Prizes

One of the pillars of the UK Ekiden is to celebrate the unique connection between Japan and the UK. Each year, the team behind the event selects prizes that reflect this meaningful link, ensuring that the prizes for our winners tell a story of both cultures.

Year 2 prizes

In Year 2, every participant received a medal and a finisher bag. Additionally, special prizes for standout performances were given to the two categories:

‘Racers’: The top three university teams win a cash prize, and the winning team will be presented with a special trophy created by Linley. The trophy will be engraved with the winning team’s name each year and will be on display across the UK and Japan at times throughout the year.
‘Runners’: The fastest sponsor team and the quickest runners of each leg will be awarded a specially chosen prize from Kagoshima prefecture.

The story behind our medals

In Year 2, the medals were designed by students as part of a competition open to schools and universities. The challenge was to create a design that connects the UK and Japan while capturing the essence of the UK Ekiden.

Find out more about the medal design competition here.

The trophy: a new tradition with LINLEY

Our prestigious trophy, designed by LINLEY, a British brand renowned for its craftsmanship, marked the beginning of a new tradition. The elegant design combines British heritage with a modern twist, making it the perfect symbol for our event.

Kagoshima and why it was so important in Year 2

Year 2 winners’ prizes were from Kagoshima, a region in Japan with significant historical and cultural ties to the UK. Kagoshima played a special role for us in Year 2 as we celebrated the 160th anniversary of the students coming over from Kagoshima to study in London.

Year 1 prizes

In its inaugural year, as a thank-you for their participation, the FT Nikkei UK Ekiden awarded medals and goodie bags to all participating runners.

Our medals from Year 1 were in the shape of an acorn, the icon of the Thames Path National Trail and featured the cherry blossom of Japan. On the back of each medal, we engraved a quote: “Great oaks from little acorns grow”, a reminder of the journey from small beginnings to great achievements.

The winning teams received a special FT Nikkei UK Ekiden engraved glass, featuring Mount Fuji, the iconic destination of the original Hakone Ekiden, which has inspired our own event. They also received flower wreaths and a box of custom-made Konpeito sweets from Japan.