OXFORDSHIRE athletes secured a gold medal hat-trick in the British and Irish Masters Cross Country International at Bute Park, Cardiff.

Woodstock Harriers’ James Bolton plus Oxford City duo Julian Richardson and Roy Treadwell all won men’s team golds for England.

Bolton was part of England’s vet 40 team, while Richardson and Treadwell were victorious in the vet 45 and 65 categories respectively.

Treadwell led the way, finishing as his country’s second man home, clocking 23mins 11secs for a 6km course.

The 66-year-old, who was making his England debut, said: “I am not the best cross country runner, but I was pleased with my run.

“I was fourth individual in my category.

“It was a good course, but I would have preferred to have an extra lap.”

Richardson, 46, was England’s third man home and sixth overall in the vet 45 category, recording 25.38 for an 8km route.

“I feel very proud to have won a second successive team gold for England and to have contributed again to the scoring team,” he said.

“It is especially pleasing to have scored points again this year, having only scraped into the team as first reserve.

“The best thing was having all my family there to cheer me on.”

Bolton, 41, was the fifth vet 40 man home in 25.26.

With just the top four counting towards the standings, he missed out on that by ten seconds and one place, but all six in the team get medals.

England finished 30 points clear of second-placed Republic of Ireland and such was their dominance, that Bolton was the eighth man home overall in his age group.

But he said: “I’m so disappointed having seen the results.

“I was sure I was fourth counter, no wonder they didn’t call out my name – I was ‘and all the team’!

“Though on paper the England V40-44 team actually finished in our 2013 10k time order, so maybe that’s what I should have expected.

“The gold seems a bit hollow now, which is a bit like the quality of the medal we got.

“Still, it was a good day out, a nice run and great company.”

Oxford City pair Stewart Thorp and John Exley were reserves for England’s vet 60 and 65 teams respectively and ran in the open races.

Thorp clocked 29.52 for 8km, while Exley ran 24.10 over 6km.