ABINGDON duo Paul Fernandez and Melissa Venables excelled in the Changan Ford Ultra-Challenge in China.

In challenging terrain and hot conditions, Fernandez finished seventh in the 50k event, and was the second British runner home.

Venables, whose second-claim club is Abingdon, was the first GB athlete home in the 100k event, finishing in the top ten overall.

Meanwhile, fresh from setting a personal best at the Abingdon Marathon the previous week, Cal MacLennan completed the Thames Trot – his first ultra distance race – finishing the 50-mile route in eighth overall and first vet 50 in a time of 7hrs 12mins.

Clubmate John Harvey was seventh at the Ascott-under-Wychwood Charity 10k.

Elsewhere, Rosie Davies, whose second-claim club is Abingdon, finished seventh in the senior ladies’ 25-29 age group at the Half-Ironman European Championships.

RESULTS

(senior men unless stated)

THAMES TROT 50MILE ULTRA

Abingdon AC: 8 C MacLennan (1st V50) 7.12.

HALF-IRONMAN, EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS, IBIZA

(1.2mile swim, 56mile cycle, 13.1mile run)

Abingdon AC – SL 25-29yrs: 7 R Davies 3.43.31.

MIDLAND RACE WALK WINTER LEAGUE 2018, BIRMINGHAM 10K

Abingdon AC: N Blatchford (LV70) 1.07.28.

CHANGAN FORD ULTRA-CHALLENGE, CHINA

Abingdon AC – 50k: 7 P Fernandez (V40) 3.33.26. 100k: M Venables 9.29.00.