Steve Naylor has the Apex Sports Chiltern League Division 1 title firmly in his sights after winning round four at Luton.

The Bedford & County athlete, from Combe, followed up his third straight Oxford-shire cross country crown in the mud at Horspath by triumphing on a different kind of course.

Naylor clocked 28mins 53secs over the 9km course to edge out Bedford clubmate Matt Janes (29.04).

“It was quite a bleak Luton course with the odd bump so no real hiding place from the cold wind,” said Naylor.

“For the first lap the majority of us ran together before a leading group of three got away on the second.

“I kicked at the start of the last lap giving me enough breathing space to get away.”

Naylor now has two wins and a second place from three races, so just needs a top-five finish in the final round at Wing on February 9.

He said: “With other results going my way I now have a good shot at both the overall and senior titles.

“I’m on four points, which gives me a five-point lead with one race to go.”

Woodstock Harrier Bryan Vaughan finished fourth in the Oxford Parkrun.

OTHER RESULTS

(senior men unless stated)

OXFORD PARKRUN

Woodstock Harriers: 4 B Vaughan (V55) 19.59, 5 J Harrison (J15) 20.56, 20 A Harrison (V45) 22.32, C Phillips (LV45) 039 24.30, 69 D Richens 28.01.