Prominent GB athletes compete for teams in FT Nikkei UK Ekiden race

Photo credit: Phil Hill 

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Prominent British athletes competed for university teams in the second FT Nikkei UK Ekiden race between Windsor and Reading on Friday (June 20).   

The Japanese university team Ritsumeikan prevailed in the event, defeating 15 top UK athletic universities to first place in a nail-biting race.

 A total of 31 teams tackled the 114km Thames Path route, with the race starting and finishing in Brocas Field, Windsor on Friday.

 While it was last year’s winners, The University of Oxford that crossed the line first in a time of 6:53:50, they were disqualified for not making the Tasuki handover within the designated area.

That enabled Ritsumeikan to come through for first place ahead of Loughborough University and St Mary’s in second and third as a tense battle developed in 29-degree heat.

 While officially disqualified, the University of Oxford were awarded a special prize for their enormous effort to get to the finish line first, however, their hopes of winning the event for a second straight year were undone by a technical fault. 

 Anna Dingley, the race organiser, said: “This year's competition was fierce. Every team put in blistering performances in the challenging heat, and we couldn’t be more impressed by the runners’ endurance and teamwork. Well done, everyone!

“We’re excited to see how this race continues to grow amongst universities and corporate teams here in the UK.”

The 114km long distance relay race featured several notable participants including British Olympians   Eilish McColgan and Beth Potter.

 McColgan is a Commonwealth Games champion and Olympic silver medallist while Potter represented Team GB in Rio in 2016 and went on to become World Triathlon Champion in 2023.

In total, 31 teams raced along the Thames from Windsor to King’s Meadow in Reading and back. They included 15 UK university teams, a guest team from Japan and 15 corporate teams with each team of 10 runners passing a traditional Japanese Tasuki sash in place of a baton.

The Tasuki represents the shared endeavour of each team and the interconnectedness of the runners. Each member doesn’t just pass a sash; they pass on the responsibility, the trust, and the spirit of the team to the next runner. This tradition harks back to the origin of Ekiden, inspired by the communication system of old Japan, where messages were relayed over distances by multiple runners.

Supported by the Financial Times and Nikkei, the race seeks to shine a light on university team running and aims to deepen the links between the United Kingdom and Japan through the shared joy of running and sport. 

The collaborative ethos embodied in the Ekiden format is at the heart of the event, celebrating teamwork and the collective achievement of a shared goal.

New sponsors for the event include ASICS, Japan Airlines, Suntory Global Spirits, SMBC Group, and Maurten, highlighting the event’s growing appeal. Returning sponsors include Arcus Investment, Daiwa Capital Markets, and Momiji Charity.

 The event was made possible by a small but dedicated team behind the UK Ekiden, and local volunteers who supported logistics, route marshalling and community engagement.

For more information, please visit www.ukekiden.com