Gary Harris and Simon Pritchard led the way home in the first race of the Mota-vation Summer Race Series when 170 runners endured a chilly wind at Charlton-on-Otmoor.

After the first mile a pack of about seven or eight emerged with Banbury's Pritchard, last year's series champion, at the front.

After a mile and a half, the pack rapidly dropped off, leaving Pritchard at the front, with Headington's Harris and newcomer Paul Northrop close behind.

Harris went to the front just before two miles and began to pile on the pace. Pritchard matched him stride for stride for about half a mile, but finally Harris pulled away. An even faster third mile from Harris gave him a convincing lead over Pritchard which he held until the end to settle the 1-2-3.

Northrop finished nine seconds adrift, but it was superior packing by Oxford City that gained them the team leadership, with seven runners finishing in the top 20.

The new ladies' team event saw Witney Road Runners take an immediate lead, with newcomer Pippa Mason winning the senior division and Sally Pitts repeating last year's veteran win as the second lady finisher.

Two more veterans, Jayne Mumford (Coventry Godiva) and Kim Shaw (Cherwell), followed before the second senior lady, demonstrating the strength of that division.

The first male vet 40 home was Chris Sykes (Swindon Harriers), in fifth place overall, and the first supervet (male vet 50) was Mick Welland (Oxford City). Pete Chivers led the Alchester athletes home in 25.05, while Nick Dolden was the pick of Bicester's team in 26.08.

The next race is at Bletchingdon on June 1.

MOTAVATION RACE RESULTS

1 G Harris (Headington RR) 20.27, 2 S Pritchard (Banbury) 20.40, 3 P Northrop (Headington) 20.49, 4 J McCarthy (Witney RR) 21.19, 5 C Sykes (Swindon, 1st V40) 21.21, 6 S Kimber (Oxford C) 21.30, 7 T Hughes (White Horse, 2nd V40) 21.36, 8 N Russell (Oxford C) 21.39, 9 J Chapple (Oxford City) 21.40, 10 P Gray (Ox City) 21.41, 11 B Vaughan (Woodstock H, 3rd V40) 21.46, 12 P George (Banbury) 21.54, 13 D Wheeler (Ox City, 4V 40) 22.08, 14 G Tucker (Cherwell, V40) 22.13, 15 D Hartwell (Ox City, V 40) 22.15, 16 K Read (Witney RR) 22.18, 17 I Robinson (Banbury H) 22.19, 18 R Schofield (Ox City, V40) 22.21, 19 C Hobday (Cherwell RR) 22.22, 20 M Ashton (Witney RR) 22.25.

OTHER TIMES

29 M Welland (Ox City, 1st V50), 22.43, 35 C Rutland (Ox City, 2nd V50), 23.12, 39 B Wells (unatt, 3rd V50) 23.23, 64 P Mason (Witney RR, 1st Lady) 24.49, 70 S Pitts (Witney RR, 1st V Lady 35) 25.02, 89 E Robinson (Headington, 1st V 60) 26.11.

CLUB TIMES

Headington Roadrunners: 21 N Baker 22.33, 26 J Morton 22.40, 36 J Thorn 23.15, 37 D Robson 23.20, F Howard 23.49, G Chapman 24.14, R Moye 24.25, E Shoesmith 24.49, H Cotton 24.58, J Worth 26.02, E Robinson 26.09, T Brown 26.20, P Jones 26.24, J Taylor 26.55, S Howard 26.56, B Palmer 27.40, B Green 27.44, L Dennis 28.55, I Barnes 29.51, J Meredith 29.51, M McIver 33.0.

Alchester RC: P Chivers 25.05, B Page 29.59, D Howse 31.40.

Bicester AC: N Dolden 26.08, B Nash 26.32, M Allen 27.12, G Pickup 29.00.