TOM Penfold and Mathew Ashton made it a double delight for Oxfordshire by romping to victory in the South East Inter-Counties Schools' Cross Country Championships at Tunbridge Wells.

Penfold (King Alfred's, Wantage), who was forced to miss the Oxfordshire championships due to illness, triumphed in the under 20 boys' race.

He was always up with the leading bunch over the 7.2km course before shrugging off his final rival in the last 50 metres to take victory in 27mins 4secs.

Ashton (Wood Green, Witney) was an impressive winner of the under 17 boys' race.

The Oxon champion ran his rivals ragged over the 6.5km trip to win in 25.09, with county runner-up Seymour Scott (Wallingford) back in 16th.

Wallingford's Adam Galliford was a creditable 12th in the under 15 boys' race.

In the girls' under 20 race, Frances Briscoe (King Alfred's) finished an excellent fifth despite having an asthma attack during the race.

She had to stop and use her inhaler before completing the 4.4km distance in 20.30 almost a minute behind the winner.

Oxon used the championships to finalise their teams for the English Schools' Championships at Highlands Park, Chelmsford on Saturday, March 10.

OXON DETAILS

(Top 70)

Boys

Under 20: 1 T Penfold (King Alfred's), 24 J Traer (Cherwell), 26 A Moreton (MCS), 46 H Grant (Radley College), 51 A Hardyment (Radley College).

Under 17: 1 M Ashton (Wood Green), 16 S Scott (Wallingford), 36 E Williamson (Radley College), 49 M Cullen (Abingdon), 64 A Osment.

Under 15: 12 A Galliford (Wallingford), 28 N Vass (Wallingford), 55 P Castle (Wheatley Park), 56 D Luke (Wheatley Park), 57 T Austin (King Alfred's), 60 J Stachowiak (Cooper).

Girls

Under 20: 5 F Briscoe (King Alfred's).

Under 17: 31 M Williams (Rye St Antony), 40 L Bourne (John Mason), 52 R Cormack-Lloyd (Headington), 53 L Chilton (Langtree), 61 S LeGood (Wood Green), 62 J Roberts (Larkmead).

Under 15: 8 C Plateau (Oxford High), 59 S Lackman (John Mason), 67 A Pool.

OXON TEAMS FOR ENGLISH SCHOOLS' CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOYS

Under 20: P Jeffery (Henley College), I Duncan (Larkmead), A Moreton (MCS), J Traer (Cherwell), R Kinnersley (Henley College), T Penfold (King Alfred's), A Hardyment (Radley College), H Grant (Radley College).

Under 17: M Ashton (Wood Green), S Scott (Wallingford), D Bellinger (Peers), J Richards (Abingdon), L Haines (Henry Box), W Devenish (St Edward's), E Williamson (Radley College), M Cullen (Abingdon).

Under 15: A Galliford (Wallingford), N Flynn (Cooper), J Stachowiak (Cooper), T Everitt (Radley College), N Vass (Wallingford), P Castle (Wheatley Park), D Luke (Wheatley Park), T Austin (King Alfred's).

GIRLS

Under 20: F Briscoe (King Alfred's), R Stoakes (Lord Williams's), E Gottwald (Our Lady's Convent), N Candlin (Wood Green), J Smith (Fitzharry's), G Bryan (Henley College), K Chick (Wood Green).

Under 17: J Rhodes (King Alfred's), M Williams (Rye St Antony), L Newport (Wheatley Park), L Chilton (Langtree), R Cormack-Lloyd (Headington), A Frankum (St Helen & St Katharine's), L Bourne (John Mason), S LeGood (Wood Green).

Under 15: H England (Cherwell), C Plateau (Oxford High), E Ridley (Burford), C Sadler (Cheney), P Sprinz (Headington), C Newbould (Bloxham), S Lackman (John Mason), C Knox (St Mary's).