OXFORD MAIL CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE

CONSISTENCY proved the key as Paul Fernandez won the senior men’s and overall titles.

Abingdon Ambler Fernandez secured the crowns after finishing fourth in Sunday’s final round.

Fernandez did not win any of the league’s five rounds, but the 37-year-old finished fourth or better in each race he competed in.

He clocked 33mins 23secs, with Newbury’s Alex Muir winning in 32.47.

Fernandez said: “Winning the league was something I had always hoped for.

“I have only come third before and that was a few years ago.

“I think I am faster now than I have ever been before, despite my age.

“A lot of people in these races go off really fast.

“I think I was 30th at the first bend on Sunday, but then I went up to around 15th on the second lap and then I was fourth by the end.”

With Abingdon clubmate Oz Ellis not racing, Fernandez had to finish within three places of Cirencester’s David Bell to be champion.

Bell came fifth in 33.34, with Fernandez passing him near the end.

“I made sure I beat anyone with a Cirencester vest,” said Fernandez, a teacher at Radley College, where he is also head of adventurous activities.

Sunday’s wet and cold weather made conditions tough, but Fernandez may already have been acclimatised.

“I was away on a trip camping out along the Ridgeway and returned from there for the race,” he said.

Ellis finished third in the standings, with Alchester’s Nigel Marley fourth, Tim Wright (Banbury) seventh and Tom Bradford (Hook Norton) tenth.

Oxford City’s Steve Male was the men’s vet 40 champion, ahead of Chris Dettmar (Headington Road Runners) and Julian Richardson (Oxford City).

Didcot’s Paul Thomas was second in the vet 50 standings, with Phil Huxley third.

City’s John Exley was the vet 60 champion, ahead of clubmate Roy Teadwell.

Newbury won Division 1, with White Horse Harriers taking Division 2.