EN_GB 
JA 17 elite university teams battled it out on the 112 km Thames Path route between Windsor and Reading in most competitive race yet.
Oxford University clinched a thrilling win in the third FT Nikkei UK Ekiden after a 112km battle with 16 of the best UK university endurance running teams.
The winners, who crossed the line to claim victory in a time of 06:49:01 (6hrs49mins1sec), took the lead shortly before the fifth of ten legs and held their advantage until the finish line – holding off Exeter University by just seconds in the end.
However, after an official review of the course data by the results team, Exeter were relegated to third – leaving last year’s winner Ritsumeikan University from Japan second. Cardiff University’s team finished fourth.
In a race that confirms the event’s reputation as the leading endurance relay race in the country, Ritsumeikan incredibly jumped from sixth to first after the fourth leg before being taken over by Oxford.
Oxford University’s Ella Davey, who ran the thrilling last leg and clinched victory for last year’s runners up, said:
“That was the best running experience I’ve ever had. Seeing the crowd at the end pumped me full of adrenaline and I just had to dig in. I could see Exeter closing when I turned the bend for home but thankfully I got us home. I have never felt emotion or a finish like it. My team was incredible.”
Ella, a first year Chemistry student, said: “The UK Ekiden is an amazing race. There is nothing like it in the UK. I’m looking forward to next year already.”
“We couldn’t have dreamed of a more thrilling race. The finish was remarkable and shows how the UK Ekiden is the pinnacle of team relay races.”
The FT Nikkei UK Ekiden – where mixed teams of 10 male and female runners hand over a “tasuki” sash – was the most competitive yet after every university team’s runners went through qualifying to get to the start line.
The top eight university teams – Oxford, Ritsumeikan, Exeter, Cardiff, Birmingham, Bath, Newcastle and Leeds – now qualify for next year’s event.
“The race just shows how the Ekiden will become a massive part of UK running culture. The Ekiden is not a typical race but is an experience. Nothing can beat the drama in team running terms.”
The thrilling race took place on a picturesque stretch along the Thames between Windsor and Reading – and saw a series of firsts for one of Britain’s fastest growing elite team races, which organisers hope will inspire Olympians of the future.
Among the runners in the corporate and community teams were 2012 Paralympic hero Richard Whitehead, Oxford University Pro-vice-chancellor Alexander Betts and Team GB Olympian Steph Twell, who has competed for Britain across the 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m and marathon.
“It’s an iconic venue and an iconic course. It was fantastic to be part of the growing energy of Ekiden. The real core value of the event are togetherness, teamwork and supporting other members of your team.”
For the first time, the event was licensed by England Athletics and has required all of its elite university teams to go through qualifying before earning their spot.
The winner of the community and corporate race was awarded with a specially-made trophy made by British craftsmen at Linley. It is called the Kanakuri Cup – named after Shiso Kanakuri, who is was first Japanese Olympian more than a century ago, whose vision and leadership helped establish Ekiden as one of Japan’s most cherished sporting traditions.
The Royal Air Force were the first to cross the line from the community and corporate teams.
The 112km long-distance relay began and ended in Brocas Field, Windsor, following the Thames Path to King’s Meadow in Reading and back – seeing the team’s 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.
For the first time this year, a “Mini Ekiden” was rolled out for up to 50 primary schools across the UK, where pupils could experience handing over the sash in the ultimate team sport.
In a few years’ time, these students could be representing their universities in the main race.
Headline sponsors Nikkei and the Financial Times are joined by official partner ASICS and official sponsors ABeam Consulting, Arcus Investment, Daiwa Capital Markets Europe, Japan Airlines, Kikkoman, Marsh, Science in Sport, Sports Ground, Suntory Global Spirits, Ueshima Coffee.
Supporters include the UK Embassy, Japanese Embassy, MUSUBI, Japan National Tourism Organization, Ishikawa Prefecture, Royal Air Force, The Tokyo Club, Momiji, Blick Rothernberg, Fujifilm, Linley, Sapporo Beer.
— Ends —
Download the Japanese press release here.
Notes to Editors
For press enquiries, please contact: press@ukekiden.com.
About the UK Ekiden
Established in 2024 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Hakone Ekiden and the State Visit of the Emperor of Japan to the UK, the FT Nikkei UK Ekiden brings Japan’s iconic sporting tradition to the UK.
Each runner carries the symbolic Japanese tasuki sash, representing teamwork, endurance and collective effort.
University teams, the corporate-sponsored teams and a state visit legacy team, RAF, story tellers compete along the picturesque Thames Path. The event further strengthen Japan-UK relations and showcase Japan’s renowned sports culture in the UK.