Oxford City's Vet 50 team starred again on the national stage, this time in the British Masters Cross Country Championships in Belfast.

They were the first team to have three runners home, but were beaten into third place overall by Nene Valley Harriers and Telford.

The Shropshire club were led in by Richard Hailey (36.16), who won the Vet 50 section in this season's Oxford Mail Cross Country League.

The event was won by Mick Hagar of Tipton Harriers in 35.12.

City's team was led home by Richard Grant, who was sixth in the Vet 50 category and seventh overall in 37.13 on a challenging, undulating four-lap 10km course.

He was followed in by Dave Wheeler, who was 15th in the Vet 50 race and 18th overall in 38.55.

Roy Treadwell (sixth Vet 55 and 21st overall) clocked 39.08, and John Exley was 22nd in 39.34.

Had it been a four-man team event, City would have won, but Exley missed out in the team stakes, demonstrating City's strength in depth in the Vet 50 class.