ATHLETICS: Woodstock at the double (From Oxford Mail)

ATHLETICS: Woodstock at the double

10:30am Thursday 27th September 2012 in Sport By Ed Mezzetti, Sports reporter specialising in Rugby, Cricket and Athletics. Call me on 01865 425456

JAMES Bolton and Sophie Carter produced a superb home double at the Woodstock 12.

The Woodstock Harriers duo won the men’s and ladies’ races in record times for the post 2007 course around the grounds of Blenheim Palace.

Bolton went out hard and then hung on well to hold off the challenge of Abingdon Amblers’ Paul Fernandez over the undulating 12mile 198yds three-lap course.

He clocked 1hr 6mins 24secs to beat the mark of 1.06.35 set by Oxford University ’s David Bruce last year.

Fernandez recorded 1.06.32, while clubmate Les Newell was third in 1.10.10.

The all-time record is held by Bernie Ford, of Aldershot Farnham & District who ran 1.00.56 in 1980 over a slightly longer course, which started and finished at Blenheim’s Grand Bridge.

Carter clocked 1.15.13 to enjoy a far more dominant victory over second-placed Jessica Leitch (unattached), who recorded 1.20.52.

This knocked more than two minutes off the new course mark of 1.17.47 set by Shona Crombie-Hicks (Bourton Road Runners) in 2011.

The ladies’ all-time record was also set in the 1980 race when Barnet’s Joyce Smith clocked 1.10.21.

Alchester’s Samantha Usher was the third lady home and first vet 35 in 1.22.25.

Abingdon secured the men’s team prize, with Fernandez, Newell and vet 40 winner Robert Mead (1.11.39) coming second, third and sixth.

Headington Road Runners won the ladies’ title, thanks to Adrienne Hopkins (1.27.26), Rachel Shaw (1.27.56) and Charlotte Noakes (1.35.12).

RESULTS ROUND-UP

(senior men unless stated)

WOODSTOCK 12

Abingdon Amblers: 11 R Kemp 1.14.52, 111 P Wilson (2nd LV55) 1.35.31.

Kidlington: 16 G Hope 1.17.32, 17 M Dilks 1.17.41, 64 A Finnigan (LV35) 1.31.50 pb, 81 W Bunce (2nd V60) 1.35.40, 120 L Norton (SL) 1.50.06, 129 S Evins 1.53.34, 153 H Talbot 2.12.20.

Oxford City: 4 A Burgess 1.10.16, 9 E Mezzetti 1.13.20, 69 P Kimber (1st V60) 1.33.19.

White Horse H: 5 P Jegou 1.11.08, 87 R Burgess (3rd LV45) 1.36.00, 92 S Bailey (1st LV55) 1.37.55, 98 G Wiggins 1.40.52, 109 C Hazell (LV35) 1.45.09.

Witney RR: C Colbeck (V40) 1.22.38, G Hunter (V50) 1.23.09, K Chard (V50) 1.30.12, S Howard (LV35) 1.30.29, N Henman (LV35) 1.42.04, L Jones (LV35) 1.57.57, E Baker (LV35) 2.09.46.

Woodstock H: 1 J Bolton 1.06.24, 10 D Cantwell (2nd V40) 1.13.44, 12 S Carter (1st SL) 1.15.13, 15 K Game 1.17.20, 19 H Price 1.17.46, 34 S Joyce 1.25.10, 47 M Pidgeon (V50) 1.28.17, 49 W Hudson 1.28.34, 76 J Read (LV35) 1.34.39, 84 C Phillips (2nd LV45) 1.35.44.

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