And they're off More than 10,000 runners speed away from the starting line in Battersea Park on the second night of JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge® racing in London. Male champion Matthew Vauxharvey is at the extreme left in red and black (Ingrid Abery photos)

Zara Hyde Peters successfully defends her title in a time of 19:23.

LONDON, July 10, 2003 – Four-time Olympian Colin Jackson retired this spring from competitive racing and says he’s never been more exhausted.

“When you enter the full-time working world,” he said, “it’s a totally different mindset. Maintaining a work schedule, staying fit, having a personal life, it’s quite taxing.

“When I have a day off,” Jackson concluded, flashing his charismatic smile, “I do nothing but sleep.”

Without exception, world-class athletes like Jackson – and the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge® has had celebrity starters from eight different high-profile sports the last two years – have great admiration for the corporate runners who compete in this Series.

“They’re doing something healthy, they’ve found the balance,” said Jackson, the celebrity starter for this event hard by the River Thames. “That’s special.”

And special indeed was the performance on this muggy evening – the hottest in London to date in 2003 with temperatures reaching the high 20s (Celsius; approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit) – of Andy Howse of Fidelity Investments. The 37-year-old Howse won the Most Senior Executive Division title in a sizzling time of 18:49, the best in that division for the Series this year.

Most Senior Executive time impresses champ

“That is an impressive effort,” said women’s overall winner Zara Hyde Peters of UK Athletics. “For someone like me, who works for a company that has a keen interest in sport, it’s not surprising to finish well. But the other participants here who have to find the time to train and perform at a high level, it’s much different.”

Howse serves as Fidelity’s Investment Director of Institutional Business in London. He’s at his office most days by 7:30 a.m. and deals with the stressful volatility of the markets. How then was he capable of running 5:20 miles over this 3.5-mile Battersea Park course?

“It’s called not having much of a social life, it’s called running for a very good (running) club (the world-famous Thames, Hare & Hounds), it’s called snatching lunch when I can,” said Howse. “It’s also called my wife not talking to me if I’m going out training in the evening. It’s a lot of hard work but a lot of fun.”

Howse was running in his second JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge and had 200 of his Fidelity teammates with him, including Andy Weir, who was the fourth overall male in 17:48. Fidelity is one of the biggest supporters of the Corporate Challenge worldwide, with over 2,300 total participants in a half-dozen different cities.

“This is the only special event we do where we can sell things out twice over,” said Howse. “The location is perfect, the time of year is perfect, and we can get people from all over the company to participate. People love it.”

Female MSE winner was entered into race by colleague

Elizabeth Catchpole, Managing Director of the Life and Pension division of Liberata, won the women’s Most Senior Executive division title for the first time. Catchpole heads a department with over 700 employees and she was pleased when one of her colleagues entered her in the Corporate Challenge.

Matthew Vauxharvey (12832) begins to take control of the race.

“My schedule has been hectic, but this is a wonderful event,” Catchpole said.

”I can’t think of a better way actually for all of us to get out here after a busy day and clear our minds with something healthy.”

A total crowd of 10,179 participants from 271 companies participated, bringing the two-night total to slightly more than 22,200. The turnout allowed JPMorgan to donate more than £100,000 for The Ellen MacArthur Trust and The London Marathon Charitable Trust.

Through this event JPMorgan maintained its long-standing relationship with The London Marathon Charitable Trust, helping the organization provide more than £12 million since 1981 for recreational facilities in the Boroughs of London. The Ellen MacArthur Trust – named for the renowned around-the-world sailor – supports, empowers and enlivens young people suffering from cancer or leukemia by introducing them to the joys of sailing on the seas. Thanks to this donation, The Ellen MacArthur Trust will launch its first two sailing weekends this month in Cowes, Isle of Wight.

At the front end of the 10,179 were Hyde-Peters, a repeat champion from UK Athletics, and her male colleague Matthew Vauxharvey. The 27-year-old IP Systems Manager won his first JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge title in 16:52, besting Sullivan Smith of Corus by 22 seconds.

With this dynamite tandem performance, UK Athletics should be right in the hunt for the Mixed Team title and a berth in the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Championship.

Female champion looked to better time from Race #1

Hyde Peters, who helps train Great Britain’s most elite distance runners for UK Athletics, had extra motivation from her colleagues.

“I was heading into a meeting this morning and they handed me the print out from (the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge web site),” said Hyde Peters. “They underlined the winning time (of Bev Jenkins from Royal Mail Letters). They said 'You can do better than that'.”

Jenkins, one of the most decorated JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge runners in Series history, with six overall titles, ran a 19:31 Wednesday night. Hyde Peters bested her by eight seconds.

“I really pushed it the last mile so I could beat that time,” said Hyde Peters. “It was good motivation, especially since my training partner (Louise Watson of BAE Systems) finished second (in 19:47). It’s hard running against someone you train with.”

Heat had an effect on times in Race #2

Because of the warm temperatures, times were generally slower, making Hyde Peters’ performance even more impressive. For comparison sake, the fifth place time in the women’s division Wednesday was 21:30. On this night it was 22:45. Twenty men broke 18 minutes Wednesday; only four did in this race.

And then there was the wacky. Rod Price and Chris Cower, actuaries from Lane, Clark & Peacock, who ran together. Quite literally. They bound themselves by the ankles with an athletic shirt.

“We both tried to run last year and didn’t finish,” explained Price. “So we figured we would help ourselves along.”

