Oxford City’s vet 40 Steve Male nosed ahead of Abingdon’s Oz Ellis in the final ten yards to claim a thrilling victory in the first round of the 2009 Mota-vation Series at Charlton-on-Otmoor.

A steady drizzle led to slow conditions for the record field of 438 runners.

Alchester’s Nigel Marley, running for first-claim club Coventry Godiva, established an early lead.

By the two-mile mark, the leading contenders had broken away from the main group and they caught Marley at three-miles.

Male led for half a mile, before Ellis stormed past.

Entering the finishing straight, Male and Ellis were neck-and-neck, but Male’s stamina proved enough to take victory in an exciting finish.

Kieran White finished in third place, with 18-year-old Rhys Glastonbury, formerly of Radley, taking fourth to win the new under 19 age category.

Headington’s Helen Barnes was the leading lady just ahead of Jude Craft (V35).

Laura Kyte was fourth to give Headington victory in the team event.

Headington also scored divisional success with Sandra Wolanski (V45), while City duo Chris Sykes and Roy Treadwell achieved wins in the vet 50 and vet 60 categories.

Kate Williamson crushed the opposition in the ladies’ vet 55 division.

Solid packing saw Oxford City gain the early advantage over Abingdon in their bid to retain the men’s championship, while only brave running by Alchester’s ladies split the top two Headington teams.

The next race is at Bletchingdon on June 4 (7.30).

RESULTS

(top 30, senior men unless stated) 1 S Male (Oxford C, V40) 21.22, 2 O Ellis (Abingdon) 21.23, 3 K White (Hercules Wimbledon) 21.26, 4 R Glastonbury (WSEH, U19) 21.32, 5 C Riley (Bedford) 21.32, 6 M Pearson (RAF) 21.35, 7 N Marley (Coventry Godiva) 21.38, 8 P Fernandez (ABingdon) 21.42, 9 T Wright (Banbury H) 21.44, 10 G Harris (Headington RR) 21.45, 11 T Bradford (Hook Norton) 21.47, 12 L Newell (Abingdon) 21.51, 13 V Zverev (Headington RR, V40) 21.59, 14 J Richardson (Oxford C, V40) 22.05, 15 J Simmons (Banbury H, U19) 22.05, 16 J Atyeo (Witney RR, V40) 22.15, 17 T Lock (Witney RR, V40) 22.17, 18 J Bolton (Woodstock H) 22.26, 19 P Jegou (WHH) 22.29, 20 A Burgess (Oxford C) 22.31, 21 C Sykes (Oxford C, V50) 22.36, 22 P Egerton (Abingdon) 22.46, 23 J Miers (Alchester) 22.50, 24 B O’Connor (Woodstock H) 22.52, 25 H Price (Woodstock H) 22.55, 26 A Moore (Oxford Tri) 22.57, 27 T Jones (Witney RR) 22.58, 28 B Vaughan (Woodstock H, V50) 23.02, 29 G Crone (unattached) 23.03, 30 B Green (Oxford C, V50) 23.04.

TEAM STANDINGS

Men: 1 Oxford City A 119pts, 2 Abingdon A 136, 3 Headington RR A 171, 4 Woodstock H A 188, 5 Witney RR A 215.

Ladies: 1 Headington RR A 7pts, 2 Alchester A 25, 3 Headington RR B 38, 4 Banbury H A 53, 5 Abingdon A 57.