Oxford City confirmed their position as one of the premier veteran outfits in the country when their V50 men's team became national relay champions for the fourth year in succession at Sutton Park, Birmingham.

City's veteran teams were well represented in the 14th running of this event, run on a tough, three-mile parkland course.

With the return of Ahmed Amraoui, City were at full strength, and Roy Treadwell got them off to a solid start, coming in fifth place with 16 mins 26 secs.

With Dave Parsons and Clive Rutland keeping them in fifth, it was Gareth Jones who did the damage by running 16.19 to bring the team into the lead.

Amraoui ran a controlled 16.05 on the fifth, so it was down to team captain John Exley to bring the team home as national V50 champions again

The Vet 40s' race was run over the same course , but was eight stages rather than six.

City eventually finished in a respectable 12th position, with the event won by a very powerful Swansea team.

City's V60 team finished ninth out of 19 teams, over three stages.

John Polgreen ran 18.52 for the team's best time and fourth fastest of the day.

Their women's V35 team performed with credit, finishing 14th out of 28 teams. Only one second separated the three runners, Sue Walters and Sue Ogilvie running 19.55 and Gwyneth Hueter 19.56.

CITY DETAILS

Men's V40: 1 Swansea 2.05.18, 2 Woodford Green 2.06.02, 3 Ron Hill Cambuslang 2.07.27, 12 Oxford City 2.13.16. 54 teams finished. City times: 1 N Russell 16.04, 2 R Grant 16.30, 3 P Gray 15.54, 4 M Welland 17.23, 5 D Wheeler 16.19, 6 B Green 15.42, 7 M Kilcoyne 18.33, 8 S Johnson 16.51.

Men's V50: 1 Oxford City 1.39.56, 2 Stockport 1.41.16, 3 Bingley 1.41.51. 39 teams finished. City times: 1 R Treadwell 16.26, 2 D Parsons 17.03, 3 C Rutland 17.31, 4 G Jones 16.19. 5 A Amraoui 16.05, 6 J Exley 16.32.

Men's V60: 1 Swansea 56.30, 2 Thames H&H 58.18, 3 Halesowen 59.04, 9 Oxford City 1.01.18. City times: 1 J Polgreen 18.52, 2 R Clanfield 20.38, 3 R Collins 21.48.

Women's V35: 1 Bristol 53.16, 2 Shaftesbury 53.46, 3 Altrincham 54.55,14 Oxford City 59.46.