Swindon Harriers maintained their domination of the Oxfordshire Cross Country League as the senior men’s squad won their fifth consecutive title.
The A team made it five overall titles in a row after winning the fifth and final fixture of the 2024/25 season at Henley on Sunday, with Ben Cole leading the way in top spot and Daniel Giles doing enough to secure third overall in his debut season.
Team manager Courtenay Chessell praised the entire Swindon Harriers senior men’s squad for their efforts in extending their domination of the Oxfordshire Cross Country League.
Chessell said: “I’m happy with the lads and the support we got.
“And this wasn’t just won on Sunday. It was won by this great bunch of team-mates that want the club to do well.
“Harry Woods and Ben Lines both raced on Thursday [a fast 5 kilometre road race in Battersea Park] and the team were grateful to have them racing again for us on Sunday.
“That shows the dedication and love they both have for the club. So once again a big thank you to everyone who ran, regardless of whether you scored for the A team or D team.
“We are all one big happy family of runners.”
The most anticipated race of the day came in the under-15 boys’ section as the battle between Swindon’s Finley Byrne and Bicester’s Leo Blyton came down to the final weekend, with both boys locked on equal points going into the match.
Whoever won took the league title and Byrne got his tactics spot-on by sprinting to victory in the final 200 metres.
Byrne admitted: “That was painful. It is amazing to finally beat him and it is definitely the best feeling I have had this season. This was the one I wanted to win.”
There were also overall wins for Ella Spencer in the under-17s race and Charissa Griffiths-Clack in the under-13s with a silver for Loki Fisher in the under-11s race and Ellie Charlesworth won a bronze for being the third finisher in the under-15s.
Sprinter Tamiah Roswell improved her own club under-13s 60-metre record at Eton on Sunday with another rapid time.
Having marked her debut indoors in Cardiff last month with a sparkling time of 8.44 seconds, which broke Delleah Belgrave’s eight-year-old club record of 8.57 seconds, Roswell clocked 8.39 seconds to go top of the South West under-13 Rankings.
