Oxford City’s were crowned champions in the vet 50 and vet 60 categories as they stole the show in the British Veterans Road Relays at Sutton Coldfield.

The vet 60s last won in 2007 and the vet 50s in 2006, and both teams were second last year.

But this year, City’s squads won both events on the same day for the first time.

The vet 50s now boast seven victories and four second places in the last 12 years.

The vet 60 team of three started off with Gareth Jones, who finished in fourth place over the three-mile course in a time of 17mins 56 secs, but he was only eight seconds behind the leading team, South London Harriers.

John Exley pulled the team into a 35-second lead with a time of 17.51 on leg two, before Roy Treadwell clocked 17.35, the fastest vet 60 time of the day, to anchor the team to a 50-second victory.

In the vet 50 race, Dave Wheeler clocked 18.41 to put City in 47th place.

Richard Grant made up 27 places on the second leg, finishing 20th in 17.16.

Phil Huxley pulled City a further 11 places up on the third leg with 16.58, before Trevor Dixon took them into a medal position on leg four, finishing third with 16.44.

Chris Sykes piled on the pressure on leg five, taking Oxford into the lead with a time of 16.20, the third-fastest vet 50 split of the day.

He handed over a 42-second lead to Brian Green, who cruised around the glory leg in 16.45 to bring City home 47 seconds ahead of Barnet.

City’s vet 40 team of eight were below strength, but managed 16th out of 34 teams.

OTHER RESULTS

Vet 40 - Leg 1: S Male 15.36. Leg 2: J Richardson 16.03. Leg 3: H van Zyl 17.34. Leg 4: A Gleeson 17.10. Leg 5: R Webster 18.12. Leg 6: T Osman 18.06. Leg 7: P Gray 17.35. Leg 8: C Birch 18.27.

Vet 35: M Maxwell 16.12.