HANNEY 5

JAMES Bolton was surprised to collect his sixth Oxfordshire Road Race Grand Prix victory of the season.

Bolton (Woodstock Harriers) had almost settled for second place in the five-mile road race as Abingdon’s Dan Hamilton built up a 15-second lead.

But Hamilton faded in the closing stages, allowing vet 40 athlete Bolton to pass him and take the spoils in 25mins 47secs.

Hamilton, 22, trailed home in 26.32, with Oxford City’s Julian Richardson clocking 26.53 for third.

Bolton led Harriers to the men’s team title, backed up by Dave Cantwell, Kevin Game and Bryan Vaughan.

Meanwhile, Sophie Carter was back among the leading ladies just eight weeks after giving birth.

Woodstock’s Carter finished third in the female event, having had her second child, Ethan, in August.

With Rachel Masser coming second and Jess Webb fifth, Woodstock were emphatic winners of the ladies’ team prize.

Masser, who set a new vet 35 club record with 30.28, and Carter (30.37) came behind ladies’ winner Kate Jacobs (Swindon Harriers), who recorded 30.17.

Carter said: “Ethan was born eight weeks ago and my training has mainly been with him since my husband has been posted to Afghanistan since June this year.

“It was quite apt that he was in the photo.”

Tim Hughes (White Horse Harriers) produced the performance of the day to take the vet 60 men’s honours, finishing seventh in 28.31.

Hughes’s super run took him to second in the British vet 60 rankings.

Only the legendary Martin Rees (Les Croupiers) has run faster over the distance in 2013 with 26.52.

White Horse’s Ian Lambourn was the first vet 50 man home in 30.26.

Kidlington’s Sue Morton (35.36) was the leading vet 45 lady, with Oxford’s Gwyneth Hueter (37.06) the vet 55 winner.