Paul Fernandez, of Abingdon Amblers, won the 31st Otmoor Challenge in very hot and humid conditions.

Fernandez clocked 1hr 17mins 55secs over the multi-terrain half-marathon cou-rse.

Fernandez beat Oxford City’s John Atyeo by a huge margin of three minutes and 55 seconds, leading for virtually the whole race.

In the tinder-box dry conditions, there was little chance of any records being broken, but 296 runners completed the course.

James Bolton (1.22.08) and Brian O’Connor (1.23.52), both running for Woodstock Harriers, finished third and fourth respectively.

In the ladies’ competition, after two successive second places, Martha Hall (1.31.59) of Garden City Runners finally came in as winner, followed by Oxford University’s Jessica Leitch (1.34.46) and Alchester’s 2009 winner, Liz Grolimund (1.40.33).

The men’s veteran race gave Atyeo a win, followed by O’Connor with Oxford City’s Mark Tankard (1.25.39) in third place.

Jo Gundle improved by over eight minutes from last year to take the win in the ladies’ veteran race in 1.46.12.

Oxford City’s Philip Huxley took the men’s supervet prize for the second year in a row, clocking 1.29.46.

The winner of the ladies’ supervet race was Catherine Wright of Corby.

In the team events, Alchester A (Grolimund, Wendy Hunter, Jessica Wallace and Edwina Colclough) took first place for the ladies.

Winners of the men's and mixed team competition was Oxford City A (Huxley, Heine van Zyl, Atyeo and Tankard).

The Ogden Trophy, awarded in memory of Ted Ogden, one of the founders of the Otmoor Challenge, is awarded to the 100th finisher.

This year it went to David Ponting, who was timed at 1.52.40.