Melissa Hawtin broke the women’s course record as she stormed to victory in round three of the Mota-Vation Series at Combe.

The 20-year-old Oxford City athlete clocked 22mins 2secs for the undulating 3.9-mile course on her Mota-Vation debut.

Her time was four seconds faster than the previous record set by Jude Craft (Headington Road Runners) in 2004.

Hawtin powered home in 17th place overall – the best finish by a lady since the early days of the series – and finished two minutes and nine seconds clear of the next female home – Alchester’s Michelle Pank, who recorded 24.11.

Hawtin’s sister, Beth, completed a family double by winning the under 19 women’s category in 25.35.

Kidlington’s Sue Morton recorded 28.02 as she made it three vet 45 wins in succession.

Kate Williamson (Eynsham Road Runners) won her second vet 55 race of the campaign in 28.26.

There will be a new champion in the men’s competition after 2012 winner Darrell Bellinger (Oxford City) missed his second race of the series.

This year’s winner looks increasingly like being David Bruce, from Oxford, who made it three victories out of three.

Running for first-claim club Highgate Harriers, Bruce triumphed in 19.43, finishing ten seconds ahead of Abingdon’s Dan Hamilton.

Woodstock Harriers’ James Bolton grabbed his third vet 40 win of the campaign, finishing third in 20.02.

Witney Road Runners’ Alan Reynolds was the first vet 50 runner home in 23.23.

Tim Hughes (White Horse Harriers) took the vet 60 honours in 23.38 in his first race of the season.

Oxford City’s Matthieu Marshall was the first under 19 man home, clocking 21.39 for tenth place overall.

RESULTS

(top 20, senior men unless stated)

1 D Bruce (Highgate Harriers) 19.43, 2 D Hamilton (Abingdon) 19.53, 3 J Bolton (Woodstock Harriers, VM40) 20.02, 4 T Wright (Banbury Harriers) 20.15, 5 J Ridley (Witney Road Runners) 20.43, 6 J Richardson (Oxford City, VM40) 20.47, 7 S Male (Oxford City, VM40), 20.57, 8 T Jones (Witney Road Runners) 21.09, 9 A Burgess (Oxford City) 21.32, 10 M Marshall (Oxford City, U19M) 21.39, 11 O Stepney (Abingdon Amblers, U19M) 21.41, 12 J Bowness (Magdalen College School, U19M) 21.5, 13 E Mezzetti (Oxford City) 21.51, 14 S Pritchard (Banbury Harriers, VM40) 21.53, 15 A Raisch (Oxford City) 22.00, 16 K Game (Woodstock Harriers) 22.01, 17 M Hawtin (Oxford City, SL) 22.02, 18 F Campbell (Headington Road Runners, VM40) 22.04, 19 R Gould (Alchester, VM40) 22.17, 20 J Atyeo (Oxford City, VM40) 22.18.