NYLE Clinton continued his build-up for the European Cross Country Championships trials at the end of the month with an emphatic victory in the opening Oxfordshire League fixture.

The 19-year-old Swindon Harrier looked a class apart as he dominated the senior men’s race at Ascott-under-Wychwood, breaking clear in the early stages of the race over the three-lap course.

“Nyle just drifted away from the field, quickly opened a big lead and then worked hard at consolidating it,” said delighted father and coach Bryan Clinton.

“He really enjoyed he race and was surprised at the margin of victory by the end.”

Clinton, who is a former student at Greendown School (now Lydiard Park Academy), with a family home in Middleleaze, finished 49 seconds clear of Oxford’s Darrell Bellinger, with Cirencester’s David Bell third.

It was his first victory in the league’s senior men’s event and continues his good autumn form which has already seen victory in the BHF Swindon 5 and a good performance in the South of England Road Relays.

“Nyle is in really good shape and is probably fitter than he has been for a few years,” added his father.

“The trials race in Liverpool was always high on the agenda and he has a realistic shout at an international vest.”

Clinton also led Harriers to first place in the Division 2 team event with support from Simon Dill (24th), Simon Byrne (39th), Ciaran Cooper (40th), Dominic Hodge (47th), Luke Byrne (58th) and Will Ballard (88th).

Clinton wasn’t the only local winner on Sunday as 17-year-old Wiltshire Schools’ champion Callum Bampton raced to an equally emphatic victory in the under 17 men’s race. In his first cross country race of the winter, Ridgeway School’s Bampton finished 39 seconds ahead of Ben Claridge of White Horse Harriers .

Sadly, English Schools’ 800m bronze medallist Will Crisp wasn’t in the race as he is recovering from a broken foot.

In the under 13 boys’ race, Harriers’ Ben McIntyre completed a busy weekend. On Saturday he finished fourth in the second Gloucestershire league fixture in Malvern and then the day after was third in Ascott-under-Wychwood.

Michael Gilder (24th) and Matty Smith (29th) also made the top 30.

In the under 13 girls’ age group Rachel Oran was the leading Harrier in 15th.