South Of England Road Relay Championships

Oxford City claimed their ninth successive vet 60 men’s title after a dominant display at Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot on Sunday.

City’s team finished some four minutes and a half minutes clear of second-placed Barnet & District over the course of two hilly 3km laps.

Led out by Stewart Thorp, who clocked 22mins 49secs for the second fastest vet 60 split of the day, Oxford were never seriously threatened.

John Exley (25.12), Roy Treadwell (23.59) and Richard Grant, whose 23.32 ranked him third, took City home in a total time of 1hr 35mins 32secs.

Oxford’s vet 60 B team of Dave Parsons (24.54), Allan Matthews (25.18), Gareth Jones (25.42) and Dave Wheeler (25.25) were second after leg two before coming fourth in 1.41.19.

Also missing out on a medal by one place were City’s vet 40 quartet.

Leg one runner Julian Richardson clocked the third quickest vet 40 split with 19.42 to lead at the first changeover.

But Mark Tankard (21.24), Marcus Maxwell (21.31) and Steve Male (20.00) could not hold on as City’s total time of 1.22.37 put them 41 seconds behind bronze medallists Kent.

Woodstock Harriers’ Roger Bradley (23.16) and Jason Barry (21.29) ran the first two legs in that category.

Oxford’s senior men qualified for the national finals at Sutton Park on Saturday, October 12 after finishing 22nd.

Darrell Bellinger (18.44) got City off to a strong start before Les Newell (19.51) and Aaron Burgess (19.56) kept them around the top 20.

Alex Raisch (20.49), Matthieu Marshall (20.30) and Nick Jones (20.07) completed their line up, which just broke the two-hour barrier in 1.59.57.

The previous day saw the ladies and junior events, where Oxford’s under 17 girls finished sixth over a 3km course.

Megan Humphreys (10.38), Beth Hawtin (12.00) and Marnie Wilson (11.21) were their runners.

City’s under 17 boys were 30th over a 3.85km route, thanks to Nat Jones (13.07), Alex Munro (13.38), George Trotter (14.16) and Owen Blackford (14.05).

Abingdon’s under 15 girls’ team finished 33rd, with Lottie Siddle, Fiona Bunn and Juliette Wells Gray completing the 3km course in 12.41, 11.26 and 12.38 respectively.

Oxford’s under 13 girls achieved the same position over a 2.3km route, thanks to Amber Morris (9.03), Jessica O’Connor (9.15) and Anya Bromley (9.49).