Steve Kimber claimed his first senior men's title in the Oxfordshire Cross Country Championships at Banbury.

Kimber, running for Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow, led from start to finish over the challenging 10.3km course, to cross the line in 37.26 - 45 seconds ahead of Oxford City's Dan Merckel.

Martin Bishop, of Hallamshire Harriers, was third, a further ten seconds adrift.

The only disappointment of the day was the poor attendance by senior and veteran men and women, only 72 men and 36 women finishing.

Witney Roadrunner John Atyeo, who took the vet 40 men's honours in 41.56, was followed home by Headington duo Roger Thetford (42.09) and Vasili Zverev (42.13).

Oxford City's Richard Grant won vet 50 men's gold in 42.21 ahead of teammate Phil Huxley (42.30), with Headington's Laurie Hurman taking bronze.

Thornton Greenland, representing Abingdon Amblers, comfortably won the over 60s race in 49.30.

Geoff Smith (Banbury) and Mike Shipway (Woodstock) had to settle for silver and bronze in 52.15 and 52.28 respectively.

Woodstock Harriers won the senior men's team contest from Headington Roadrunners and White Horse Harriers, while Headington took gold in the masters competition ahead of Abingdon and Oxford City.

Running in the main race, Tim Traynor (White Horse Harriers) showed great promise, clocking 38.38 to win the under 20 men's title from fellow Harrier Robert Bowles (39.10).

Traynor's time brought him fourth overall and Bowles seventh.

In the women's race, White Horse Harriers took a one-two, with Frances Briscoe winning both more than a minute from teammate Josephine Rhodes.

Briscoe clocked 24.26 with Rhodes recording 25.57.

Banbury's vet 35 Ros Kelling won the masters title, finishing third overall in 26.37.

She was 16 seconds in front of third-placed senior woman Rachel Elliott (unattached).

Other vet 35 medals were Sophie Whitworth (Headington RR) and Sharron Sheppard (Woodstock Harriers).

Witney Roadrunners' Nicola Gomm was fifth home to take the vet 45 honours in 27.17 from Headington's Sandra Wolanski, who took the tape in 29.52.

Carolyn Murphy (White Horse Harriers) was third in this age group in 30.42.

Other age group winners were Hilary O'Shea (Abingdon Amblers) and Cath Sole (Hook Norton), who took the vet 55 and vet 65 medals in 33.07 and 51.45.

White Horse Harriers took the senior ladies' team title with Abingdon winning silver and Woodstock the bronze.

Headington were masters team champions ahead of Woodstock and Abingdon.

Victory in the ladies' under 20 race went to Oxford City's Martha Wood, who clocked 31.51 in the main race.

She finished almost a minute ahead of Banbury's Victoria Wells.