Steve Naylor boosted his Division 1 title hopes in the Apex Sports Chiltern Cross Country League after winning round four at Upton Court Park, Slough.

The 34-year-old, from Cassington, will retain his senior men’s crown if he finishes ninth or better in the final round on February 8.

Naylor (Bedford & County) won by 30 seconds in surprisingly dry conditions, completing the 5.25 mile-long course in a time of 26mins 58secs.

“I led from gun to tape, turning the tables on Alex Tovey, of Windsor, who beat me last year,” said Naylor.

“For a minute I thought I’d made the mistake again of going off too fast. But I stuck to the pace to keep in front and by the start of third lap I had over a 100m lead.

“It was nice to win on a course that resembles a track, which doesn’t suit me as much as woods and hills.”

Triple Oxfordshire cross country champion Naylor now has a nine-point lead over Bedford clubmate Luke Humphreys.

His next race will be the South of England Champion-ships at Parliament Hill, Lon-don on January 25.

RESULTS ROUND-UP

(senior men unless stated)

NAUNTON NEARLY 19

Witney RR: G Ferris (1st V40) 2.18.50, C Whitehead (V40) 2.30.27, S Howard (LV35) 2.45.48, M Sheehan 2.49.13, M Wise 2.50.57.

ROUGH & TUMBLE 10

Witney RR: W Downey 1.53.00, M Kite (LV40) 2.06.00, M Paterson (LV35) 2.28.00, E Baker (VL35) 2.47.00.

OXFORD PARKRUN

Witney RR: R Walker (V40) 22.18, G Le Good (V60) 23.09, J Evans (V40) 24.42, J Le Good (LV55) 27.14.

Meanwhile, Witney Road Runners were well represented as Oxfordshire competed in the Sportshall South East Fun In Athletics regional final.

The under 11 event saw Witney’s Felix Green secure a boys’ team first place in the chest push alongside Josiah Edwards-Giraud (Bicester).

Clubmates Joe Martin and Alex Westbrook plus Edw-ards-Giraud took team second in the speed bounce.

Among the girls, Witney’s Abigail Showan won the spe-ed bounce with a magnificent 64 bounces.

Madeline Blanche (Witney), Showan and Katie Ford (Bic-ester) were second in the team speedbounce event.

Molly Bishop and Holly Field also represented Wit-ney.

Overall, Oxfordshire’s boys came fourth and the girls eighth.