The Oxford Mail Cross Country League begins for another season at its traditional curtain-raising venue of Ascott-under-Wychwood on Sunday.

Action starts with the combined under nine race at 9.55am and culminates with the men’s event at noon.

David Bell (Cirencester) and Sophie Bush (Newbury) are the defending men’s and ladies’ league champions.

Newbury also took the ladies’ team crown in 2013-14, while Oxford City will hope to retain the men’s title.

Bush won the Ascott race last year as well as three other rounds in a dominant season.

Bell finished third behind David Bruce (Oxford City) and Paul Fernandez (Abingdon) in the opening men’s race, but eventually edged out City’s Aaron Burgess by one point for the title.

  • For full coverage of Sunday’s race, don’t forget to buy a copy of Thursday’s Oxford Mail.

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