FORMER Banbury Harrier Sullivan Smith returned to his old stamping ground to win the Banbury 15-mile race with a new course record on Sunday.

Smith, who now runs for Swansea Harriers, dominated the race to win in 1hr 21mins 44secs.

The host club’s Tim Wright clocked 1.28.28 for fourth place, while Kevin Game (Woodstock Harriers) finished seventh in 1.29.17.

With James Bolton finishing tenth, Brian O’Connor 25th and David Cantwell 26th, Woodstock Harriers won the men’s team prize ahead of Alchester in second and Headington Roadrunners in third.

Meanwhile, Kidlington’s Sophie Carter won the senior ladies’ race to retain her title.

It was a remarkable achievement for Carter, who gave birth to her first child in November.

Banbury Harriers landed the team prize.

They were led in by Julie Dixon, who finished fourth in 1.45.15.

Michelle Bartlett was fifth in 1.45.23, with Victoria Cunnington (15th in 1.54.12) making up the winning trio.

Headington Roadrunners were second, led home by Charlotte Harris in sixth place.

BANBURY 15 CLUB RESULTS

Abingdon Amblers: 22 C Bedford 1hr 34mins 40secs, 79 T Garrod 1.47.28, 220 T Clarke 2.06.49, 235 2.08.55, 274 L Bedford (SL) 2.13.48.

Headington RR: 11 J Eve 1.30.04, 35 C Prince (V40) 1.40.09, 36 R Skilbeck 1.40.16, 41 N Moss 1.41.04, 73 R Treadwell (V40) 1.46.36, 74 C Harris (3rd SL) 1.47.00, 104 A Hopkins (LV35) 1.52.00, 107 S Howard (SL) 1.52.56, 109 R Shaw (SL) 1.53.17 pb, 112 M Biglin (V40) 1.53.36, 134 M Lennholm (V40) 1.56.34, 144 S Turner (LV35) 1.57.43, 148 A Tester 1.58.24, 161 K Byrne (V50) 1.59.56, 163 A Felton 2.00.17, 165 T Mean 2.00.17, 174 A Baird (SL) 2.01.09, 196 S Cowls (V50) 2.03.39, 223 M Yeats (V40) 2.07.02, 225 M Stone (V50) 2.07.17, 226 G Norris (V60) 2.07.19, 249 F Stevenson (SL) 2.10.45, 250 R Gamble (SL) 2.10.45, 260 E Croft (SL) 2.12.01, 269 R Green (V60) 2.13.02, 285 J Zaremba (LV45) 2.16.15, 288 A Powter (LV35) 2.16.47, 290 B Cornelius (V60) 2.16.54, 296 D White 2.17.36, 300 G Day (V40) 2.18.08, 303 S Szynaka (V60) 2.20.03, 313 J Payne (LV45) 2.22.07 323 A Sulley 2.24.36, 329 S Grylls (LV55) 2.26.50 cr, 341 R Logan (V50) 2.30.26, 342 K Howgego (SL) 2.30.40, 348 S Doel (LV55) 2.34.59, 360 F Hilton (LV35) 2.42.14, 366 K Villiers (LV60) 2.48.26.

Kidlington: 44 S Carter (1st SL) 1.41.20, 55 J Finnigan 1.44.06, 171 B Partridge 2.00.52, 278 L Partridge (SL) 2.14.10.

White Horse Harriers: 17 P Jegou 1.31.54, 19 J Cooke 1.34.32, 34 J Peake (V40) 1.39.42, 197 G Wiggins 2.03.46, 224 D Stringfellow (V50) 2.07.14, 240 J Smeddle (V50) 2.09.26.

Witney RR: 21 J Young 1.34.36, 37 J-M Briens 1.40.29, 61 P Anslie 1.44.54, 84 S LeGood 1.47.56, 111 G LeGood 1.53.33, 128 K Chard 1.55.50, 146 J Whelan 1.58.17, 195 T Christie (SL) 2.03.38, 241 M Stuart-Thompson (V40) 2.09.35, 252 M Saxel 2.10.56, 268 N Henman (SL) 2.12.52, 294 K Wheeler (SL) 2.17.13, 337 S Christie (LV45) 2.29.03, 338 J Gamage (LV35) 2.29.23, 339 T Moss (LV35) 2.29.26, 340 H West 2.30.10 (LV55).

  • THE inaugural running of the Chalgrove Festival 10K takes place on Monday May 3.

The race is open to anyone aged 16 or over.

For more details, visit www.chalgrovefestival10k.com, where athletes can download an entry form.

  • THE Mota-vation race series gets under way at Charlton-on-Otmoor on Thursday, May 6.

To accommodate the numbers expected this year, there will be seperate starts for men (7.15pm) and ladies (7.33pm).

Entries for the race must be made in advance.

Full details and entry forms are available at www.kidlingtonrunning.org.uk or by calling 01865 847056.

MOTA-VATION SERIES

May 6: Charlton-on-Otmoor.

Jun 3: Bletchingdon.

Jul 1: Combe.

Aug 5: Chipping Norton.

Sept 2: Oxford (7pm start).