2024 Thomas Cup

The Thomas Cup is almost as old as our club itself, and a look back through our archive offers a potted history, courtesy our much respected former e-news editor Steve Rowland:

‘Here’s a little history for you. The Thomas Cup is named after Sid Thomas, one of the most outstanding runners in Ranelagh’s history. Sid was a multiple world record holder and won the trophy in a match race against Will Parry of Salford Harriers in May 1889. Sid presented the Cup to the club in 1890, and it was first competed for in 1891.

Author Warren Roe includes this account of the race in his booklet about Thomas’s life:

“Amateur running matches were few and far between so the 10 miles match between Sid Thomas and Will Parry caused quite a stir. The Old Trafford Grounds, Manchester, were mutually agreed as the venue and the race would take place on May 10th, 1889. As usual in the pedestrian era both runners went into strict training, Sid Thomas with the famous pedestrian and trainer, Jack White ‘The Gateshead Clipper’, at the Stamford Bridge Grounds in Chelsea and Parry by the pedestrian Bryden.

Thomas and his party were quartered at the Douglas Hotel where according to the Sporting Life correspondent the Ranelagh Harrier looked as cool as a cucumber and in the best of trim. The supporters of Parry were equally confident and said to be cock-a-hoop over the chances of their champion. At various sporting ‘resorts’ Parry was ruled as a red hot favourite, 6-4 being freely laid on him.

The atmosphere of the ground reminded many of the pedestrian matches held in Manchester a quarter of a century earlier. The evening weather was fine and the track in superb condition. Among the crowd were a number of well-known amateur athletes and retired pedestrians, including John Brighton (the Norwich Milkboy) who had prepared the track and Bill Lang (the Crowcatcher), an old adversary of Jack White.

The runners were set of at the prescribed time and Parry led through the first mile in 4mins 47secs and the second in 9mins 52secs. The difference in their respective styles was remarkable, Parry moving in his well-known lurching stride while Thomas ambled around looking ready to pounce at any time, which just before three miles he did. Parry took on the challenge but was soon suffering from ‘stitch’ and stopped just before four miles and three quarters. Thomas continued on and finished in a time of 54mins 55 2/5secs, winning a silver cup valued at £25.”

And of course, that very Cup is the one Sid subsequently donated to the club and for which we now compete as the Thomas Cup.’

Thank you, Steve dear.

A quick hop in our prosaic DeLorean to 2024, to find many like-minded and devoted ‘pedestrians’ gathering at the Ranelagh clubhouse on Saturday 21 September, eager to mark the start of our 144th season by competing for – you guessed it - the Thomas Cup.

There was an air of festivity as the rabble moved to Petersham Gate for the traditional club photo; after which the journey continued upwards to the manhole at Sidmouth Woods, while the marshals took to their various points.

Unlike in 1889, there were no bets or odds being laid, but while there were a few Ranelaghs looking ‘cool as a cucumber’, less as many were ‘in the best of trim’, and certainly no one was ‘cock-a-hoop’ at their chances of being the champion; not while esteemed club handicapper, Bruce McLaren, was on watch.

Race Director Andy Bickerstaff’s laconic ‘ready, GO’ rang through the air 49 times until everyone had been set off for a ‘nice run in the countryside’. The inclusive breadth of the field meant that young Joel Peirson-Hagger (in his inaugural role as scratch), started approx. 26 mins from our first runner, the venerable, indomitable octogenarian that is Allan Lang.

Some 20 minutes after Joel started, anticipation was high as to who would crest the rise first; the conditions were bone-dry and the weather close – great for the marshals & officials waiting but tough on the runners out there.

Mr (Used To Win Everything) Marc Leyshon was making his way back to form; perhaps he would defy his handicapping to storm home? But surely Mr (Always Third or Fourth) Dave Lawley had enough of a head start to keep him at bay? And what about on form Aoife Kilpatrick who’d been admirably smashing her running goals; or even newly elected club president Maia Rushby, who’d been training well?

Then there was the outliers – those coming out of the woodwork – Pete Smith (visiting from far flung lands), John Scally, Anna Scally or even the mighty Allan Lang himself, perhaps repeating his Baker Cup victory a few years back?

Handicaps being what they are, it was hard to predict but as with all things Ranelagh, all would be made clear in due course. And so it was; to a huge cheer from all waiting at the finish line, John Scally came thundering up the rise – followed closely by a determined Maia Rushby. With metres to go, Maia pushed to give it her all, but John bravely held on to take the Thomas Cup in a fabulous 37:53! A fantastic effort and a brilliant run.

The officials barely had time to register the win as the rest of the field swiftly came through, the timing of which coincided with a short cloudburst – making time & number taking somewhat challenging for all concerned. And the drama did not stop there; Clive Naish and Allan Lang treated all to a (slow-motion) sprint to the finish, proving that there is life in our old dogs yet and that their competitive spirit will never die.

Maia’s 2nd place (30:43) was followed by Phil Roberts in 3rd (30:15), with Greg Smith taking 4th (32:52) and Anna Scally coming across in 33:37 to make our top 5 finishers. The fastest 3 ladies were Cecily Day (24:52), Aoife Kilpatrick (27:04) and Edel McKeever (28:31), whilst the fastest open were Marc Leyshon (21:52), Joel Peirson-Hagger (22:23) and Dave Ready (22:48). Well done to all the runners who participated.

Straight after, everyone trooped back to the clubhouse for the Thomas Cup prize-giving, preceded by a special presentation to Aoife Kilpatrick, the inaugural winner of the Women’s Achievement Trophy.

A huge thank you to all the marshals, volunteers and race organisers; with an extra HUGE shout out to Hadi Khatamizadeh, Gavin Hillhouse, Rebecca Bissell, Robbie Hillhouse and the BBQ setup crew for the fabulous spread put on for all to enjoy. A fitting way to end a fantastic day.

Race report by Narissa Vox
📸 by Robbie Hillhouse, Jeremy Day, John Scally and Pete Vox

💙 Finishing Order: Ranelagh.ThomasCup2024.FinishingOrder.pdf
💛 Speed Order: Ranelagh.ThomasCup2024.SpeedOrder.pdf
💙 Fastest 3: Ranelagh.ThomasCup2024.Fastest3s.pdf