ELYSIA Ridley was delighted with her fifth-placed finish in the Welsh National Cross Country Championship at St Fagans, near Cardiff.

The 25-year-old Witney Road Runner clocked 30mins 3secs for the 7,250m course and helped her first-claim club Swansea Harriers to team gold.

And the Army officer now hopes to compete for Wales in the Home Countries International at Rouden Glen Park, Glasgow on March 18.

“I was really, really pleased,” said Ridley, who hails from Ascott-under-Wychwood.

“I was aiming for top ten so fifth was a great result for me.

“I was pleased with the time as the course was so muddy and hilly that it was difficult at times to actually settle into a good rhythm.

“The top six are looked at for the Welsh Team, so fingers crossed I’ll get a call-up.”

Second-claim Banbury Harrier Sullivan Smith finished sixth in the men’s race over 10,200m, clocking 37.23.

l DARRELL Bellinger smas-hed the 70-minute barrier to finish tenth in the Wokingham Half Marathon.

The 26-year-old Oxford City athlete had been hoping for a 72-minute run in only his second 13.1-mile race.

But he went well beyond his own expectations to clock 1hr 9mins 42secs.

Bellinger finished one place behind Oxford University’s Fabian Downs (1.09.28).

There was also joy for City’s Aaron Burgess and Abingdon Amblers’ Les Newell, both of whom ran below 75 minutes for the first time, clocking 1.14.06 and 1.14.07 respectively after a sprint finish.

  • COUNTY champion Naylor (Bedford & County) is expected to lead the Oxfordshire challenge in Saturday’s English National Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill, London.

OTHER RESULTS

(senior men unless stated)

ENDURANCELIFE COASTAL TRAIL SERIES SOUTH WEST ULTRA Didcot Runners: P Griffiths (V45) 6.46.00.

HARDWICK X-STREAM 10K

Didcot R: R Hollington (LV65) 1.06.12.

Kidlington: W Bunce (V60) 47.47.

BRIGHTON HALF MARATHON

Didcot Runners: S Cousins (SL) 1.57.36 WOKINGHAM HALF MARATHON

Abingdon Amblers: 35 L Newell 1.14.07, 403 J Lenik 1.32.55, 439 S Matthews (LV40) 1.33.57, 471 D Berger (V50) 1.34.51.

Oxford City: 10 D Bellinger 1.09.42, 34 A Burgess 1.14.06, 97 R Webster (V45) 1.20.52.

Didcot R: S Howes 1.34.26, K Reade (LV35) 1.41.12, P Mason 1.44.25, J Shand (LV40) 1.49.43, E Naughton (SW) 1.49.43, D Mason (LV35) 1.55.33, J Scarborough (V60) 1.55.18.

RAS CORS CARON HALF MARATHON

Witney Road Runners: T Garrod (V40) 1.28.24, L Garrod (LV40) 1.51.37.

SOUTH OF ENGLAND MASTERS/EVAC AND VAC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Bicester: D Kuester (V65) – 1st shot putt: (9.44m). 2nd long jump (3.24m).