Headington Road Runners maintained their triple title hopes after round two of the Apex Sports Chiltern Cross Country League at Shuttleworth College.

The Oxford club stayed top of the ladies’ and both veterans Division 1 standings following some good performances at the Bedfordshire venue.

Leading the way was Jude Craft, who secured a top-ten finish in the ladies’ race and went second in the vet 35 standings.

Craft came ninth in 24mins 58secs and was well supported by Liz Barker, Aine Lyng and Adrienne Hopkins as Headington aim to regain the title they last won in 2010-11.

Fergus Campbell finished 51st in the men’s race to lead Headington’s male veterans, who are defending champions, while Craft, Hopkins and Sarah Farrow were their top lady veterans.

Oxford City’s Darrell Bellinger began the defence of his Division 1 men’s title with a ninth-place finish.

Bellinger missed round one to focus on a successful world record attempt for five people tied together at the Abingdon Marathon.

But he was back in action at Shuttleworth Collegewhere he completed the course in 31.20 to finish 11th overall.

Oxfordshire’s Christian Von Eitzen (Vale of Aylesbury) was ninth in the under 17 boys’ race, recording 21.33.

Oxford City’s Nat Jones came tenth in the under 15 boys’ event in 12.54, edging out Abingdon Amblers’ Michael Fabes by one place and one second.

Lauren Hawtin (Oxford City) was ninth in the combined junior and under 17 ladies’ race.

Hawtin clocked 20.10 to come home as the fourth under 17 athlete.

There were further top-ten finishes from Oxford City’s Chloe Ridewood, who was eighth under 13 girl in 10.33 and Radley’s Rachel Burton – tenth under 11 girl in 7.53.

RESULTS

(senior men unless stated)

APEX SPORTS CHILTERN CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE

2nd Round

Headington Road Runners – ladies: 9 J Craft 24.58 (2nd LV35), 16 L Barker 25.51, 19 A Lyng 26.16, 25 A Hopkins (LV35) 27.12, 41 S Farrow (LV50) 29.21, 58 M Fischer (LV50) 31.39, 66 R Cameron (LV50) 36.41, 71 M Russell (LV50) 42.24. Men – 26 M Robinson 33.15, 40 T Doole 34.45, 51 F Campbell (V40) 35.17, 56 P Ilott (V40) 35.36, 65 R Skilbeck 36.14, 71 A Phelps (V50) 36.27, 90 J Griffiths (V50) 37.52, 93 M Dunmore 38.14, 97 A Darbyshire (V45) 38.27, 109 L Hurman (V55) 39.19, 127 N Baker (V55) 40.14, 182 J Worth (V45) 48.32.