Sophie Carter showed her injury problems were fully behind her with a dominant victory at the Milton Park Abingdon Marathon.

The 35-year-old, from Woodstock, regained the ladies’ title she won in 2011, finishing more than eight minutes ahead of her nearest rival.

Carter (Belgrave Harriers) completed the 26.2-mile course in a personal best time of 2hrs 50mins 21secs.

The mother-of-two, who also won the Oxfordshire marathon title, was more than happy with her efforts, having suffered an Achilles tendon injury in March.

“I am pleased with how I have come back from injury,” said Carter.

“I only came back in June, so I didn’t know if I would be doing the marathon this year.”

She added: “The aim was to get sub-2.50 and win the race.

“I wanted to have a good comeback because I hadn’t done a marathon for a couple of years. The wind was tough, so I am pleased with that in the conditions.

“I also haven’t been well. I had a cold last week.”

Carter pulled further clear of runner-up Estelle Damant (Ranelagh Harriers) as the race went on, with the latter clocking 2.58.39.

“I tried to start off quite steady and then at half way tried to push it a bit,” said Carter, whose previous best was 2.53.51.

Dave Cantwell (Woodstock Harriers) finished 53rd in 2.58.41 and led the club to the county men’s team title.

Woodstock’s Susan Haines broke the club vet 55 ladies’ record with a 4.41.40 clocking on chip time, which earned her the county title for her age group.

Woodstock’s Denise Bridges was the third Oxon lady overall and second vet 35 in 3.20.04, helping the club to third place in the team event.

Witney Road Runners’ Alan Reynolds was the second vet 50 man home in 3.11.08.

RESULTS

ROUND-UP

(senior men unless stated)

MILTON PARK ABINGDON MARATHON

Top 3 ladies: 21 S Carter (Belgrave, LV35) 2.50.21.

Oxfordshire Championship MEN Vet 50: 2 A Reynolds (Wit).

Team: 1 Woodstock H (Cantwell, Preddy, Brooke-Little, Travi). LADIES Overall: 1 S Carter, 3 D Bridges (Wds) 3.20.04. Vet 35: 1 S Carter, 2 D Bridges. Vet 55: 1 S Haines (Wds). Team: 3 Woodstock H (Bridges; Blackburn; Haines). Other club results Eynsham RR: 86 B Pollard (V40) 3.04.59 pb, 121 R Storey (V40) 3.10.02, 162 A McEwan-James 3.18.35 pb, 179 S Walker (V40) 3.21.03 pb, 265 N Clark (V50) 3.32.56, 305 M Schofield (V40) 3.38.33, 369 N Maynard (V40) 3.47.35, 572 L Natarajan (LV35) 4.41.22, 573 C Williams 4.41.22.

Witney RR: 126 A Reynolds (V50) 3.11.01, 133 G Ferris (V40) 3.12.07, 415 N Henman (LV35) 3.54.17.

Woodstock H: 53 D Cantwell (V40) 2.58.41, 171 D Bridges (LV35) 3.19.26, 214 N Preddy (V50) 3.26.02, 259 L Brooke-Little (V40) 3.31.34 pb, 324 T Blackburn (LV35) 3.41.40, 574 S Haines (LV55) 4.41.40, 576 C Travi (V40) 4.42.43.

AMSTERDAM MARATHON

Witney RR: A Chuch (V50) 3.28.01, J Field (V40) 3.46.50, H Smith (LV55) 3.59.01, T Moss (LV35) 4.19.59, J Jones 4.44.53, AMSTERDAM HALF MARATHON Witney RR: G Le Good (V60) 1.33.48, J Le Good (LV55) 1.52.54, J McCormac (V55) 1.56.51, N Moss (V40) 1.57.01, I Fowler (V35) 2.18.15 GREAT BIRMINGHAM RUN Eynsham RR: J Marks (V50) 1.52.46, A Greenwood (V50) 2.15.55.