Sophie Carter broke her own ladies’ course record as she stormed to victory at the Woodstock 12.

The 35-year-old, from Woodstock, finished an impressive eighth overall after completing the three lap 12.1-mile course around the Blenheim Palace grounds in 1hr 14mins 38secs.

Running for her first claim club Belgrave Harriers, Carter beat her 2012 mark of 1.15.13 and came in almost two minutes ahead of second-placed Amy Chalk (Bristol & West).

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Carter’s effort is the fastest over the new course at Blenheim, but the ladies’ all-time record was also set in the 1980 race when Barnet’s Joyce Smith clocked 1.10.21.

This was Carter’s second victory in as many races after she took the Cotswold Classic ten-mile title in Witney the previous week.

Eynsham Road Runners’ Hannah Hale (1.21.31) was the third lady home in 23rd place, taking the senior honours as Carter and Chalk are both vet 35 athletes.

Alchester were the first ladies’ team, thanks to Sarah Rendell (1.23.43), Samantha Usher (1.24.44) and Emilie Fidler (1.30.41).

Jessica Webb (1.21.53), Denise Bridges (1.28.55) and Julie Read (1.34.00) took Woodstock Harriers to second.

Eynsham’s Kate William-son was the first vet 65 lady home in 1.35.21.

The men’s race was very much a veterans affair, with Woodstock Harriers’ James Bolton, winner in 2012 and 2013, losing out to perennial rival and fellow vet 40 runner Paul Fernandez (Abing- don).

Fernandez clocked 1.06.53 to Bolton’s 1.08.18, Paul Jegou (White Horse Harriers), was third in 1.12.58.

Eynsham’s Rob Storey (1.13.41) made it four vet 40 athletes in the top four, while fifth-placed Graham Hope (Kidlington) clocked 1.14.11 to be their only senior man in the top ten.

Bolton led Woodstock to the men’s team title alongside Dave Cantwell (1.14.26) and Brian O’Connor (1.16.19).

White Horse’s Ian Lambourn (1.18.06) took the vet 50 men’s title ahead of Witney Road Runners’ Alan Rey-nolds (1.18.32).

Witney husband and wife Graham (1.28.50) and Judith Le Good (1.53.15) were the vet 60 men’s and vet 55 ladies’ winners respectively.

WOODSTOCK 12 RESULTS
Top 10: 1 P Fernandez (Abn, V40) 1.06.53, 2 J Bolton (Wds, V40) 1.08.18 3 P Jegou (Whh, V40) 1.12.58, 4 R Storey (Eyn, V40) 1.13.41, 5 G Hope (Kid) 1.14.11, 6 T Lock (Wit, 40) 1.14.24, 7 D Cantwell (Wds, V40) 1.14.26, 8 S Carter (Belgrave, V35) 1.14.38, 9 A Peet (Wigston, V40) 1.14.56, 10 B O’Connor (Wds, V40) 1.16.19.
Top 3 ladies: 8 S Carter, 11 A Chalk (Bristol, LV35) 1.16.32, 23 H Hale (Eyn, SL) 1.21.31.
Eynsham RR: 13 M Baker 1.18.04, 20 M Ray 1.20.36, 35 T Baker 1.27.22, 44 G Bridges (V40) 1.30.11, 65 K Williamson (1st LV65) 1.35.21, 93 T Whitlock (V50) 1.44.03, 113 K Baker (V60) 1.52.52, 127 J Larbalestier (LV55) 2.01.01.
Headington RR: 41 A Walton 1.29.20, 67 P Lister (V50) 1.35.51, 68 M Charlton 1.36.06, 79 C Slater (V50) 1.39.09, 99 N Varney (LV35) 1.46.19, 110 A Barry (LV45) 1.52.04, 126 K King 1.59.21.
Kidlington: 48 C Brading (V50) 1.31.15, 57 A Finnigan (LV35) 1.33.22, 78 S Evins 1.38.54, 84 C Rogers 1.40.13, 88. D Cassidy 1.42.39.
Witney RR: 17 A Reynolds (2nd V50) 1.18.32, 30 G Ferris (V40) 1.23.17, 34 G Hunter 1.26.16, G Le Good (1st V60) 1.28.50, 47 P Ainslie (V50) 1.30.48, 50 S Howard (LV35) 1.31.22, 53 M Sheehan 1.32.20, 62 N Morley (V40) 1.35.04, 63 T Clarke (V40) 1.35.04, 64 A Church (V50) 1.35.04, 85 R Redford (V40) 1.41.16, 100 N Henman (LV35) 1.47.13, 104 H Smith (LV55) 1.48.48, 114 J Le Good (1st LV55) 1.53.13, 123 C Morley (LV45) 1.58.33.

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