The FT Nikkei UK Ekiden Trophy Revealed!

One of the key pillars of the FT Nikkei UK Ekiden is celebrating the best of Japan and the UK. And whilst we can’t pretend to replicate a full Japanese Ekiden here (yet!), we certainly can echo the important bits, and add in some British aspects too. 

On Tuesday evening, we did just that by unveiling The Ridding Cup, our trophy to last for years to come for the University ‘Racers’ category. 

The Ridding Cup was designed and crafted by LINLEY, incorporating timber from the London Plane tree, appropriately known as the “lungs of the city”. The base is made from 1000-year-old Yakusugi wood from Yakusugi in Kagoshima, brought over by Japan Airlines. 

John Ridding, the CEO of the Financial Times, presented it to the representatives from the Oxford University Cross Country Club, the winners of the inaugural UK Ekiden. 

And in less than 2 weeks, we will be presenting The Ridding Cup to the winners of Year 2!