Official results are available


Jonathan Edwards, world record holder in the triple jump, shares a smile with participants before the race start. (Photo: Ingrid Abery/www.hotcapers.com)

Sun restores spirits in London
as fast times replace umbrellas
Official results are available | London in photos

Beverly Jenkins wins 7th London title.

LONDON, July 8, 2004 - After only the fourth cancellation in the 28-year history of the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, spirits were lifted Thursday morning when the sun poked through the clouds and signaled the corporate party of the year was on.

The driving rains and bone-chilling winds from the evening before - which had flooded the brand-new Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park and had prompted the British weather service to post a Severe Weather Warning - had all but disappeared. By the 6:45 p.m. race time, more than 12,000 participants gratefully replaced their umbrellas and under layers with shorts and t-shirts and competed in an abbreviated version of the 18th annual JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Battersea Park.

"I heard about the cancellation Wednesday afternoon, and then saw the sky open later on," said Michael Dwomoh of Credit Suisse First Boston. "I thought, 'Someone knew this was coming.' The organizers made absolutely the right call canceling the race. I'm very happy, though, that my company was scheduled to run Thursday and gets this chance. I wouldn't miss the Corporate Challenge."

The Wednesday cancellation was the first in the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Series since the August, 2001 Chicago event. Philadelphia and New York City have been the only other Series events forced to cancel due to severe weather.

"You couldn't hold this Wednesday," said Denise Rusdell of Lehman Brothers. "This is all about a post-race party, enjoying the companies of your colleagues."

Sold-out Hospitality Village part of re-designed venue

As Rusdell made those comments on this night, the Lehman Brothers party was going on strong in a sold-out Hospitality Village at Battersea Park 's British Genius site. Among the highlights of the 2004 Corporate Challenge was a new and improved Battersea Park staging area, with the re-designed 3.5-mile course featuring new start and finish areas.

"This is one of the most special events of the year for Lehman Brothers," said Rusdell. "We raise money ourselves through the event for a charity, Sparks (Sports Aiding Medical Research for Kids), and it's an opportunity for all of us to get together and enjoy each other's company, whether we run or not."

Many companies in the Corporate Challenge in London pledge support to particular charities. This is in addition to the £100,000 JPMorgan donated through the Corporate Challenge to Sports Aid - an organization that provides financial assistance to talented teenage sportsmen and sportswomen - and six special schools in Bournemouth and Poole for children with learning disabilities.

Female MSE winner Carole Machell, Managing Director of JPMorgan in Bournemouth, chats with Jonathan Edwards.

"The Corporate Challenge is about working together on a common cause, and getting to know each other in a way that you would never get in six months in the office," said John Bradley, Managing Director and Head of Human Resources for JPMorgan in London.

The race took off after the evening's celebrity starter - the UK 's own world-record triple jumper Jonathan Edwards - received a resounding ovation from the masses at the starting line.

In his first year of retirement after a 15-year career, the two-time World Champion and 2000 Olympic gold medalist was pleased to lend his support to the corporate participants.

"I have great respect for all the participants tonight, this is an affirmation for them," said Edwards.

"I truly believe that you will enjoy life more if you have a level of fitness, and everybody here for this event confirmed that they want to make healthy choices."

Edwards certainly had a fan in Credit's Suisse Michael Dwomah.

"I don't have many heroes, but this is one guy I look up to," Dwomah said, after having his photo taken with Edwards near the starting line. "I remember when he would never compete on Sundays because of his faith. Very few people would do that. And he is a genuinely nice guy. You can see it."

Edwards was impressed himself by the quality of competition, led by the most successful corporate entity in Series history, Royal Mail Letters.

Royal Mail Letters delivers another impressive performance

You might find palm trees blossoming in Trafalgar Square before you witness a Corporate Challenge event in London that is not dominated by the mail carriers. On this night, the two defending champions shone brightest. Chris Davies - warming up for his appearance in the Great Britain Olympic Trials this weekend - earned the men's title in a swift 16:40. On the women's side, his colleague Beverly Jenkins earned her seventh London JPMCCC crown, notching a 19:04.

Davies is the 2003 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Championship winner and Jenkins has also broken the tape at the October Series-ending gala. It's highly likely both will return in 2004. Royal Mail has the most male, female and mixed team titles worldwide in Corporate Challenge history and also holds the record for most team and individual championships at the year-end Championships.

Tom Hickey of Tullow Oil earned his second consecutive male Most Senior Executive Award and JPMorgan's Carole Machell was his female counterpart. For Machell, who journeyed up from Bournemouth, it was her first appearance on the awards stage.

NOTE FOR WEDNESDAY'S COMPANIES: Even though there is no make-up date for the cancelled July 7 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Battersea Park, all companies will receive their full complement of t-shirts and other items within the finisher bags. Distribution of the materials will begin the week of July 12. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge hotline in London at 020 7299 4160.