RUNNERS pounded the roads of Marston yesterday to raise money for disabled sports facilities.

The Headington RoadRunners race saw more than 200 people put their best foot forward for the club’s 25th anniversary.

But the planned five-mile race took a wrong turn after a mix-up with marshalling on the route so runners clocked up around 4.4 miles instead of the full five. RoadRunners chairman Steve Cowls said: “Despite the shorter race, it didn’t affect the enjoyment of lots of people, it was just a mistake.

“We don’t believe it affected the winning result.”

Organisers hoped to raise £1,000 to help buy gym equipment for the Oxsrad Sports Centre at Court Place Farm, in Marsh Lane, which aims to buy a set of parallel bars with the money to help wheelchair users.

Runner John Abrams, from Witney, was the oldest to tackle the route.

The 76-year-old said: “We are running all the time; it is a good morning out and gets you up early.

“It’s cold and you just want to get going at the start.”

s See Thursday’s Oxford Mail for a full sports report on the race