Cotswold Farm Park Cross Country

Big turnout by the Oxfordshire XC League Clubs - the dogs weren't running!

I haven't run all the cross-country (XC) races this year, but the last two Oxfordshire league races were quite something : big fields, great courses and not being dominated by one Team. This month's race (they're on the first Sunday of each month, November to March) was at Cotswold Farm Park, near Guiting Power and was a pukka XC course, only missing one thing in my opinion:- a water crossing. It had big drag uphills, undulating sections, steep declines, soggy grass, mud, stoney sections, narrow paths with tree branches over-hanging and roots protruding. Although, it was tough, it was great fun, never letting you get into a rhythm.

Ben Conway, near the top of what felt like a mile uphill - I said it was tough

So, it was great that we had our biggest turnout for the Oxfordshire races this time:

Ted Lumley ran in Under 9's (his first non-school XC), Hetty Franklin in U11s, Alice Averies in U13s and Toby Conway and Bertie Andrews in U15s; oh, and me, in the Men's race.

Second claimer, Ben Conway, ran for Swindon Harriers and did rather well (right).

Although, it was misty early on and rain was forecast, thankfully (especially for me, as I was there for hours), it didn't rain. The mist cleared in time for the senior races.

Ted really enjoyed his first XC league race, but was surprised it wasn't longer - perhaps he can go faster next time.

Ted, immediately post race and Hetty just finishing hers

Alice, Bertie and Toby not far from the finish

The Oxford league has more teams than the Gloucester league (see right) and it seems really competitive right down the field, which is important to me (see results below)!

The next XC race is the Gloucestershire league match on St Valentine's day at Pittville Park, Cheltenham. You can enter here but note deadline is 11:59 on SUnday 8th, so don't hang about.

Next Oxford league match on 1st March is over at Henley, so a bit of a trip. Let me know if you want to run, so i can enter you.

OXON LEAGUE RESULTS - RACE 4

U9s

1st William Shepherd (Abingdon) 5:08

25th Ted Lumley 6:19

42 ran

U11s

1st Elliot Parsley (Reading) 6:12

56th Hetty Franklin 7:35

102 ran (!)

U13s

1st Sam Cousins (Radley) 11:30

41st Alice Averies 14:29

76 ran

U15s

1st James Mayneord (Swindon Harriers) 16:45

7th Ben Conway (Swindon Harriers & Second Claim Cirencester) 18:05

24th Toby Conway 20:01

25th Bertie Andrews 20:03

65 ran

Men's race

1st Ben Cole (Swindon Harriers) 28:41

250th Dorian Matts 51:35

264 ran