BEN Cumberland, from Radley AC, was a shining light for Oxfordshire in the South of England Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships held at Horspath.

In muddy conditions and driving rain, Cumberland finished a notable third in the under 15 boys race.

His display was Oxfordshire’s best and helped them to come tenth out of the 22 competing counties.

In the under 15 girls race, Abingdon’s Beth Darwent was 47th, followed by clubmate Mieke Bedlington, who was 68th.

The best-placed Abingdon runner was Jack Shayler, who finished 33rd in the Under 17 men’s race. Next best was Lottie Siddle, who came 46th in the Under 20 women’s contest.

Meanwhile Abingdon’s Paul Fernandez kept up his consistent run of form by finishing second in the Andy Reading 10k, organised by Bicester AC and Alchester Running Club at Chesterton.

Fernandez recorded a personal best time of 32mins 31.0secs to take the V40 crown. But he was more than two minutes behind the winner, Luton’s Ian Kimber, who produced a course record 30.28.09secs.

In his first competition back after injury, White Horse Harriers’ Dick Jegou has to contend with the heavy rain at the Swindon Winter Throws event.

He threw 10.01 in the discus and 25.12m in the discus

RESULTS

(senior men unless stated)

SOUTH OF ENGLAND CROSS

COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Abingdon AC – Under 15 women (4k): 47 B Darwent 16.34, 68 M Bedlington 17.04, 102 C Barwick 18.53. Under 17 men (5k): 33 J Shayler 16.55, 86 D Bunn 18.20. Under 17 women (5k): 74 K Harris 21.27. Under 20 women (6k) 46 L Siddle 26.18.

ANDY READING 10K

Abingdon AC: 2 P Fernandez (1st V40) 32.31pb, 34 J Lenik 39.15pb, 141 C Halfhead (U17W) 47.58, 215 A Milliken-Tull (LV50) 53.01, 255 S Stroud (LV35) 55.47, 268 J Styles (V50) 56.51, 272 S Walters (LV55) 57.42, 296 M Hamilton (LV50) 60.53.

ABINGDON PARKRUN

White Horse Harriers: 4 M Attwood 19.32, 42 J Gibbard 22.51, 54 R Wyard 23.25.