The unusual pair crossed the finish line in a bit under an hour, drenched in sweat and with arms extended. The only problem? “Chafing,” said Cower.

The JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Series begins the home stretch of its 27th season on Thursday, July 17 in Morristown, New Jersey. Just five events remain to qualify for the October 4 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Championship in New York.

Fast times on new Battersea Park course: Chris Davies stops the clock in 16:13, the fastest time in the 2003 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, to win the first of two London races easily. Meanwhile, Bev Jenkins (above right) won her sixth London title in a fast time of 19:31.

Royal Mail Letters Delivers Dominating Effort in Race #1

LONDON, July 9, 2003 – Just what the Royal Mail Letters needed, another top runner in its workforce.

Chris Davies, 26, came aboard with the British postal system this past November, based out of Telford. He had all the qualities apparently this organization looks for – intelligent, hard-working, personable, and the ability to run a 4:15 mile.

A first-time JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge® competitor, Davies burned up the opening two miles in nine minutes flat, and cruised home to victory over a new 3.5-mile Battersea Park course in 16:13, the fastest time to date in the 2003 Corporate Challenge Series. He was the first of three Royal Mail Letters to finish among the top five men.

“I’ve heard a lot about this event,” said Davies, “and I know we have had a lot of success here. We’re a bit of a dynasty I guess.”

Sort of like the New York Yankees or Manchester United, it was suggested.

“Don’t associate me with Man-U,” he said. “They’re not my team. But I guess we are that good.”

And no runner better personifies Royal Mail’s excellence than 33-year-old Bev Jenkins. Rebounding brilliantly from an injury-riddled 2002 running year, Jenkins won her sixth JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge title in 19:31. She bested teammate Clare Martin by 23 seconds as four Royal Mail women placed among the top six. With one night remaining in this event, it would take a team full of Paula Radcliffes to prevent Royal Mail from qualifying for the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Championship in October.

Jenkins happy to be back from year of injuries

“I missed everybody last year,” said Jenkins, whose nagging injury last year can be best described as a pulled behind. “I missed the Commonwealth Games too and it was just a tough experience. But I got back in November, and built up from cross country and now feel very fit. I’m racing for Britain this weekend at a 3K event in Barcelona against Spain and Italy.”

Jenkins, a multiple JPMorgan Corporate Challenge Championship winner, has had a good share of success in international competition. And now it appears Davies is on the verge of breaking through on a global scale as well. The Royal Mail’s men’s team – which included James Jackson running 17:24 and Gareth Deacon 17:37 – should also qualify for the Championship and Davies, on paper right now, would be the individual favorite.

Underneath an overcast sky, a runner enjoys a post-race Vittel water break.

“I did the world cross country championship for Britain, and have felt good ever since,” said Davies. “It gave me a lot of confidence. This was a good example. I intended to take it out slow, but I felt good early, and ended up going hard all the way around.”

Before Davies’ 16:13, Oliver Mintzlaff of Puma in Frankfurt had the best men’s time in the 2003 Series, 16:20. Jenkins’ time is the second best this year, behind only the stunning 18:30 run by Petra Wassiluk of Motion Event in Frankfurt.

The 17th annual JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge hard by the River Thames drew 12,070 participants from approximately 300 companies on this overcast, warm evening. Another five-figure crowd is expected on Thursday and in total the participants will raise over £100,000 for The Ellen MacArthur Trust and The London Marathon Charitable Trust.

“This event is about integrity, excellence and giving back to the community,” said John Corrie, head of European Equities for JPMorgan, and the host of the evening. “It’s a great example of JPMorgan living the values.”

JPMorgan has a long-standing relationship with The London Marathon Charitable Trust, helping the organization provide more than £12 million since 1981 for recreational facilities in the Boroughs of London. The Ellen MacArthur Trust was a first-time beneficiary of this event. The Ellen MacArthur Trust – named for the renowned around-the-world sailor – supports, empowers and enlivens young people suffering from cancer or leukemia by introducing them to the joys of sailing on the seas.

Four-time Olympian Colin Jackson serves as race starter

Excellence was also on display in the form of Colin Jackson, the beloved four-time Olympian from Great Britain, who served as the event’s celebrity starter. Jackson retired this spring and is the reigning world-record holder in the 110 meter hurdles outdoors and 60 meters indoors. He represented Britain at a record 71 international events and was named British Athlete of the Year three times.

And even he was impressed by Royal Mail Letters.

“You wouldn’t have seen me running this course in 16:13,” Jackson smiled. “They have some incredible runners.”

But Jackson also had admiration for all the participants in the race.

“You know, what I have achieved is minimal in my eyes,” he said. “It was my business to do well, to win races. But these runners come out and do this, in addition to having busy lives. They should be very proud of themselves. Every runner here tonight who made the time to get ready for this event is a winner.”

Most Senior Executive title won in sub-20-minute time

Tom Hickey of Tullow Oil (19:45) and Ursula Oates, representing GFI Brokers, (32:06), received tangible evidence of their participation, earning the men’s and women’s Most Senior Executive divisions respectively. Hickey’s outstanding time – it’s rare when a CEO-level employee breaks 20 minutes in the Corporate Challenge – illustrated how runner-friendly the new course at Battersea Park is.

Included among the 12,000 participants was the ranking sports official in all of London, the Rt. Hon Minister of Sport, Richard Caborn.