Roehampton. If attending, please RSVP to coordinator@ranelagh-harriers.co.uk or to the club captains.

🏠 THH’s clubhouse: Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields, edge of Wimbledon Common near the Robin Hood roundabout on the A3. Follow the gravel path and look for the door with the saltire logo.
🚗 Parking: Limited but can also usually be found in nearby side roads.

Thames Hare & Hounds Clubhouse

Thames Hare & Hounds Mob Match Course