Thame ‘honoured’ to join illustrious list of Blakiston Challenge winners

Toby Thame became the seventh different Northampton Saints player to cross the finishing line first in the demanding Blakiston Challenge on Friday.

Each year since 2018, the Club’s players and staff have participated in the event at Castle Ashby, which pays homage to former Saints captain Sir Arthur ‘Freddie’ Blakiston and his life-saving heroics in World War I, which earned him a Military Cross.

Dan Biggar (2018), Reuben Bird-Tulloch (2019), Piers Francis (2020), Alex Coles (2021 & 2022), Fin Smith (2023) and Archie McParland (2024) are the previous winners who completed two 2.5km runs, either side of a gruelling 2km of 30kg and 50kg sandbag carries, ahead of dozens of competitors.

Last Friday, in gruelling 30-degree heat, it was Academy graduate and son of former Saint John Thame, Toby, who raced home to victory – topping off an inspirational return from injury.

“It’s a pretty amazing feeling to win,” he said. “If you look at the list of names – [Dan] Biggar, [Alex] Coles, [Fin] Smith, I’m up there with some amazing athletes and amazing players, so very honoured.

“I think all the coaches are on the same page that this challenge doesn’t have many correlations to rugby.

“There’s no passing or game management, but it’s the grit and the determination that you show, and how an event like this can bring a team together.

“All of us pulling together in the same direction, giving our all on a hot Friday afternoon, really helps with the team ethos.”

Thame, who has made nine appearances for Saints, endured a challenging 2024/25 season as he was sidelined by an ACL injury. 

Formerly of Radley College, he progressed from Northampton’s Under-13 DPP into the Under-18s side – and caught the eye as he featured heavily at fly-half and centre at that level as an Under-17 and signed his first professional contract ahead of the 2022/23 season.  

Thame has represented England at age-grade level, earning Under‑20 caps during the 2023 World Rugby Championship and Six Nations.

On what got him through the challenge, Thame added: “It’s been a long eight months being injured with my knee, but I’ve been studying as well, and I had Robbie Smith and Sam Graham running alongside me in the challenge who have been in rehab with me, so what a lovely thing to have them working hard with me, I didn’t feel my knee once.

“The sandbags are so tough, but when you’ve got the bag on your back, it just takes you back to Freddie Blakiston with men on his back, an absolute war hero. 

“We’ve had a great start to preseason, and obviously, it’s events like this that bring the team together; we’re a closer bunch for it.”