OXFORD City Veterans followed up their recent triumph at the Southern Track & Field Championships with gold medals for both their Vet 50 and Vet 60 teams in the prestigious Southern Road Relays at Aldershot.

Over four legs of the tough undulating six kilometre course, the Vet 60s secured their first-ever gold in this event, while the Vet 50s won for the first time in five years.

The Vet 40s team were nearly in the medals too, with Steve Male, the fourth fastest runner on the day, just unable to make up enough ground on Woodford Green to take a bronze in a tumultuous final lap.

The Vet 50s finished an excellent ninth in the overall race.

Richard Grant set off with the third fastest Vet 50 time overall, bringing the team home in second place on the first leg in 20mins 29secs.

Almost immediately, Roy Treadwell took the lead, and finished comfortably ahead with a time of 21.33. He was the fastest runner on the second leg.

Dave Wheeler extended the lead with 21.28 - the fastest third leg.

Then John Exley finished nearly a minute ahead with 21.19, despite having his lead eaten up by the fastest Vet 50 runner of the day, Martin Flowers, from Portsmouth.

Portsmouth finished second and Barnet third.

City's Vet 50 B team finished tenth (41st overall) thanks to Gareth Jones (21.34), Paul Grimsdale (24.57), Dave Parsons (22.53) and Andy Hope (24.14) and won the unofficial B team race.

The Vet 60s were led off by Dickie Langton with 24.39 to finish sixth.

Paul Treviss ran a steady second leg with 25.01, and Mick Welland took the lead from Aldershot on the third leg with 23.56, after which they never looked back.

Clive Rutland (23.18) extended the lead, despite being up against the in-form Les Presland and the team finished nearly two minutes ahead of South London Harriers in second and Aldershot in third.

City's Vet 40s faced stiff competition, but performed better than for many years.

James Percival, on the competitive first leg, started with 20.53 in 16th position.

Brian Green then cut through the field with an outstanding 19.53, handing over to Trevor Dixon in fourth place.

Dixon, with a time of 20.33, came back in fifth place.

Male cut the gap to Woodford Green, who were third, to only six seconds, but was held off in a thrilling final leg.

There was also success for City's Under 13 girls' team, whose trio of Melissa Hawtin, Beth Swords and Danielle Anderson, saw off Aldershot and Dorking for the gold medal.

Hawtin set the pace in the first leg, clocking 8.08, with Swords running 8.58 on the second leg.

Anderson produced a time of 9.11 to see City home by 31 seconds.