PAUL Fernandez of Abingdon Amblers triumphed for the second year in a row in the 32nd Otmoor Challenge multi-terrain half-marathon.

The dry weather made the course hard and rutted, but with a cooling breeze, there were many fast times from the 324-strong field.

Fernandez improved on last year’s time by 38 secs, recording 1hr 17mins 17secs.

He was hard-pressed throughout by Tucker Murphy, from Merton College, who finished in 1.17.38.

Woodstock Harrier James Bolton, another Otmoor regular, repeated his third place of 2010, but improved by over three minutes, clocking 1.18.50.

John Atyeo, who won the vet 40 prize, and Heine van Zyl, both from Oxford City, filled the next two places, leaving Les Newell of Abingdon Amblers in sixth place.

In the ladies' race, Jessica Leitch (Oxford University) moved from second last year to win, beating her time by over three minutes at 1.31.26.

Alchester duo Liz Grolimund and Sarah Rendell were second and third in 1.33.42 and 1.35.01 respectively.

In the ladies’ veteran race, Jo Gundle (unattached) crossed the line in 1.43.27.

Van Zyl secured the men’s supervets competition, while Sandra Wolanski did likewise in the ladies’ race.

The men’s and mixed team competition attracted 11 teams, and was won by Oxford City A (Tankard, Philip Huxley, Atyeo and van Zyl).

Headington Roadrunners won the ladies’ team competition.

CLUB RESULTS

Abingdon Amblers: P Fernandez 1.17.17, L Newell 1.23.03, R Kemp 1.26.48, S Convers-Reignier 1.31.42, R Schofield (V50) 1.31.45, N Hamilton (V50) 1.33.41, J Wigmore (V50) 1.36.23, J Moore (V40) 1.37.13, J Oliver (V50) 1.44.44, D Berger (V50) 1.47.09, C Bolton (SL) 1.51.36, P Wilson (LV50) 1.55.28, L Bedford (LV40) 2.13.06, J Howard (LV50) 2.22.35.

Eynsham RR: K Baker 2.11.07.

Headington RR: J Thorn (V40) 1.26.42, D Cox (V40) 1.28.21, S Wolanski (LV50) 1.42.25, K Byrne (V50) 1.42.41, S Howard (SL) 1.43.03, N Woodley 1.44.37, J Tyler (V40) 1.44.43, C Slater (V40) 1.44.46, L Shaw (SL) 1.50.23, G Burke (V40) 1.52.31, D Sawyer (V40) 1.52.47, G Norris (V50) 1.54.21, T Stapley (SL) 1.55.47, S Cowls (V50) 1.58.30, K Sheehan (LV40) 1.59.34, T Johnson (SL) 2.03.16, J Clargo 2.05.42, K Villiers (V60) 2.22.11, J Payne (LV50) 2.26.08.

Kidlington: J Finnigan 1.32.59, I Wakefield (V40) 1.39.29, A Finnigan (LV35) 1.44.51, J Greenhill (V50) 1.47.48, W Bunce (V60) 1.52.19, M Search (V60) 1.59.44, T Langrish (V50) 2.00.02, A Rivers (SL) 2.09.02.

Woodstock H: D Cantwell (V40) 1.23.58, M Ineson 1.30.31, K Game 1.31.33, A Battye (V50) 1.31.41, S Cantwell (LV40) 1.44.37, L Brooke-Little (V40) 1.48.08, R Bosnell 1.48.35.