Kelly Caffel and under15 runners Jo Rhodes and Hannah England provided the main highlights of a highly satisfactory day for Oxfordshire at the Reebok Inter-Counties Cross Country Championship in Nottingham.

Caffel, from Oxford City, was more than delighted with her run in the Reebok 4k.

In her first serious cross country race of the winter, she came through the field in the latter stages to finish eighth.

Afterwards, she admitted that she would use this and remaining runs over the country to set up her track season, when her main aim is a tilt at the 1500m in European Under 23 Championships.

The senior women's race at Nottingham found Alison Hirst leading the way for Oxfordshire in 74th place, strong support coming from Iona Robertson (86th) and Sarah Heath (110th).

Rhodes and England, both under 15 runners, showed high promise. Rhodes ran easily her best race, finishing in ninth place after a strong run over the closing 1000 metres.

This was in contrast to her display in the Southern Inter Counties in December when she tired in the latter stages.

Meanwhile, England finished in an excellent 19th place.

In the ladies under 20 race, Oxon's Frances Briscoe, despite suffering the after effects of a cold, came home in 50th place, while Lorna King finished 55th on her return. to the county team.

Oxon's leading under 13 finisher was Carolyn Plateau (56th), while Alexandra Aldridge (112th) was their best runner in the under 17 event.

White Horse Harriers' Tom Penfold was the top Oxfordshire male performer at Nottingham.

Penfold stormed to eighth place in the under 17 race, with Mathew Ashton, from Witney Road Runners, 41st in the same event.

With good backing from Darrell Bellinger (Oxford City) and Leo Haines (Witney

Road Runners), Oxon juniors finished in a creditable 12th position out of 38

counties.

Although a first year under 15 which meant that he was up against several runners who were a year older, Joe Stachowiak, from Bicester AC, performed with enormous credit in his first ever major championship, beating more 40 runners when coming in 230th.

Good packing from the Oxfordshire's senior runners enabled them to finish in 17th position their highest placing for many years.

OXFORDSHIRE PLACINGS

Senior Men: 48 K Sheppard (WHH), 93 JBradley (Oxford University), 128 GHarris (Headington), 130 I Harkness, 131 G Felton (WHH), 223 P McCourt (WHH), 240 J Goodhand, 275 S Pritchard 275; 279 T Glare. Team: 17 Oxfordshire 753 pts.

Under 20: 66 P Jeffrey (Oxford City), 99 J Traer (Oxford City), 119 I Duncan (Oxford City).

Under 17: 8 T Penfold (WHH), 41M Ashton (Witney Road Runners), 93 D Bellinger (Oxford City), 174 L Haines, 191 W Devenish, 216 J Mackinnon. Team: 12 Oxfordshire 316pts.

Under 15: 48 CGillespie (WHH), 199 O Bristow, 212 HCruczko, 242 T Williams, 245 J Stachowiak, 284 PCastle, 294 S Tancred, 296 T

Penn. Team: 36 Oxfordshire 701pts.

Under 13: 195 G Wood, 199 St Mitchell, 231 JHill, 233 D Luke, 238 I Castle, 266 ITimms, 279 J Griffiths. Team: 39 Oxfordshire 858pts.