BEN West gave another indication of his promise with a brilliant fifth place in the Andy Reading 10k road race at Chesterton on Sunday.

The 16-year-old Bicester AC runner recorded a time of 35mins 10secs, which was enough to propel him to 24th place in the British under 17 rankings.

This was despite him competing in the Southern Counties Cross Country Championships the previous day.

West finished ahead of local favourite Richard Gould, competing for Alchester RC, who nevertheless ran well for 12th spot in 36.30.

This secured him second place in the men’s vet 40 category.

However, the event, organised by Bicester AC and Alchester Running Club in memory of the popular local runner, was dominated one man.

Ian Kipton, from Luton AC, went into a commanding lead from the start.

Proving a class apart, he had more than two minutes to spare at the finish to win in a course-record time of 30.28.

Paul Fernandez, of Abingdon, came second in 32.29, but was an easy winner of vet 40 event.

Third place went to unattached runner Rob Elmore (34.02).

Rachel Vines (CCL Striders) took the senior ladies title in 39.52.

Sam Usher (Alchester) was not only the runner-up, but also the first LV35 finisher in 40.36.

The profits from this year’s event are to be donated to Hummingbird Cancer and Support Therapy Centre.

More than 360 runners supported the event run in near-perfect conditions.

Other Alchester finishers: 38 L Godber 39.33, 64 A Kerr 41.45, 184 A Rawlinson 50.12, 262 M Thorne 56.31, 283 E Ward 58.22, 306 S Suter 1.00.02, 360 D Revell 1.07.37.

There were contrasting finishes to the 1km children’s races, held in conjunction with the Andy Reading 10k.

In the boys’ event, Adam Smith, representing Langford Village School, won in 3.47.0, just a second ahead of Timothy Jones (Bicester AC).

Morgan Attrill (Kings Meadow School) was a further second back in third place.

Ines Piaget-Thompson had a more comfortable win in the girl’s race, with a time of 4.01.

She was followed home by the Couzens twins representing Bure Park School, Bicester, with Bella (4.06) getting the better of Anna by two seconds.

They helped Bure Park win the Primary Schools Trophy.

There was a clean sweep for Bicester AC in the under 13 boy’s race held over a 3km course, with a comprehensive winner in Freddie Taylor (12.09).

He triumphed by 15 seconds from Michael Cadle, with Edward Jolliffe a further 18 seconds back in third.

BEN West was the most successful of a small but select band of Bicester AC runners selected to represent Oxfordshire in the Southern Counties Cross Country Championships at Horspath.

The teenager finished 19th in the under 17 men’s race, clocking 16mins 29secs.

Clubmate Georgia Usher was far from disgraced in the under 13 girls race as she came 56th in 13.51.

Max Nicolle, competing in the under 15 event, continued his solid season with 59th place in 15.12.

There were three Bicester runners in the under 15 girl’s race with Amy Gould (104th in 19.4), Molly Acton (106th in 20.46) and Holly Hunter (107th in 22.52).

Meanwhile, Bicester AC’s David Kuester was second in the men’s 70-plus age group at the South East Counties Throwers Association’ Pentathlon Xmas competition at Epsom with a total of 2,763 points.

Results – Hammer: 3rd 30.04m. Shot: 2nd 8.47. Discus: 2nd 25.00. Javelin: 2nd 22.95m. Heavy weight: 1st 12.12m.