ALCHESTER’S Sarah Rendell ran an excellent race to come third in the first round of the Oxford Mail Cross Country League at Ascott-under-Wychwood on Sunday.

Rendell completed the women’s race in 24 mins 9secs, to secure third place behind winner Sophie Crumley (Newbury). She was also the second LV35 runner to finish.

Her Alchester clubmate Jenny McBain came 12th, while their leading finisher in the men’s race was Richard Gould in 25th spot.

It was the junior runners, who fared best for Bicester AC.

Max Nicolle spearheaded a magnificent effort from the under 13 boys team as they placed second.

Nicolle finished third, clocking 7.17 over the 2000m circuit.

Bicester’s Freddie Taylor had his first run in the under 13 age group, coming 13th, while the biggest improvement came from Samuel Worfolk in 15th place.

The other leading Bicester performance came from Lottie Doherty, who was third in the under 11 girl’s race in 4.05 for the 1200m course.

Molly Doherty, also in her maiden run for the club, was tenth.

Reigning under 13 champion, Bicester’s Amy Gould, competed in the under 15/17 race, and considering she was up against older runners, performed well to come tenth with a time of 14.52 over 3,500m.

Holly Griffiths-Brown, who normally competes over 300 metres on the track, showed her versatility by coming a respectable 27th in 16.01.

LEADING RESULTS

Men: 25 R Gould (Alc, V40) 32.32.

Women: 3 S Rendell (Alc, LV35) 24.09, 12 J McBain (Alc, LV35) 25.09.

Under 15/17 girls: 10 A Gould (Bic, 15) 14.52, 27 H Griffiths-Brown (Bic) 16.01, 37 L Nicklin 17.13. Boys: 14 T Gould (Bic) 20.34.

Under 13 girls: 11 L Watts (Bic) 8.09, 13 A Cox (Bic) 8.14, 21 F Smith (Bic) 8.57.

Boys: 3 M Nicolle (Bic) 7.17, 13 F Taylor (Bic) 7.56, 15 S Worfolk (Bic) 7.58, 19 E Joliffe (Bic) 8.16.

Under 11 girls: 3 L Doherty (Bic) 4.0