Alchester's ladies got off to a strong start in round one of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League at Ascott-under-Wychwood.

The Bicester-based club lie second in Division 1, just four points behind Headington Road Runners.

Sarah Rendell led the way with an eighth-place finish, completing the challenging 6.5km course in 25mins 19secs.

Club debutant Poppy Blake was 11th in 25.31, while 17th-placed Samantha Usher (26.07) completed their A team.

Alchester’s B team are second in Division 3, with Michelle Pank, Sarah Cox and Emilie Fidler their next three home.

Richard Gould led Alche-ster’s men to third place in Division 2 after finishing 25th.

Gould completed the 8.5km course in 32.36, with clubmate Paul Swanton (32.42) also making the top 30.

The junior races saw Bicester’s Amy Gould and Millie Couzens both pick up third places.

Gould clocked 7.59 for the 2km under 13 girls’ course, with clubmate Holly Grif-fiths-Brown tenth.

Couzens (3.58) matched Gould’s position in the under 11 girls’ race over 1.2km, with Amelia Cox coming home sixth.

Freddie Taylor was fourh in the under 11 boys’ event over the same distance.

Harry Rendell finished seventh in the under nine boys’ and girls’ race.

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

MEN

Senior: 25 R Gould (Alc, V40) 32.36, 27 P Swanton (Alc) 32.42.

Under 11: 4 F Taylor (Bic).

LADIES

Senior: 8 S Rendell (Alc, V35) 25.19, 11 P Blake (Alc) 25.31, 17 S Usher (Alc, V35) 26.07, 19 M Pank (Alc) 26.17, 29 S Cox (Alc, V35) 27.37.

Under 13: 3 A Gould (Bic) 7.59, 10 H Griffiths-Brown (Bic) 8.29.

Under 11: 3 M Couzens (Bic) 3.58, 6 A Cox (Bic).

TEAM RESULTS

MEN

Division 2: 3 Alchester A 416.

Division 3: 6 Alchester B 1103.

Under 13: 6 Bicester A 65.

LADIES

Senior - Division 1: 2 Alchester A 36.

Division 3: 2 Alchester B 91, 5 Alchester C 172.

Under 13: 4 Bicester A 32, 8 Bicester B 87.

Meanwhile, entries are filling up fast for the Andy Reading 10K at Chesterton.

The race, jointly organised by Bicester AC and Alchester RC, takes place on Sunday, December 14.

For more information, visit alchester-runningclub.co.uk