Sophie Carter showed her injury problems were fully behind her with a dominant victory at the Milton Park Abingdon Marathon.

The 35-year-old, from Woodstock, regained the ladies’ title she won in 2011, finishing more than eight minutes ahead of her nearest rival.

But there was frustration for Abingdon AC’s Paul Fernandez, who saw his big lead overhauled in the men’s race, which was won by Chris Jordan (Leicester Coritanian).

Carter, who runs for Belgrave Harriers, completed the 26.2-mile course in a personal best time of 2hrs 50mins 21secs, despite the warm and windy conditions.

Latest Sport news

The mother-of-two, who also won the Oxfordshire marathon title, was more than happy with her efforts, having suffered an Achilles tendon injury in March.

“I am pleased with how I have come back from injury,” said Carter.

“I only came back in June, so I didn’t know if I would be doing the marathon this year.”

She added: “The aim was to get sub-2.50 and win the race.

“I wanted to have a good comeback because I hadn’t done a marathon for a couple of years.

“The wind was tough, so I am pleased with that in the conditions.

“I also haven’t been well. I had a cold last week.”

Carter pulled further clear of runner-up Estelle Damant (Ranelagh Harriers) as the race went on, with the latter clocking 2.58.39.

“I tried to start off quite steady and then at half way tried to push it a bit,” said Carter, whose previous best time was 2.53.51.

Eleina Bayne (Army) was the third lady home in 3.02.22.

Fernandez had to be content with fifth place as his title bid hit the buffers.

The 2012 champion led by two minutes at one point before being caught with around five miles to go.

Although his time of 2.38.31 was more than six minutes down on his personal best, Fernandez had the consolation of being Oxon champion.

Fernandez went out hard, building up a 30-second lead by four miles, but he admitted he paid for his early pace.

“I knew I was going too fast and I was trying to slow down,” said Fernandez, describing his lead as he passed Abingdon RFC.

“I knew I was in trouble then, but I didn’t know how much trouble I was in until they passed me!”

Jordan took victory in 2.32.35, just 15 seconds ahead of Alistair Pickburn (New Forest Runners), with Alun Myers (Victoria Park Harriers) third in 2.33.49.

Headington Road Runners’ Jason Smith (2.44.51) was the second Oxon man home, with Oxford City’s Nick Jones (2.46.51) third.

Bonnie van Wilgenburg (unattached) was the county ladies’ runner-up in 3.10.44, with Woodstock’s Denise Bridges third in 3.19.26.

RESULTS

(senior men unless stated)

MILTON PARK ABINGDON MARATHON

Top 10: 1 C Jordan (Leicester Coritanian) 2.32.35, 2 A Pickburn (New Forest) 2.32.51, 3 A Myers (Victoria Park) 2.33.49, 4 L Chalk (Stubbington Green) 2.34.11, 5 P Fernandez (Abn, V40) 2.38.31, 6 D Broadley (unatt) 2.40.57, 7 M King (unatt) 2.42.24, 8 G Till (Army) 2.42.37, 9 A Mitchell (Thames Valley) 2.44.41, 10 J Smith (Hed, V40) 2.44.51.

Top 3 ladies: 21 S Carter (Belgrave, LV35) 2.50.21, 54 E Damant (Ranelagh) 2.58.39, 69 E Bayne (Army) 3.02.22.

Oxfordshire Championship

MEN

Overall: 1 P Fernandez, 2 J Smith, 3 N Jones (Oxf).

Senior: 1 N Jones, 2 J Felce (unatt), 3 M Deering (Did).

Vet 40: 1 P Fernandez, 2 J Smith, 3 I Hunter (Alc).

Vet 50: 1 I Lambourn (Whh), 2 A Reynolds (Wit), 3 M Fray (Compton).

Vet 60: 1 K Byrne (Hed).

Team: 1 Woodstock H (Cantwell, Preddy, Brooke-Little, Travi); 2 Headington RR (Smith, Lister, Neale, Bailey). LADIES Overall: 1 S Carter, 2 B van Wilgenburg (unatt), 3 D Bridges (Wds). Senior: 1 B van Wilgenburg. Vet 35: 1 S Carter, 2 D Bridges, 3 E McGill (Abn). Vet 45: 1 S Wolanski (Hed), 2 L Gettins (Compton), 3 J Wiblin (Abn).

