DARRELL Bellinger successfully defended his Berks, Bucks and Oxon Cross Country Championship title at Braywick Park, Maidenhead.

The Oxford City athlete took the men’s crown after completing the surprisingly firm and fast 9.6km course in 29mins 39secs.

And City almost completed a double, with Livvy Napier coming second in the ladies’ race.

Napier clocked 23.26 for her 6km course, 18 seconds behind winner Charlotte Firth (Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow).

Bellinger finished 25 seconds clear of Reading’s Daniel Thorne and led City to second place in the men’s team event.

Marcus Maxwell (32.42), Carl Thompson (32.53), Andy Gleeson (33.08) and Rob Webster (34.36) were 16th, 20th, 22nd and 34th resepctively to complete the side.

Abingdon Amblers’ Dan Hamilton came third in 30.38, edging out Oxford City’s Steve Male (30.39), who was first veteran home, on the final run in.

Jonathan Cornish (White Horse Harriers) finished tenth and second under 20 man in 31.45, with clubmate Sam Marshall (32.27) 15th and fourth under 20.

City’s Martha Lloyd was eighth in the ladies’ race, recording 24.32, with Abingdon’s Liz Purbick ninth in 24.35.

With Jade Walker coming 18th in 26.17, City finished third in the team standings. White Horse Harrier Josie Harrison was fifth in the under 17 girls’ race, clocking 25.34 for the 6km route.

Radley’s Chris Hewitt recorded 20.35 for seventh in the under 17 boys’ race over the same distance.

Abingdon’s Michael Fabes came third in the under 15 boys’ race, clocking 14.00 for the 4km course.

City’s Nat Jones was fifth in 14.07, with White Horse Harriers’ Ben Claridge sixth in 14.14.

Oxford came second in the under 15 girls’ team event, thanks to Megan Humphreys (15.35), Storm Sunderland (15.35) and Elisha Evans (16.37), who were sixth, seventh and 15th overall.

Radley were runners-up in the under 13 boys’ team category, with Jack Mitchell (11.58), Daniel Stokell (12.07) and Callum Rowe (12.18) seventh, eighth and 13th over the 3.5km course.

RESULTS ROUND-UP

(senior men unless stated)

B,B&O CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Men: 19 P Jegou (WHH) 32.51, 39 A Mills (U20, WHH) 32.26, 77 M Ward (V40, WHH) 45.09, 78 D Stringfellow (V50, WHH) 45.12.

Under 15 – Girls: 14 G Harvey (Abn) 16.35, 16 V Tilling (Abn) 16.51. Boys: 21 O Onay (WHH) 15.43, 30 C Harrison (WHH) 16.33. Team: 5 White Horse Harriers.

LUTON MARATHON

Didcot Runners: P Mason 4.08.24

GOSPORT HALF MARATHON

Didcot Runners: S Howes 1.31.50, S Greenhalgh 1.41.03, T Greenhalgh (SL) 2.23.10.

Oxford City: M Welland (1st V65) 1.28.17, P Kimber (3rd V65) 1.37.27.

A20 PATH AND DOWNS MARATHON

Didcot Runners: D Knopp (V50) 3.35.42.

A20 PATH AND DOWNS HALF MARATHON

Didcot Runners: E Akin (SL) 1.54.22.

RUGGED RADNAGE 10K

Kidlington: 69 A Finnigan (V35, 4th lady) 50.37.

SHAKESPEARE RACEWAY 10K

Woodstock H: 77 C Travi (V45) 48.58, 93 K Adams 50.40.

LEEDS ABBEY DASH 10K

Headington RR: 311 D Moore (LV35) 36.45 pb.