Pat Read, of Headington Road Runners, completed a remarkable achievement by running his 100th Oxford Mail cross country league race at Cirencester, finishing in 222nd position.

He is the first Headington athlete to reach his century.

Read made his cross country league debut at Begbroke in November 1989 when Headington first entered the league, becoming the first Headington runner past the finish line and recording his best position of 47th.

His worst position of 260th was at Ascott in November 2009.

Between November 1989 and February 2010, Read missed only four races, completing an amazing unbroken run of 17 seasons between November 1991 and March 2008.

During his time he has scored 14 times for the Headington A team, 14 for the B team, 35 for the C team, 27 for the D team and 10 for the E team.

Read was the Headington team manager for 18 years and provided the league with some much-loved courses – Noke and Enslow Quarry to name just two.

He was also instrumental in saving the league from folding in 2006.

He has now retired, not only from the Oxford Mail League, but from running altogether, due to injury.

Getting to know Pat over the years, I have no doubt that he will continue to be a friendly and helpful face in the future.