August 30th 1980 was a day to remember for a number of reasons, not least the fact that both the men's and the women's course records were broken.
In those days, before Woodstock Harriers A.C. was reformed, the race was organised by West Oxfordshire Sports Advisory Council and was was known as "Witney 12 (Blenheim) Road Race."
The winner was Bernie Ford of Aldershot, Farnham & District in an amazing 60.56.The first local man home was Oxford City's Dave Wheeler in 67.31 which earned him 20th place. Joyce Smith of Barnet won the ladies' race in 70.21. Both course records were broken and stand to this day. There were 307 finishers, another race record.
The first 20 positions and times were:
Position
Time
Name
Club
01
60.56
B.Ford
Aldershot Farnham & District
02
61.25
J.McLaughlan
Duncairn Harriers
03
62.45
R.Treadwell
Surrey Beagles
04
63.11
R.Samuel
Shaftesbury Harriers
05
63.17
N.C.Wislon
Army/Thames Valley Harriers
06
63.24
P.Corney
Portsmouth A.C.
07
63.25
I. Beauchamp
Horsham
08
64.13
C.Moxsom
Haringey A.C.
09
65.02
J.A.King
Solihull
10
65.45
E.Elletson
East Hull
11
65.47
R.Roath
Walton A.C.
12
65.53
E.Austin (V45)
Worcester
13
65.56
K.Leyshon
Gloucester A.C.
14
65.58
D.Nicholson
Duncairn Harriers
15
66.28
K.Holmes
Tamworth
16
66.32
T.Annett
Duncairn Harriers
17
66.39
A.Watt
Thames Valley Harriers
18
66.45
R.Ellerton
Vale of Aylersbury
19
67.12
S.Gates
U.S.A.
20
67.31
D.Wheeler
Oxford City A.C.
A total of 24 runners finished the race inside the 2004 winning time of 67.53.
