The Oxford Mail Cross Country League gets under way this weekend as Witney Roadrunners host round one at Ascott-under-Wychwood (10am).

And this year looks set to be more competitive than ever with both individual and team honours likely to be hotly-contested in the five-round series.

As last year, the men's individual title looks like being the tightest of contests, with three or four leading lights in local athletics doing battle between now and March.

Pete Wilson (White Horse Harriers), who was the overall champion several times in the early years of the league, is joint defending champion with Richard Bromley (Headington).

Wilson hit top form over the road course during the summer, but Bromley, who admits to preferring cross country to road-running, has been looking pretty sharp too.

The duo will have their work cut out to cling onto the crown, however, as one man from across the border in Gloucestershire has set the local athletics scene alight this year.

Denis Walmsley, who was champion two years ago, should never be discounted, and his recent victory in the Abingdon Marathon was testimony to the major threat he still poses.

If that wasn't enough, the Bourton ace then won his second marathon in the space of seven days on Sunday in the Snowdonia National Park, and also won last week's Gloucestershire League race - quite some achieve- ment!

Dan Leggate, of Cirencester, who won round three at Banbury last year, is not expected to run the necessary four rounds to qualify for individual honours, but he certainly can't be discounted as a winner in the races he does enter.

And of the new blood? Many pundits are predicting bright young prospects who could make their names this year, not least Tom Penford, of White Horse Harriers, and Bicester's Mark Curson.

In the team event, Team Kennett are a new entry. Made up mostly of juniors, they are an unknown quantity.

In the women's section, everything will be up for grabs in the individual competition, but it may well turn into a contest between the top Headington runners.

Cirencester have often produced winners in the past, but former champion Ellen Leggate (who is Dan's wife), now based in Cambridge, is unlikely to run in more than a couple of rounds this season, while her clubmate, current defending champion Wendy Jones, is five-months preg- nant.

So, there will be a new name on the women's trophy this season.

And few would be brave enough to back against one of the big Headington quartet.

Jude Craft and Allison Hurst are certainly the two to beat, and it would be tough to call if they both run regularly.

With Iona Robertson and Jo Knapton making up the Headington team - who would also both fancy their individual chances, it would be a surprise to many if they didn't successfully defend the team prize - especially after some of their performances in national competition recently.

Returning to the men's competition, and White Horse Harriers may find it very tough to hang onto the crown they lifted last season.

Woodstock Harriers will doubtless push them all the way, with Dave Ashton and Richard Shipway now back together, along with new recruits such as Richard Beaumont and Nick Bainbridge.

Certainly, Woodstock look very focused this year, and don't be surprised if they walk away with the title.

Headington too have strength in depth, but with the talented James Bowler off on a US sports scholarship, they may not quite have enough at the sharp end.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS

Men: P Wilson (White Horse H), R Bromley (Headington).

Women: W Jones (Cirencester).

Men's team - Division 1: White Horse Harriers.

Men's team - Division 2: Cirencester AC

Women's team: Headington Roadrunners.