OXFORD MAIL CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE

ELYSIA Ridley shrugged off “freezing” conditions to take the senior and overall ladies’ titles with an emphatic victory in the final round at Wittenham Clumps.

The 25-year-old Witney Road Runner led by one point in the standings going into the Wittenham race, but left nothing to chance with a gun to tape victory.

Ridley clocked 24mins 33secs to finish 40 seconds ahead of second-placed Jessica Franklin (Newbury) and more than a minute clear of her tital rival Sophie Crumly, another Newbury athlete.

She said: “I won the under 20 title a few years ago, but to win the senior one is very pleasing because there are so many good runners in Oxfordshire.”

Conditions took a turn for the worse on Sunday morning, with some runners reporting the wet and cold weather was the toughest they had raced in.

Ridley said: “It was freezing, but I had to run to win the title.

“I knew I was in good shape and went off hard from the start with the Woodstock girl (Jessica Webb).

“I took the lead up the first hill and held it from there. It was about 150 metres at the end, which was the furthest I have won by this season.

“I think it was the thought of hot chocolate afterwards that spurred me on.”

The league titles underline the strong start Ridley has made to 2012.

Other highlights include a second place in the Combined Services Championships and fifth in the Welsh Nationals, which earned her a Wales call-up.

“Being selected for Wales and running well in the Bourton 10K last week gave me a lot of confidence,” said Ridley, who is now focusing on the Home Countries Internationals on March 18.

After that she will have a break before deciding whether to compete at triathlon or on the track for the Army this summer.

Webb finished fourth at Wittenham in 25.49 to secure the same place in the final standings.

Beth Alston (Oxford Brookes) plus Abingdon Amblers duo Lizzie Purbrick and Carrie Bolton also finished in the top ten of the senior ladies’ standings.

Headington Road Runner Jude Craft was the first vet 35 lady home, finishing fifth in 26.26.

But Oxford City’s Sarah Davies landed the vet 35 ladies’ title after coming eighth in 26.54.

Eynsham Road Runner Kate Williamson earned a second-place finish in the vet 55 category.

Newbury A were easy winners of ladies’ Division 1, ahead of Headington, who pipped Cirencester for second.

Oxford City were the Division 2 champions, ahead of Witney, who, boosted by Ridley and Nicola Gomm, were first on the day.