DARRELL Bellinger ended a 31-year drought for Oxford City by landing the senior men’s Division 1 title in the Apex Sports Chiltern Cross Country League.

Bellinger, who won the Oxford Mail League in 2010, finished fifth in the final round at Wing to take the crown by four points from Matthew Carey (Harrow).

The 26-year-old was not born the last time a City man took the title – Pete Flavell in 1981, while there was more Oxon success with Headington Road Runners’ Chris Dettmar scooping the vet 40 honours.

Bellinger crossed the line in 33mins 44secs after battling over snow, mud and hard, frosty ground.

It was his greater consistency that saw him pip Carey, with Bellinger’s best four results to count being fifth, fourth, third and fifth.

Bellinger said: “I was very pleased. When I started I wanted to be in the top ten, so to win was a great surprise.

“Coming off the track, I wanted to make a name for myself on the road and cross country. The mileage work I am doing is paying off.

“I have won the Oxford Mail league before, but I wanted to test myself a bit more. Now I have made a little bit of history for the club.”

Bellinger is now targeting a 72-minute run at Sunday’sWokingham Half Marathon.

As for the rest of the seasom, he added: “I want to try and break 32 minutes for 10K and hopefully get closer to Steve Naylor.”

Dettmar won the vet 40 category by 28 points from Alan Turnbull (Bedford & County), although he was only third veteran home at Wing, placing 15th overall in 34.54.

The 42-year-old, who is also second in the Oxford Mail League standings, also helped Headington to the Chiltern’s veterans team title.

Aided by clubmates Fergus Campbell and Andy Phelps, who were eighth and tenth respectively in the individual standings, Headington beat Harrow by 167 points.

Oxford City’s men avoided relegation from Division 1, finishing 12th out of 14 teams, but their ladies came last.

City’s Roy Treadwell was second vet 60, 30 points behind champion John Skelton (Marshall Milton Keynes).

Headington’s Helen Turley fimnished third in the lady vet 55 standings.

Oxfordshire schools champion Beth Swords (Marshall Milton Keynes) was second in the under 17 girls race in 19.25 Abingdon Ambler Nick Wiltshire fought out his second race-long four-man battle in less than a week to finish third in the under 11 boys’ race.

Wiltshire, second in the Oxford Mail league the previous Sunday, clocked 7.52.

APEX SPORTS CHILTERN LEAGUE

SELECTED 5TH ROUND RESULTS

Men’s Div 1: 5 D Bellinger (Oxford City) 33.44, 15 C Dettmar (Headington, V40) 34.54, 23 T Doole (Headington) 35.26, 27 M Robinson (Headington) 35.41, 47 F Campbell (Headington, V40) 37.19, 48 D Gavaghan (Headington, V40) 37.33, 49 R Skilbeck (Headington) 37.36.

Under 17 boys: 9 M Marshall (Oxford City) 22.49, 12 J Tack (Oxford City) 23.34, 15 A Vessey (Abingdon) 23.12.

Under 11 boys: 3 N Wiltshire (Abingdon) 7.52.

Men’s Div 2: 29 P Jegou (White Horse Harriers) 35.34, 202 D Stringfellow (White Horse Harriers, V50) 47.20.

Ladies’ Div 1: 9 C Harris (Headington) 25.44, 14 A Hopkins (Headington, LV35) 26.29, 17 F Burge (Headington) 27.43, 38 A James (Headington, LV45) 30.34, 50 M Fischer (Headington, LV45) 32.03.

FINAL STANDINGS

(top ten)

Men’s Div 1: D Bellinger (Oxford) 17pts.

Vet 40: 1 C Dettmar (Headington) 54pts, 8 F Campbell (Headington) 194, 10 A Phelps (Headington) 236.

Vet 50: 4 S Thorp (Oxford) 366pts, 5 R Grant (Oxford) 407, 6 L Hurman (Headington) 436.

Vet 60: 2 R Treadwell (Oxford) 370pts.

Under 17 boys: 7 M Marshall (Oxford) 46pts.

Ladies’ Div 1: 7 C Harris (Headington) 54pts, 10 F Burge (Headington) 91.

Vet 35: 4 A Hopkins (Headington) 82pts.

Vet 45: 5 G Hueter (Oxford) 139pts.

Vet 55: 3 H Turley (Headington) 245pts.