PAUL Fernandez showed he is returning to form with a second-place finish in round one of the Oxford Mail Cross Coun-try League at Ascott-under-Wychwood.

The Abingdon athlete, who won the men’s title in 2011-12, struggled with injury and illness over the summer, but produced a strong showing on Sunday to finish behind Dave Bruce (Oxford City).

Fernandez worked his way through the leading contenders on the 8.5km course, which he completed in 30mins 31secs.

Bruce, the defending champion, was a clear winner in 29.54. Abingdon’s Owen Stepney was first under 20 man home, finishing 17th overall in 33.03.

There was also a strong showing from White Horse Harriers, who had four men in the top 20.

Jonny Cornish led the way, coming sixth in 31.09, with Paul Jegou (32.33) 13th, Stuart Ansell 19th in 33.20 and Paul Wileman (33.30) 20th.

Abingdon also collected two junior victories.

Fiona Bunn triumphed in the under 15/17 girls’ race over 3.5km with a time of 13.03. Nick Wiltshire followed up his sixth place in the Bristol Cross Challenge with under 13 boys’ victory at Ascott, completing the 2km course in 6.53.

Abingdon’s Alexander Pennington was second in 7.09, with Radley’s Adam Blackwell third in 7.11.

Kie Francis (Abingdon) clocked 3.31 for second place in the under 11 boys’ race over 1.2km.

In the under 11 girls’ race Radley’s Hermione Jewell was runner-up in 3.43.

Radley’s Johnny James won the inaugural under nine girls and boys’ race.

OXFORD MAIL LEAGUE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

Men (top 30, senior men unless stated): 2 P Fernandez (Abn) 30.31, 6 J Cornish (Whh) 31.09, 13 P Jegou (Whh) 32.33, 17 O Stepney (Abn, U20) 33.03, 19 S Ansell (Whh, V40) 33.20, 20 P Wileman (Whh) 33.30.

Under 15/17 (under 17 unless stated): 7 B Claridge (Whh) 17.54, 10 C Stone (Abn) 18.45.

Under 13: 1 N Wiltshire (Abn) 6.53, 2 A Pennington (Abn) 7.09, 3 A Blackwell (Rad) 7.11, 7 D Bunn (Abn) 7.34, 8 A Ede (Abn) 7.37, 10 B Rayson (Abn) 7.46.

Under 11: 2 K Francis (Abn) 3.31, 4 B Cumberland (Rad), 7 T Kent (Rad).

Ladies (top 30, senior ladies unless stated): 19 J James (Abn, LV35) 27.17, 29 S Lackman (Abn) 28.25.

Under 15/U17 (under 17 unless stated): 1 F Bunn (Abn, U15) 13.03, 2 M Wilson (Oxf) 13.11, 7 F Insley (Rad U15) 14.11, 8 J Harrison (Whh) 14.16, 10 G Harvey (Abn) 14.35.

Under 13: 7 R Burton (Rad) 8.12.

Under 11: 2 H Jewell (Rad) 3.43, 4 B Darwent (Abn), 5 L James (Rad), 6 S Paton (Rad).

Under 9 girls and boys: 1 J James (Rad), 3 L Burgess (Abn), 6 J Cumberland (Rad), 9 P Edwards (Rad), 10 R Buckley (Abn) U9.

TEAM RESULTS

Men – Div 1: 5 Abingdon A 313pts, 7 White Horse A 394. Div 3: 6 Abingdon B 996.

Under 15/17 (top eight): 3 Abingdon A 42, 8= White Horse A 73.

Under 13 (top eight): 1 Abingdon A 10, 4 Abingdon B 41, 7 Radley A 53, 8 White Horse A 58.

Ladies’ Div 2: 2 Abingdon A 85, 8 White Horse A 180. Div 3: 6 Abingdon B 200, 7 Radley A 205.

Under 15/U17 (top eight): 2 Abingdon A 23, 3 Radley A 37, 6 Radley B 59, 7 Abingdon B 68.

Under 13 (top eight): 4 Radley A 34, 6 Radley B 61.

WHITE HORSE HARRIERS

Men: 57 I Lambourn (V50) 35.40, 132 A Harvet 39.18, 147 N Druce (V40) 39.55, 254 D Day (V50) 53.28. Under 15/17 boys: 25 J Bradstock 20.42. Under 13 boys: 17 R Paget 8.18, 20 R Wyard 8.39, 21 J Bunyard 8.40. Under 11 boys: 42 A McLintock. Under 9 boys: 23 B Staunton Lamb.

Ladies: 55 H Chaundry 30.55, 56 B Hodgson (U20) 30.59, 69 R Burgess (LV45) 31.37, 114 J Lithgow (U20) 24.48. Under 15/17 girls: 44 G Paxton-Doggett 20.24. Under 13 girls: 48 P Leech 10.00. Under 11 girls: 41 B Spence, 54 A Lynn.