WOODSTOCK Harriers’ James Bolton won the Oxfordshire County Championships after an impressive display in the Abingdon Mara-thon.

The 40-year-old crossed the line in 2hrs 37mins 38secs for a third-placed finish, but was comprehensively beaten by race winner Blackburn Harriers’ Ben Fish, who recorded 2.26.55.

Matthew Bennett, of South-ampton AC, was second in 2.27.01.

A field of 744 athletes took to the streets, and defied dreadful conditions to record quick times in the wet.

Bolton was the comfortably the first Oxfordshire runner home, finishing more than 12 minutes ahead of Headington Roadrunner Fergus Campbell, who recorded 2.49.53 to take 19th place.

Bolton’s clubmate, David Cantwell (2.53.24) was 24th.

John Nelson was crowned Vet 50 champion.

The Alchester member’s time of 2.58.09 saw him home in 54th place.

He pipped Didcot Runners’ Paul Thomas to the title by one place and 17 seconds.

Witney Roadrunners’ Alan Rey-nolds (2.59.00) was third.

Bryan Vaughan’s time of 3.04.09 was the fastest by any Vet 60 athlete in the field.

The Woodstock Harrier was almost five minutes ahead of county rival John Knowles (unattached).

Lucy Hodgson, of Newquay Road Runners, was the first female home in 3.00.08.

Jo Singer (Victoria Park Harriers) and Alison McEwing (Erme Valley Harriers) completed the top three.

Jessica Bruce won the Oxfordshire Ladies’ crown after a fine performance.

The Headington athlete was 108th in 3.06.00 and the ninth female overall.

Denise Bridges, of Eynsham Roadrunners, set a new club record on her way to securing second spot in the county, with Katy Young (unattached) third.

Sandra Walanski (Headington RR) won the Vet 45 title with her time of 3.32.33.

Lucy Gettings (Compton Harriers) and Julia Wiblin (Abingdon AC) completed the top three.

RESULTS
(Senior men unless stated)
Men: 1 B Fish (Blackburn Harriers) 2hrs 26mins 55secs, 2 M Bennett (Southampton) 2.27.01, 3 J Bolton (Woodstock Harriers, V40) 2.37.38, 4 J Sharp (Inverclyde) 2.40.15, 5 M Worringham (Reading RR) 2.40.24, 6 C Fullerton (Tipton Harriers) 2.41.40, 7 C Halsey (Garden City Runners) 2.42.35, 8 D Ives (Sevenoaks AC) 2.42.45, 9 S Gumbrill (Hart RR) 2.43.46, 10 M Green (North Wales RR) 2.44.16, 11 M Henrion (Mornington Chasers) 2.44.34, 12 J Hinton (Thames Hare & Hounds) 2.46.41, 13 G Miller (Bournemouth AC, V40) 2.47.01, 14 O James (Kimberworth Striders) 2.47.32, 15 M Ince (Birmingham R&T) 2.47.46, 16 D Bell (Army, V40) 2.48.31, 17 T Rowles (Ealing Eages RC) 2.48.39, 18 S Way (Bournemouth AC, V40) 2.48.53, 19 F Campbell (Headington RR, V40) 2.49.53, 20 G Bungay (Totton RC, V40) 2.49.58.
Ladies: 1 L Hodgson (Newquay, LV35) 3.00.08, 2 J Singer (Victoria Park Harriers, LV35) 3.01.04, 3 A McEwing (Erme Valley) 3.02.40, 4 J Salter (Les Croupiers, LV35) 3.03.07, 5 N Brockbank (Springfield Stiders, LV35) 3.03.56, 6 S Morwood (Bere Alston Trekkers) 3.04.01, 7 M Galea (Clapham Chasers) 3.04.11, 8 A Kerr (unattached, LV35) 3.04.21, 9 J Bruce (Headington RR) 3.06.00, 10 E Foran (Stubbington Green Runners, LV35) 3.07.55, 11 J Henderson (unattached, LV35) 3.09.21, 12 G Jones (unattached) 3.10.16, 13 L Porter (Bitton RR) 3.11.14, 14 A Ward (unattached, LV35) 3.11.46, 15 K Morsley (unattached) 3.12.17, 16 C Spencer (Kimberworth Striders) 3.15.36, 17 D Bridges (Eynsham RR, LV35) 3.16.52, 18 T Wise (unattached, LV35) 3.17.14, 19 E Bayne (Army) 3.17.58, 20 K Wright (Stratford upon Avon AC) 3.18.40.
OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Senior men: 1 J Bolton (Woodstock H), 2 F Campbell (Headington RR), 3 D Cantwell (Woodstock H).
V50 men: 1 J Nelson (Alchester RC), 2 P Thomas (Didcot Runners), 3 A Reynolds (Witney RR).
V60 men: 1 B Vaughan (Woodstock H), 2 J Knowles (unattached).
Senior ladies: 1 J Bruce (Headington RR), 2 D Bridges (Eynsham RR), 3 K Young (unattached).
V45 ladies: 1 S Wolanski (Headington RR), 2 L Gettins (Compton Harriers), 3 J Wiblin (Abingdon AC).
CLUB RESULTS
(Senior men unless stated)
Headington RR: 19 F Campbell (V40) 2.49.51, 108 J Bruce (F) 3.05.56, 134 A Darbyshire (V50) 3.10.03, 216 P Oxley 3.22.41, 271 S Wolanski (LV45) 3.32.27, 374 A Lawrence 3.45.37, 562 K Young (V40) 4.16.16, 571 S Brown (V40) 4.19.46, 588 R Todd (LV55) 4.24.37, 597 G Day (V40) 4.27.15, 614 T Dixon (V50) 4.32.01, 643 J Colston (F) 4.39.04.
Didcot Runners: 55 P Thomas (V50) 2.58.26, 146 R Sharp (V45) 3.12.22, 188 M Deering 3.17.17, 213 D Reeves 3.22.18, 338 E Naughton (SL) 3.40.35, 365 P Beecham (LV40) 3.45.15, 405 S Hewerdine (V40) 3.50.16, 637 L Absolom (LV45) 4.37.37, 653 J Scarborough V60 4.42.58, 672 S Howes 4.50.16, 673 B Pine 4.50.59.
Abingdon AC: 142 N Hamilton (V50) 3.11.50, 375 J Wiblin (LV 45) 3.45.58, 378 G Robinson 3.46.13, 490 K Dixon (V40) 4.02.02, 651 P Groves (V50) 4.42.15.
Eynsham RR: 181 D Bridges (LV35) 3.16.52, 282 N Clark (V50) 3.33.40, 329 G Ferrier (LV35) 3.39.34, 500 S Butler (V40) 4.04.32, 633 E Butler (LV45) 4.36.46, 634 C Williams 4.36.46, 693 C Maskell (LV45) 5.03.51.
Witney RR: 60 A Reynolds (V50) 2.59.00, 202 G Hunter (V50) 3.19.37, 316 C Hazell (V40) 3.37.42, 558 J Young (SM) 4.16.05.
l All taken from official times