THERE was another magnificent victory for Reading Athletic Club's women in the Hampshire Cross Country League on Saturday, as they filled the top three places in their home fixture at Prospect Park.

After four of the five league fixtures, Reading have three wins and a second place, assuring them the overall league title, as decided on the best four results.

Once again Jess Gibbon proved to be a class apart as she sped to a 50-second victory in the windy conditions, recording a time of 18min 36secs for the 6km course.

In second place, and the first Under 20 to finish, was Georgia Hayes with a time of 19.26, six seconds ahead of Naomi Mitchell.

Anna Boniface was not far behind in fifth place with 19.59, as Reading dominated the race to secure an easy team success.

Gibbon and Hayes have both now been selected for the England team competing in Seville next weekend.

Next home for Reading in the women's race, and second veteran runner, was Sarah Urwin-Mann (20th, 21.53), who with Julie Rayfield (53rd, 24.53) and Sue Francis (61st, 25.24) secured second place in the veterans' team contest.

Other runners: Lydia Blythe (31st, 22.51), Anna Godfrey (35th, 23.17), Sarah Holmes (36th, 23.19), Abi Hancock (40th, 23.39), Georgia Walton (59th, 25.16), Lynne Henderson-Nike (63rd, 25.30), Debbie Taylor (75th, 26.19), Kathryn Tolson (78th, 26.44), Claire Mills (81st, 26.53).

In the age-group events there was an excellent individual victory in the U17 women's 4km race for Naomi Harris, who finished 24 seconds ahead as she won in a time of 14.45.

Second home for Reading was Mia Waldmann in sixth place in 15.54, and with Lara Tolson 12th in 17.24 and Oonagh O'Driscoll 14th in 17.55, Reading were second in the team race.

Reading were led home in the 6km U17 men's race by Mattie Raynor, who finished fifth in 18.43.

Laurie Baker claimed 17th in 20.13 and Isaac Mileham (29th in 25.49) gave Reading fourth in the team event.

First home for Reading in the U15 girls' race was Ella Newman with a fine run for fourth in a time of 12.56, and not far behind was Evie Elson in seventh place with 13.09.

Holly Haldane, coming back from illness, finished 18th in 13.59 to complete the scoring team and give Reading second place.

Other runners: Jemima Crocker (24th, 14.33), Lola Batt (26th, 14.35), Talia Painting (30th, 14.59), Katie Barnes (32nd, 15.11), Lydia Godfrey (43rd, 17.19).

In the U15 boys' 4km, race Ollie Craggs and Chris Parker made a relatively cautious start, but Craggs put in a strong effort on the hilly section of the course to move up to fourth, recording a time of 13.34.

Parker held on well to his seventh place, finishing in 14.03, and Oli Snoxall's fast finish gave him 10th place in 14.28.

Reading's excellent team total of 21 points again giving them second place behind the strong Aldershot team.

Other runners: Gregor Jones (35th,16.32), Nick Haldane (37th, 16.36), Adam Tivey (41st, 17.17).

George Godfrey was Reading's leading runner for most of the U13 boys' 3km race as the Reading team finished sixth.

Other runners: George Bundy (42nd, 13.22), Myles Bartlett (51st, 14.52).

Meanwhile, for the U13 girls in their 3km race, Emma Yeadon recovered from a slow start to finish 24th in 13.42, and newcomer Eve James was 36th in 15.04.

In the senior men's 10km race, Reading finished third on count-back behind Basingstoke thanks to fine runs from Dan Thorne (fourth, 32:48), Will Gardner (sixth, 33:16), Luc Jolly (11th, 33:48), Ryan O’Brien (29th, 35:24) and Adam Rennie (32nd, 35:39). He was also a commendable fourth in the M40 race.

Other runners: Gareth Crossley (38th, 36.07), Tom Nike (39th, 36:08), Michael Lai (49th, 36:50), Eddie Steveni (61st, 37.31), Chey Kemp (63rd, 37:34), Garry Kerr (97th, 40.01), Arturo Martinez-de Murguia (99th, 40.02), Colin Simpson (125th, 42.09), Neil Walker (130th, 42.48), Andy McDonald (150th, 44.37), George Reich (174th, 47.12), Gerry O’Driscoll (184th, 49.42), John Whittle (206th, 61.38).