Vet 55: 1 S Haines (Wds).

Team: 1 Abingdon (McGill, Dornan, Wiblin), 2 Headington RR (Wolanski, Smith, Robertson), 3 Woodstock H (Bridges, Blackburn, Haines).

Other club results

Abingdon: 225 E McGill (LV35) 3.26.39, 394 P Goddard 3.52.10, 413 J Wiblin (LV45) 3.53.34, 485 T Clarke (V40) 4.11.19, 509 C Hutchings (SL) 4.15.57 pb, 510 C Penton (V50) 4.16.27, 595 C Whitehead 4.55.20, 603 L Herbert (SL) 4.58.55. Alchester: 26 I Hunter 2.52.12, 211 D Baber (V50) 3.26.06, 295 E Fidler (LV35) 3.37.58, 416 A Weeks 3.54.30, 580 R Bowles (LV35) 4.44.28.

Didcot Runners: 72 M Deering 3.03.20, 176 R Sharp (V45) 3.20.47, 220 D Reeves 3.26.24, 434 E Akin (LV35) 3.57.44, 463 P Beecham (LV40) 4.01.43, 484 D Eggleton (V40) 4.10.59, 491 J Harrigan 4.13.13, 593 S Jones 4.54.20.

Eynsham RR: 86 B Pollard (V40) 3.04.59 pb, 121 R Storey (V40) 3.10.02, 162 A McEwan-James 3.18.35 pb, 179 S Walker (V40) 3.21.03 pb, 265 N Clark (V50) 3.32.56, 305 M Schofield (V40) 3.38.33, 369 N Maynard (V40) 3.47.35, 572 L Natarajan (LV35) 4.41.22, 573 C Williams 4.41.22.

Headington RR: 201 K Lowies (V40) 3.23.31, 247 K Byrne (V60) 3.30.47, 260 S Wolanski (LV45) 3.32.41, 297 R Treadwell (V40) 3.38.42, 335 N Smith 3.43.05, 352 P Lister (V50) 3.45.05, 408 S Robertson 3.53.58, 492 U Neale (V40) 4.14.11, 500 F Bailey (V50) 4.15.01, 508 T Dixon (V50) 4.16.31, 585 E Carter (LV35) 4.49.32, 590 G Day (V50) 4.54.12, 604 J Colston 4.59.31, 619 H Nickau (V50) 5.07.46.

Kidlington: 139 P Lee (V40) 3.15.00, 294 R Greenwood (V50) 3.38.27, 483 L Hosier 4.11.11.

Oxford City: 14 N Jones 2.46.51.

White Horse H: 66 I Lambourn (V50) 3.01.55 pb.

Witney RR: 126 A Reynolds (V50) 3.11.01, 133 G Ferris (V40) 3.12.07, 415 N Henman (LV35) 3.54.17.

Woodstock H: 53 D Cantwell (V40) 2.58.41, 171 D Bridges (LV35) 3.19.26, 214 N Preddy (V50) 3.26.02, 259 L Brooke-Little (V40) 3.31.34 pb, 324 T Blackburn (LV35) 3.41.40, 574 S Haines (LV55) 4.41.40, 576 C Travi (V40) 4.42.43.

AMSTERDAM MARATHON

Witney RR: A Chuch (V50) 3.28.01, J Field (V40) 3.46.50, H Smith (LV55) 3.59.01, T Moss (LV35) 4.19.59, J Jones 4.44.53.

AMSTERDAM HALF MARATHON

Witney RR: G Le Good (V60) 1.33.48, J Le Good (LV55) 1.52.54, J McCormac (V55) 1.56.51, N Moss (V40) 1.57.01, I Fowler (V35) 2.18.15.

GREAT BIRMINGHAM RUN

Eynsham RR: J Marks (V50) 1.52.46, A Greenwood (V50) 2.15.55.

MAJORCA HALF MARATHON

Didcot Runners: T Lamble (LV35) 2.18.00.

SOUTH OF ENGLAND CROSS COUNTRY RELAYS

Abingdon AC – Under 13 girls: 26 B Darwent, I Jones, C Barwick 26.35. Under 17 ladies: 10 L Siddle, F Bunn, V Tilling 27.41.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.