Paul Fernandez, of Abingdon Amblers, won the senior men's Oxfordshire County Championship when finishing seventh in the Abingdon Marathon.

Fernandez completed the course in 2hrs 38mins 58secs, more than six minutes behind the winner, Steven Neill (Pudsey & Bramley), who recorded 2.32.25.

Keith Russell (Reading Road Runners) was second in 2.35.48, with Colin Paton (Army), the 2005 winner who was also disqualified after finishing first in 2006, third in 2.37.49.

Duncan Hancox, from the host club, finished 37th overall and took a county silver medal.

Third place in the senior section went to Woodstock Harrier James Bolton, who clocked 2.57.30 as he finished 45th.

Oxford City's Julian Richardson was crowned Oxfordshire vet 40 champion after running a personal best time of 2.43.41.

Richardson pipped Headington Roadrunners' Vasily Zverev for the county crown.

Richardson's teammate, Heine van Zyl, was third in 2.48.21.

The vet 50 county title went to Mike Davies (Headington Roadrunners), who clocked 3.12.01, while the evergreen Mike Shipway, 66, landed the vet 60 title in 3.15.18.

In the ladies' championship, Headington Roadrunners' Frances Burge took the senior crown in 3.23.187, while Eirini Flouri, also from Headington, won the vet 35 title, clocking 3.11.48.

Her performance saw her finish second overall in the ladies' race.

And Headington completed a brilliant hat-trick of titles with Sandra Wolanski winning the vet 45 category in 3.13.37, third overall in the ladies' race.

White Horse Harrier Sheila Bailey won the vet 55 age group in 3.41.58.

The overall ladies race was won by Samantha Amend, of Handy Cross Runners, who finished in 3.03.04.

A team of runners from Abingdon's twin town of Argentan also participated in the race and competed against Amblers for the Twin Towns Trophy.

Abingdon retained the cup, which was presented at a post-race party on Sunday evening.

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Senior men: 1 P Fernandez (Abingdon) 2.38.56, 2 D Hancox (Abingdon) 2.56.16, 3 J Bolton (Woodstock H) 2.57.30.

Vet 40 men: 1 J Richardson (Oxford C) 2.43.41, 2 V Zverev (Headington RR) 2.44.31, 3 H van Zyl (Oxford C) 2.48.21.

Vet 50 men: 1 M Davies (Headington RR) 3.12.01, 2 P Rayner (Woodstock H) 3.18.41, 3 T Benn (Headington RR) 3.21.18.

Vet 60 men: 1 M Shipway (Woodstock H) 3.15.18, 2 G Pritchard (Banbury H) 3.37.06.

Senior ladies: 1 F Burge (Headington RR) 3.23.18, 2 E Colclough (Alchester) 3.39.03, 3 C McDonnell 3.52.58.

Vet 35 ladies: 1 E Flouri (Headington RR) 3.11.487, 2 S Matthews (Abingdon) 3.33.55, 3 S Turner (Headington RR) 3.46.25.

Vet 45 ladies: 1 S Wolanski (Headington RR) 3.13.37, 2 A Banks (Alchester) 3.22.33, 3 L Gettins (Compton H) 3.24.12.

Vet 55 ladies: 1 S Bailey (White Horse H) 3.41.58.

Club results at www.oxfordmail.co. uk/sport