Physiotherapists retain the cup!

A team of runners from Derriford Hospital’s Physiotherapy Department fought off tough competition from colleagues to retain the title for this year’s Staff Half Marathon Challenge Cup.

The annual tournament pits departments against each other, with the team with the best average time of their fastest five runners taking the prize. The challenge is open to all staff groups including nurses, junior doctors, consultants, naval personnel and support staff. This year’s teams included the Emergency Department, Defence Medical Group South West, Cardiac and Diabetes.

The top five runners from the team were Mike Wilsmore, Will Hawling, Dave Mould, Claire Hobson and Lucy Pritchard, with an average running time of 01:39:20. An injury meant that usual captain, Alex Jack, was not able to participate, but Will Hawling ably captained the team to a third trophy win (2011 and 2015).

Alex said: “The cup has been retained due to an excellent effort from the whole team, with six members posting personal best times. The team are looking forward to defending the cup in 2017.”

The team were presented with the Challenge Cup by Phill Mantay, Director of Transformation, who said: “Congratulations to the team and to those who achieved new personal bests. To run the half marathon, regardless of time, is a huge achievement within itself. It comes as no surprise that they have retained the cup for a second year with a great effort from the whole team.”