Elysia Ridley finished second in the ladies’ race in the opening round of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League at Ascott-under-Wychwood.
The 26-year-old Witney Road Runner, who hails from Ascott, led for the first lap of the 6.5km course, but was overtaken by eventual winner Susie Bush (Newbury).
Ridley, who won the league in 2011-12, clocked 24mins 8se-cs to Bush’s 23.42.
Woodstock Harriers’ Rachel Masser was third and first vet 35 lady home in 24.39 – the best finish by a Woodstock woman in the league.
James Bolton was the leading west Oxfordshire perfor-mer in the men’s race, where he finished fifth.
Bolton completed the 8.5km course in 31.04 and was the first vet 40 man home.
Defending champion Dave Bruce (Oxford City) eased to victory in 29.54.
Woodstock’s Bryan Vaughan was the first vet 60 man home, finishing 76th overall in 36.43.
Witney’s James Currah was fourth in the under 15/17 boys’ race, clocking 17.39 for the 4.8km course.
Meanwhile, Steve Naylor helped Bedford & County win bronze in the English Cross Country Relay Championships at Berry Hill Park, Mansfield.
The 34-year-old, from Com-be, bagged a first national medal, despite his club crossing the line in fourth.
Third-placed Bristol and West were disqualified for fielding an ineligible athlete.
Naylor clocked 16mins 6.05-secs for leg two of the twisty and testing 5km course.
RESULTS ROUND-UP
OXFORD MAIL LEAGUE
Men (top 30, senior men unless stated): 5 J Bolton (Wds, V40) 31.04, 12 T Jones (Wit) 32.29, 18 M Tyrrell (Eyn) 33.07, 25 D Cantwell (Wds, V40) 33.57, 28 B O’Connor (Wds, V40) 34.04, 29 R Storey (Eyn, V40) 34.05, 30 J Young (Wit) 34.08; Under 15/U17 (Under 17 unless stated): 4 J Currah (Wit) 17.39; Ladies (top 30, senior ladies unless stated): 2 E Ridley (Wit) 24.08, 3 R Masser (Wds, V40) 24.39, 8 H Hale (Eyn) 26.05, 12 F Snare (Wit) 26.43, 25 D Bridges (Eyn, V40) 27.50; Under 9 Girls and Boys: 7 A Bishop (Eyn).
TEAM RESULTS
Men - Div 1: 4 Woodstock A 306pts; Div 2: 1 Witney A 342, 3 Eynsham A 463; Div 3: 2 Witney B 769, 7 Woodstock B 1131, 8 Eynsham B 1154; Under 15/U17 (top 8): 5 Witney A 61.
Ladies - Div 1: 5 Witney A 58, 6 Banbury A 96; Div 3: 1 Eynsham A 65pts, 2 Woodstock A 105, 8 Eynsham B 214.
CLUB RESULTS
MEN
Witney RR: T Lock (V40) 34.15, P Woltensholme 35.19, C Ellis 36.11, K Hennessy 36.23, N Dalton 36.53, G Ferris (V40) 37.14, F Howard (V40) 37.17, K Read (V40) 38.05, A Jones 38.27, N Moglia (V50) 38.47, C Whitehead (V40) 38.55, C Hazell (V40) 39.06, M Butler (V40) 39.08, A Giles 39.36, T Clarke (V40) 41.48, D Williams (V50) 42.18, M Sheehan 42.39, M Wise 43.35, L Sigworth 46.33, K Morgan (V50) 48.05.
Woodstock H: S Cruickshank 34.16, K Game 35.27, B Vaughan (V60) 36.43, J Harrison (U20) 37.06, D Blackburn 38.06, R Bradley (V40) 38.10, A Spaul (V40) 38.35, C Gray (V50) 40.07, N Preddy (V50) 41.14, S Jane 44.43.
LADIES
Witney RR: S Howard (LV35) 30.24, C Leather 31.36, S Morley (LV35) 32.12, C Turner 32.51, K Lainsbury 32.52, S Reeves (LV35) 33.56, R Lally 35.17, L Jones (LV35) 35.25, H West (LV55) 37.06, K Morley (LV55) 37.43, M Kite (LV35) 39.53, E Spindlow (LV35) 40.29, A Rouget (LV45) 41.34, K Haley 45.21, E Baker (LV35) 45.49.
Woodstock H: S Cantwell (LV35) 30.19, C Phillips (LV45) 31.21, S Dawson (LV35) 33.12, L Clarke (LV35) 33.16, L Ashdowne 33.17, E Doherty (LV35) 33.22, P Booth (LV35) 34.06, Z White (LV35) 34.40.
OTHER RESULTS
PLYM VALLEY PARKRUN
Witney RR: S Le Good 19.53.
PLYMOUTH 10K
Witney RR: S Le Good (SM) 39.55 ABINGDON PARKRUN Witney RR: W Downey 21.30.
Woodstock H: 115 D Richens (V40) 27.47.
OXFORD PARKRUN
Woodstock H: 65 L Clarke (1st LV40) 24.47, 66 V Berryman-Bousquet (2nd LV40) 24.50 pb.
READING PARKRUN
Woodstock H: 186 S Briggs (2nd LV55) 27.02.
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