SOUTHERN COUNTIES VETERANS TRACK & FIELD LEAGUE

OXFORD City’s men and Radley’s ladies reached the Southern Counties League final after topping their respective Western Division tables.

Radley were denied a fourth straight victory when they were edged out by Abingdon at Tilsley Park on Monday night, but still finished five points clear.

The men’s division, however, went right down to the wire, with City taking round four to finish just one point ahead of Abingdon.

Both winners will go for regional glory in the league final at Ashford, Kent on Sunday, September 1.

Kay Reynolds led the way for Radley on the night with victories in the vet 35 pole vault (1.80m) and 200m (28.3secs).

But they finished nine points behind Abingdon, for whom Noel Blatchford bagged a vet 60 double in the 2,000m walk (12.02.9) and 800m (3.34.0).

City’s men beat Abingdon by 11 points to take the decisive victory after the clubs went into round four neck and neck.

Les Newell bagged two wins for Oxford in the vet 35 age group, taking the 800m in 2.20.4 and the 3,000m in 9.15.4.

City’s Stewart Thorp collected a vet 60 brace in the 800m (2.34.7) and 3,000m (11.10.2).

Mark Spivey (vet 50) secured a field event double for Abingdon, with victories in the discus (33.35) and javelin (30.85).