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Following their excellent showing at the 68th Thames Hare & Hounds Alumni Race in December, the OAXC made history over the weekend with their victory over Stonyhurst in the 2020 Newton-Carter Trophy.

The OAXC's victory was also the first time an away team had won the Newton-Carter Trophy, making the occasion all the more momentous; we look forward to the OAXC's return to the Valley at the 2020 OA Sports Day. 

A special thank you to Hugh Dickinson who provided the match report below on behalf of the OS Cross Country team: 

"Thank you very much to those who arranged, participated or supported the annual Old Stonyhurst versus Old Ampleforth Race for the Newton-Carter trophy.  In particular thanks to Paul Wilmore, the Stonyhurst cross-country master and Layla Heaton and Beverley Sillitoe from the Association Office for all their hard work.

To remind you, this is the race in the memory of Christopher Newton-Carter who was educated at Beaumont and Stonyhurst and who sadly died in the September 11 attacks. Chris raced in the inaugural cross-country race between the two schools more than 50 years ago and the trophy is run in his memory at the request of his former team mates.

Although the threat of Storm Ciara hung over the race, we were greeted by particularly temperate running conditions for the Ribble Valley. The OS and the OA put out a strong team with girls’ and boys’ teams from both schools competing. There was also a lone runner representing Lancaster Royal Grammar School.

To the surprise of all, the race was won by a country mile by the lone runner from Lancaster Royal Grammar School! Stonyhurst boys William Hall and Nicolas Rumpf came 2nd and 3rd respectively. Well done to them because in recent times the race has been dominated by the old boys.

The result in the Newton-Carter Trophy was a very close victory for the OAs – the first time since the race began that the Trophy has been won by the away team. Rory Smith (OA) won the race whilst Greg O’Connor was the first of the OS runners in 3rd place with Richard Kenyon close behind in 5th.  Lucy Rowland was the first female OS runner with Mary-Maye Lorriman (OS) just behind. Mary-Maye’s husband Hugh-Guy was running for the OA and they were supported by their son who is at SMH so it was a truly family affair. 

Many thanks to Simon Rowland (OS) who flew in from Stolkholm for the race and for Hideo Takano (OS) who kept up his excellent record of attendance. Michael Wylie-Carrick (OS) continued his tradition of running an additional 50m in order to complete the original course which may or may not explain why he was well beaten by his son Joseph running for the College team! Jonathan Muller (OS) brought up the rear but much enjoyed running the course for the first time in over 40 years. Special mention to Tom Bedingfeld (OA) who escaped his son’s parent’s weekend at Ampleforth to travel across the Penines in the school minibus to compete in the race – his dedication contributing to the OA victory.

The Stonyhurst boys’ team were victorious over their Ampleforth counterparts whereas the Ampleforth girls were victorious in their race respectively.

We retired to the Bailey Arms afterwards to watch England vanquish Scotland in a weather dominated fixture. A select few then attended an excellent dinner at St Mary’s Hall also attended by Rory Henderson (OA) representing the OAs. The night was not however over for those of us staying in Theodore House (the new luxury retreat centre on the site of the Old Mill) where the Liverpool University Catholic Chaplaincy were holding a retreat. We were greeted on our return from dinner by 2 nuns from Missouri leading the dancing at the after party – needless to say we participated and the sight of Michael Wylie-Carrick pulling out the dance moves in full tweed will live long in the memory!

The long drive south on Sunday morning was testing with Storm Ciara at full throttle and Lancashire virtually underwater – at one point driving across a lake where the Ribble had flooded the road at Ribchester Bridge, I seriously doubted I would make it out Lancashire!  However, escape I did and an excellent weekend meant that it was fully worth the effort!"