SIMON Byrne and Vicky Jackson created a little slice of history for Swindon Harriers when they both raced to victory in the senior races at the second Oxfordshire Cross Country League at Cirencester Park.

As they celebrated momentous victories, newly-crowned Wiltshire champion Byrne beating clubmate Ben Cole for the first time on the country and Jackson finishing almost a minute clear of the field, the question was quickly raised on when this had last happened for the club.

“Never!” was the emphatic response from club chairman and men’s team manager Bryan Clinton.

Furthermore, the men’s team scored a superb 43 points from their top seven runners – Byrne, Cole, Luke Byrne, Ben Lines, leading overall junior Isaac Mould, Isaac McAdam and Max Harrison-Tosatto all inside the top 12 - to strengthen their grip on their title defence after just two fixtures.

“As far as I know that is our best score,” said Byrne.

With Jackson also leading the squad of Chloe Powell and Rachel Oram to finish top team in Division Three, it was a great day for the club.

The club’s young athletes also impressed. Eloise Foster, coached by Clinton, was runner-up in the Under-15 girls’ race, with clubmate Carley Lainton third.

Charissa Griffiths-Clack, who is in the Debbie Gunning and Jon Hughes training group, followed up her win in the opening match at Newbury with another fine second place.

There was a terrific turn-out from the U13 girls’ squad with 10 completing the course. The leading three scorers of Elsie Scrase, also coached by Gunning, Freya McMeeking and Molly Lyne all made the top ten to score 21 points and take second spot in the team competition behind a powerful Oxford squad.

The B team of Carys Prosser, Jessica Zirger and Esha Bhalerao ran superbly to claim third team overall while the C squad of Eleanor Harris, Hattie Crockatt and Lottie Harding were seventh. Zara Edwards claimed a creditable 24th place.

In the U17 men’s race, Harry Edwards, who is coached by John Dill, did well to place third with Liam Spector also in support.

Representing Farmor’s School, Fairford, Ella Spencer, who is a member of Swindon Harriers, won the inter girls’ race at the Gloucestershire Schools’ Cross Country Championships.