ROAD RUNNING

PAUL Fernandez showed impressive durability to win the Banbury 15 on Sunday.

The previous day, he was Oxfordshire’s second runner home in the senior men’s race in the Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships at Cofton Park, Birmingham.

Less than 24 hours later, the Abingdon athlete won the challenging, hilly 15-mile Banbury race after a great battle with James Bolton (Woodstock Harriers), who had also competed in the gruelling cross country event.

Fernandez clocked 1hr 25mins 42secs, with Bolton second in 1.26.29.

Alchester’s Sam Usher was the second lady home and took the vet 35 honours in 1.46.41.

She also led Alchester to the ladies’ team prize, while the club’s men finished second behind Silson Joggers.

JOSH Ridley smashed his personal best by more than a minute with a fine performance at the Trafford 10K.

Ridley (Witney Road Runners) clocked 31mins 16secs to finish 22nd in a very high standard race at Partington.

His time places him second in the UK under 23 rankings for 2014.