Former Radley ace Hatti Dean claimed the bronze medal in the senior women’s race at Saturday’s English National Cross Country Championships at Roundhay Park in Leeds.

Dean, who now runs for Hallamshire Harriers, finished just 20 seconds off the pace of Stephanie Twell, who won the race in 27 mins 52 secs.

She was in the running for the silver medal with Vale Royal’s Stevie Stockton, but finished five seconds adrift in third place over the 8km course, crossing the line in 28.12.

Dean said: “I was really pleased with my run to be honest.

“It is normally quite a fast course, but it was pretty muddy and boggy, and quite slow going.

“It was close between me and Stevie until the last kilometre.

“I was quite pleased to be that close to Steph – she had a really strong run – but didn’t pull away until about three kilometres to go.

“I went into the race thinking I could win it, but I was really pleased with third as you never know how you’re going to run until the day, and I ran as well I could have done.”

Headington Roadrunner Helen Barnes posted a time of 31.30 to finish in 50th position in a field of 543, while Oxford City’s Lisa Sammons was 423rd in 42.00.

Witney Roadrunner Mathew Ashton finished a creditable 45th out of more than 1,400 runners in the senior men’s race.

Ashton, running for Aldershot, Farnham & District, clocked 40.57 over the 12km course.

There was an excellent performance from Radley’s Christian von Eitzen in the under 13 boys’ event.

Von Eitzen clocked an impressive 11.42 to finish just outside the medals in fourth place over the 3km course.

Tom Biegel (Banbury Harriers) finished 191st in the under 15 boys’ race, crossing the line in 16.17 on a 4.5km course.

Abingdon Amblers’ Owen Stepney was 262nd.

Cordelia Parker crossed the line 95th in the under 15 girls’ event, while her Abingdon teammate Ellie Wilkins was 290th.

Megan Humphreys (Radley) finished 105th in the under 13 girls’ race.