Athletes came from far and wide to take part in this fifth Easter Monday road race.

Kidlington Running Club had clearly earned a reputation for organising the annual event, attracting competitors from as far away as Lancashire.

Oxford Mail photographer Athar Chaudhry captured the runners in 1988 as they made a “fine, if blustery start” to the race.

The paper reported: “Several course records were broken, despite the cold, strong wind and an extra 94 metres added to this year’s course.”

Read again: Grid girl with cancer takes part in cancer walk

Alan Souch, chairman of Kidlington Running Club, explained: “We re-measured the course and found it was too short last year, so the new records this year are really good.”

The men’s best time of 31min 34sec, set by Oxford City runner Steve Male in 1984, was broken by White Horse Harrier Peter Wilson, who was first home in 31min 4sec.

Second was Alan Schofield, of Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire, and third was Cliff Jones, of Witney.

The first three women to finish all broke the previous record of 39min 22sec set by Susan Tawney, of Leamington Spa. She finished second this time behind Debbie Wallace, of Oxford City Running Club, who broke the tape in 35min 34sec.

Read more: Mini house for pupils built by local developers

Third was Kim Shaw, of Banbury Harriers, in 38min 59sec. In the veteran class, Roy Treadwell, of Oxford City, finished in 34min 28sec and Kate Bell, of Abingdon Amblers, broke the previous course record by almost three minutes with 42min 33sec.

A fun run was won by 14-year-old Jonathan Hiscock, of Kidlington, of Kidlington, in 39min 42sec.

After the senior events, short races for children were held in a field behind Exeter Hall in Kidlington.