Cherwell's Hannah England powered home to foil Josephine Rhodes' bid for a fourth successive title at the Oxfordshire Schools' Cross Country Championships at Radley College.

England, last year's under 15 champion, had around 20 metres to spare at the line as she surged clear to lower the colours of her old rival from King Alfred's, Wantage in the girls' under 17 race.

It gave England a second consecutive win and also avenged her defeat by Rhodes in the under 15 race of two years ago. Wheatley Park's Lisa Newport was third.

Carolyn Plateau (Oxford High), runner up to England last year, went one better to strike gold with victory over Alice Gunn (Bloxham) and Gina Hood (Headington) in this year's under 15 race.

At under 19, Henley College's Alexander Aldridge saw off the challenge of the Gottwald twins, second-placed Elizabeth (Our Lady's Convent, Abingdon) and Victoria (King Alfred's) to claim victory.

Tom Penfold (King Alfred's) won his third title in four years, pacing himself well to take victory in the under 19 boys' race.

With one eye on today's South of England Championships at Parliament Hill, Penfold, who missed last year's county championships due to illness having previously been a dual winner at under 17, ran within himself, but was still too quick for his rivals.

Abingdon School's John Richards finished second with Radley's Edward Williamson third in a race which saw a handful of runners attempting to cheat by skipping a lap.

Chris Gillespie was another winner for King Alfred's, leading home a one-two for the Wantage school in the under 17 race with a clear-cut victory from Owein Bristow and Wallingford's Nigel Vass.

Adam Rhodes (Lord Williams's, Thame) took the honours in the under 15 race, with Wallingford's Chris Roberts runner-up and Neil Flynn (Cooper, Bicester).

Radley took the team honours with a double success in the boys' under 15 and 17 races.

The first six in each race now go on to represent Oxon in the English Schools' Championships at Highlands House Park, near Chelmsford on Saturday, March 9.

The final places in each age group will be decided following the South Eastern Inter-Counties Championships at Beacon School, Banstead in Surrey on Saturday, February 16.

Any runners still looking to qualify should contact Glynis Wheatcroft at Cheney School on 01865 765726.

RESULTS

BOYS

Under 19: 1 Tom Penfold (King Alfred's), 2 John Richards (Abingdon School), 3 Edward Williamson (Radley), 4 Will Devenish (St Edward's), 5 Matthew Browne (Abingdon School), 6 James McKinnon (King Alfred's). Team: 1 Abingdon School, 2 Radley College, 3 King Alfred's.

Under 17: 1 Chris Gillespie (King Alfred's), 2 Owein Bristow (King Alfred's), 3 Nigel Vass (Wallingford), 4 Adam Galliford (Wallingford), 5 Joe Stachowiak (Cooper), 6 Ben Reekes (Radley). Team: 1 Radley, 2 Wallingford, 3 King Alfred's.

Under 15: 1 Adam Rhodes (Lord Williams's), 2 Chris Roberts (Wallingford), 3 Neil Flynn (Cooper), 4 Dominic Shaw (Magdalen College School), 5 Jack Hill (Fitzharry's), 6 Johnny Lodowski (Fitzharry's). Team: 1 Radley, 2 Fitzharry's, 3 Lord Williams's.

GIRLS

Under 19: 1 Alexander Aldridge (Henley College), 2 Elizabeth Gottwald (Our Lady's Convent), 3 Vicky Gottwald (King Alfred's), 4 Alice Frankum (St Helen & St Katharine's), 5 Sarah Gray (St Helen & St Katharine's); disq L Leppard (St Helen & St Katharine's) ineligible. Team: 1 St Helen & St Katharine's, 2 King Alfred's.

Under 17: 1 Hannah England (Cherwell), 2 Josephine Rhodes (King Alfred's), 3 Lisa Newport (Wheatley Park), 4 Charlotte Eadle (Cheney), 5 Rose Cormack-Lloyd (Headington), 6 Morgan Williams (Rye St Antony). Team: 1 Headington, 2 Gillott's, 3 Larkmead.

Under 15: 1 Carolyn Plateau (Oxford High), 2 Alice Gunn (Bloxham), 3 Gina Hood (Headington), 4 Victoria Lord (St Helen & St Katharine's), 5 Lucy Evans (St Helen & St Katharine's), 6 Charlotte Newbould (Bloxham). Team: 1 Bloxham, 2 John Mason, 3 St Helen & St Katharine's.