NIGEL Marley, of Alchester, kicked off the 2009 Oxfordshire Road Race Grand Prix series with a comfortable victory in the Banbury 15.

Marley opened up an early lead, and by the half-way mark, was already two minutes clear of the chasing pack.

By the finish, he had extended his advantage to almost four minutes as he crossed the line in 1hr 24mins 15secs.

David Green (Bristol & West) was second in 1.28.03, with Gary Payne (George Eliot Striders) finishing third in 1.28.09, Payne taking first place in the vet 50 category.

Banbury Harrier Tim Wright, was fourth in 1.29.17, just ahead of James Bolton (Woodstock Harriers), who clocked 1.30.49.

Witney Roadrunner Tony Lock was first home in the vet 40 age group, clocking 1.31.24.

Elsewhere, Woodstock’s amazing 56-year-old Bryan Vaughan finished eighth overall and second in the vet 50 group in 1.33.30.

There was also an emphatic victory in the women’s race for Kidlington’s Sophie Dawson, who was 32nd in 1.39.36.

Headington Roadrunner Jude Craft took the ladies’ vet 35 honours in a club record time of 1.41.06.

Alchester’s Angela Banks won the vet 45 division in 1.47.35, with Headington’s Sandra Wolanski in second.

Eynsham Roadrunner Kate Williamson was a class above in the vet 55 category, clocking 2.09.22 for victory.

OTHER CLUB RESULTS

Abingdon Amblers: 22 C Bedford (V40) 1.37.40, 45 J Harvey (V40) 1.43.12, 74 G Richards (V50) 1.48.24, 100 J Wigmore (V50) 1.52.10, 128 J Bones 1.55.31 pb, 135 M Berger (V50) 1.57.18 pb, 143 S Matthews (LV35) 1.57.23 pb, 201 P Groves (V50) 2.03.48, 209 T Wilson (LV45) 2.04.20, 254 T Clarke 2.10.35, 264 A Garner (V50) 2.12.47, 279 R Taylor 2.16.18, 296 S Egerton (LV35) 2.19.00 pb, 328 E Taylor (SL) 2.24.45.

Alchester: 37 J Nelson 1.40.29, 46 G Clench 1.43.23, 51 L Lee 1.44.32, 56 L Grolimund (2nd SL) 1.45.00, 118 M Clay 1.54.07, 134 E Colclough (SL) 1.56.25, 166 G Warland 1.59.45, 176 C Foukes 2.00.57, 189 S Howard 2.02.52, 193 K Hutchins (SL) 2.03.16, 212 M Sandford 20.5.25, 223 N Cherry 2.06.05, 225 T Rackley 2.06.14, 237 P Sandilands 2.07.34, 282 E Gould (SL) 2.16.44, 291 K Hazell 2.17.45, 301 H Howard 2.20.27, 331 M Harris 2.25.00.

Eynsham RR: B Breaker 1.46.33, G Bridges (V40) 1.51.47, L Poole (3rd V60) 1.53.23, K Bates (LV45) 1.54.37, H Morris (V50) 1.58.37, D Bridges (LV35) 2.08.06, D Mannion (LV45) 2.21.46, G Ferrier (SL) 2.22.16, J Bishop (LV35) 2.22.16, I Keeley (V50) 2.25.37.

Headington RR: 9 R Skilbeck 1.33.46, 13 I Meadowcroft (V40) 1.34.41, 24 J Smith 1.38.16.

Kidlington: 48 M Carter 1.43.44, 77 J Finnigan 1.48.28, 145 M Search (V60) 1.57.36, 159 M Ager 1.59.21, 170 A Finnigan (SL) 2.00.19, 224 T Langrish (V55) 2.06.07, 361 H Talbot (SL) 2.38.40.

White Horse Harriers: 10 J Cooke 1.33.57; 16 P Jegou 1.35.10, 60 S Atkin (V40) 1.46.11 pb, 216 J Smeddle (V40) 2.05.40.