History
Oxford v Cambridge since 1880
The University Cross Country Race began in Oxford on 2 December 1880. Nearly a century and a half later, the fixture still brings Dark Blue and Light Blue together on Wimbledon Common.
- First race
- Thursday 2 December 1880, Oxford, 7½ miles
- Winner
- A. F. Hernaman (Keble), 45:15
- Result
- Oxford 23, Cambridge 32
Milestones
- 1880Full chapter
The first University Race
Held in Oxford over 7½ miles. A. F. Hernaman of Keble was first home, and Oxford won 23 points to 32.
- 1896Full chapter
Neutral ground
Thames Hare & Hounds begins hosting the race at Roehampton, so neither university has home advantage.
- 1926Full chapter
Horton Kirby
Road building forces the race to Kent, where it stays until the Second World War.
- 1937Full chapter
The second teams
Tortoises v Spartans begins, one of the first second-team Varsity contests in any sport.
- 1945Full chapter
Back on the Common
The official series resumes at Roehampton on a new course that stays entirely on Wimbledon Common.
- 1949Full chapter
Bannister wins
Roger Bannister of Exeter wins in 41:54, a year after finishing joint second.
- 1976Full chapter
The Ladies’ race
After an unofficial first race in 1975, the Ladies’ race joins the Gentlemen’s fixture under Thames Hare & Hounds, and has been part of it ever since.
- 1990Full chapter
A centenary and a splash
The Gentlemen’s race celebrates its centenary, and the Beverley Brook water splash returns.
- TodayFull chapter
Wimbledon Common
The Common is home to the modern fixture, with its water splash and the hilly Butts. After no race in 2020, the Races returned on 4 December 2021.
Photographs: OUCCC archive
Olympians who have run in the race.
Gentlemen’s race
- Evelyn MontagueMagdalen, Oxford · Blues 1919–21Paris 1924: 3,000 metres steeplechase, sixth
- Roger BannisterExeter, Oxford · Blues 1948–49Helsinki 1952: 1,500 metres, fourth
- Chris BrasherSt. John’s, Cambridge · Blues 1947–50Helsinki 1952: 3,000 metres steeplechase, eleventhMelbourne 1956: 3,000 metres steeplechase, gold
- Chris ChatawayMagdalen, Oxford · Blues 1950–52Helsinki 1952: 5,000 metres, fifthMelbourne 1956: 5,000 metres, eleventh
- Herb ElliottJesus, Cambridge · Blues 1960 · already Olympic champion when he ranRome 1960: 1,500 metres, gold for Australia in a world record
- Jared WardKeble, Oxford · Blues 2024 · Gentlemen’s winner 2024Rio 2016: marathon, sixth for the United States
Ladies’ race
- Sian BriceQueen’s, Oxford · Blues 1987–89, as Sian PillingSydney 2000: triathlon, did not finish
- Mara YamauchiSt. Anne’s, Oxford · Blues 1992–94, as Mara MyersBeijing 2008: marathon, sixthLondon 2012: marathon, did not finish
- Stephanie CookLincoln, Oxford · Blues 1994–96 · Ladies’ winner 1996Sydney 2000: modern pentathlon, gold
- Julia BleasdalePembroke, Cambridge · Blues 2001–03London 2012: 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres, eighth in both
- Emma PooleyTrinity Hall, Cambridge · Blues 2002 and 2004Beijing 2008: cycling time trial, silverLondon 2012: time trial, sixthRio 2016: time trial, fourteenth
- Claire HallisseyRobinson, Cambridge · Blues 2003–04, as Claire WillerLondon 2012: marathon, 56th in 2:35:39
- Louise ShanahanTrinity, Cambridge · Blues 2019–23Tokyo 2020: 800 metres for Ireland, seventh in her heat in 2:03.57
More history
Photos, programmes and stories
Each year adds another set of names, scores and stories to the record. If you have a photo, a programme or a story from an earlier race, we would love to hear from you at archive@varsityxc.run.