WOODSTOCK Harriers’ Steve Naylor will be a red-hot favourite to retain his Oxford Mail Cross Country League overall and senior men’s titles as the season gets under way at Crown Farm, Ascott-under-Wychwood, on Sunday.

Naylor cruised to the title last year, winning every race at a canter, and he will take some catching, as long as he features in four of the five events to count.

Defending women’s champion Susie Bush (Newbury) is also on the start lists.

The league continues to go from strength to strength, with a massive 1,450 entering this season’s competition, up ten per cent on last year’s field.

Newbury are defending men’s and women’s team champions in Division 1, while Woodstock, with Naylor their lead athlete, return to the top flight in the men’s section.

Oxford City’s men, who were pipped by Newbury last season, will look to go one better this time around.

2011-12 ROUND DETAILS

November 6: Ascott-under-Wychwood. De-cember 4: Culham. January 8: Middleton Cheney (incorporating Oxfordshire Cross Country Championships). February 5: Cirencester Park. March 4: TBC.