It was a case of new vest, same result for Steve Naylor as he won round three of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League at Middleton Cheney.

Running in the colours of his new first-claim club Bedford & County, Naylor, from Woodstock, remained as dominant as ever to take his second victory in two outings.

The 32-year-old clocked 32mins 46secs for the undulating 10km course to finish 75 seconds clear of second-placed Paul Fernandez (Abingdon Amblers) in ideal conditions.

Because he joined Bedford during the league season, Naylor cannot score team points for his second-claim club Woodstock Harriers, but he is still able to defend his individual title.

White Horse Harrier Frances Briscoe, running for first-claim club Coventry Godiva Harriers, won the ladies’ race over 7km, but as this was her first appearance of the season, she cannot win the title.

Naylor said: “With the downhill start I suppose, it was no surprise that there was a mad dash over the first 200 metres.

“After the first hill I had pulled away by a few yards and my plan to not attack early on went out the window.

“Apart from one mud splash, I thought the course was perfect with undulating hills, lush farmers’ fields and the odd ditch to hurdle.

“At the half way point on the first lap, my lead was about 100m, which by the second hill of the second lap had ex-tended to about 300m.

“Into the last few kilometres I managed to conserve some energy ahead of the final 400m slog uphill to the finish line and had a good field’s length advantage ahead of the ever-strong Fernandez.”

Naylor will now compete in the McCain Cardiff Cross Challenge on Saturday.

Oz Ellis (Abingdon) crossed the line in sixth, ahead of Oxford City duo Steve Male and Darrell Bellinger.

Male was the leading vet 40 finisher and now has a seven-point lead in that category.

Briscoe won the ladies’ race in 26.20, ahead of Sophie Crumly (Newbury) and Elysia Ridley (Witney Roadrunners), who look set to battle it out for the league title.

It was a great day for Oxford City’s Hawtin sisters, who each achieved a victory.

Melissa won the under 20 ladies event, finishing fourth overall in 27.14.

Middle sister Lauren triumphed in the combined under 15/17 girls’ race, taking the older category in 17.11.

Hot on her heels to claim under 15 victory was younger sibling Beth in 17.19.

The lung-busting climb to the finish meant fortunes often changed in the final 400m.

This was the case for Abingdon’s Nick Wiltshire, who moved from third to take victory in the under 11 boys’ race.

Wiltshire clocked 4.14 for the 1,200m race, while clubmate Fiona Bunn produced another powerful finish to take the under 13 girls crown over 3k in 11.13.

Bicester’s Sophie Wheeler swept to victory in the under 11 girls’ race, completing the 1,200m course in 4.41 to record her second win of the winter.