Former champion Richard Bromley, of Headington, marked his arrival in this year's Oxford Mail Cross-Country League with a stunning victory on a new and challenging venue at Lambourn on Sunday.

Jo Rhodes, of White Horse Harriers

In the absence of last month's winner, Dan Leggate, the second round of the series developed into a contest between Bromley and Witney's promising Mathew Ashton

Bromley powered away from Ashton up the hill at the start of the second lap and ran out a comfortable winner. Ashton again had to settle for runners-up spot.

These two were well ahead of White Horse Harriers' Pete Wilson.

After two of the five rounds, the men's Division 1 team battle has now developed into an intriguing four-way contest.

With Peter Haarer and Gary Harris in close support, and with the return of Roger Thetford and Luke McNeil, Headington Roadrunners won sufficiently convincingly to take a narrow overall lead.

Jerry McCarthy's return propelled a strong Witney team to second on the day, ahead of Woodstock who still have not reached their full potential this season.

White Horse Harriers, with their sixth and seventh scorers way back, slipped up badly on their home territory, and could manage only fourth.

There's still no stopping Headington's women. Following up their Chiltern League success in the mud of Shotover the day before, Tracey Galbraith, who led all the way, and Iona Robertson combined with Jo Choulerton to increase Headington's overall lead.

Oxford City's Hannah England, who missed the first round, raced home in second place, while competing as an Under 17, and helped her team to fourth.

Former winner Wendy Jones, of Cirencester, fresh from childbirth, made a powerful comeback to finish fifth.

But without perennial winner Ellen Leggate, Cirencester lacked Headington's depth on the day.

Hosts White Horse Harriers unveiled a beautiful course which had its share of mud, but whose horse gallops and never-ending hills on the Berkshire Downs were well drained.

The next round, hosted by Headington Roadrunners, is at Enslow Quarry on December 29.