BICESTER finished as the third best junior team in Division 2 at the opening round of the Chiltern Cross Country League at Horspath.

A quarter of the club’s 24-strong contingent posted top-30 finishes.

Elsie Jacobs was the pick of the bunch, coming home 13th over the 2,000m course for under 11 girls.

Bicester had strong performers in the under 13 girls’ race, with Anna Joliffe (15th), Lucy McGrath (22nd) and Jenny Critchley (26th).

Amelia Cox was 17th in the under 15 girls – enough for sixth place in Division 2 – the same as Louis Bushby 23rd in the under 15 boys’ race.

Elsewhere, former Bicester runner Ben West was an excellent sixth in the under 20 race at the Cardiff Cross Challenge.

Alchester runners enjoyed success at the Hanney 5.

Jamie Bagnell was their first man home, eighth overall and the third senior in 29mins 47secs.

Shaun O’Gorman (30.49) was third in the V50, while Sam Usher (33.12) took LV45 silver as the ladies finished third overall with Claire Court (34.57) and Sam Suter (36.37).

Caroline Kerr was first lady at the Loch Rannoch half marathon (1.41.06), while husband Rob Kerr took the V60 honours in a personal best of 1.33.58.

A trio of Bicester Tri members completed the Buckingham 10k in under an hour – Martyn Lever (52.12), Mike Spencer-Jones (52.33) and Claire Styles (59.43).