BEN West continued his encouraging form with victory in the first round of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League at Newbury Showground.

The Bicester runner won the under 15/17 race in a time of 16mins 48secs, beating his nearest challenger by 26 seconds.

West spearheaded a strong team effort, with Max Nicolle and Samuel Worfolk, both making their under 15 debuts, finishing tenth and 29th respectively to help the north Oxfordshire club place fourth.

Freddie Taylor led the way for Bicester in the under 13 competition, coming 14th, while Timothy Jones crossed in the same position in the under 11 event.

In the under 15/17 girls race, Amy Gould finished 21st, while Imogen Cox was eighth in the under 11 competition.

Georgia Usher produced a fine first run at under 13 level to place 12th.

Alchester’s Sarah Rendell came sixth in the senior ladies race, with clubmate Samantha Usher 11th.

The next round is on December 4 at Adderbury.

RESULTS

(senior men unless stated)

OXFORD MAIL CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE

ROUND 1 – NEWBURY

Women: 6 S Rendell (Alc, LV35) 26.52, 11 S Usher (Alc, LV35) 27.33.

Under 15/17 boys: 1 B West (Bic, U17) 16.48, 10 M Nicolle (Bic, U15) 18.14.

Under 11 girls: 8 I Cox (Bic) 7.16.

TEAM STANDINGS

Men’s Div 1: 4 Alchester A 390. Div 3: 3 Alchester B 869.

Women’s Div 1: 2 Alchester A 38.