Horspath 3rd missed out on promotion from Cherwell League Division 3B by a single point despite securing a five-wicket win at home to already-relegated Bicester & North Oxford 2nd on the final day.
Third going into the last game, the side knew they had to win and hope other results went their way.
Their prospects suffered an early setback when second-placed Bledlow Ridge stormed to a nine-wicket win after Buckingham Town 2nd crashed to 40 all out, securing their own promotion.
Horspath, meanwhile, were finding Bicester tougher opposition as the visitors posted 224-8 after being put in to bat.
Josh Cummings picked up 4-39 with Julius Leslie taking 2-30 as Chris De Kock (52) continued the good work of openers Oscar Windebank (47) and Luke Chowns (45).
At the same time, leaders Oxford & Bletchingdon Nondescripts bowled out Aston Rowant 3rd for 190 to pick up enough points to clinch top spot and the title.
Back at the Rec, Dan Corner led Horspath's run chase, making 69 off 96 balls with eight fours.
He shared a second-wicket stand of 54 with Luke Finch (34), before adding 61 for the fourth wicket with James Boden (32) as he completed his second half-century of the season.
It was then left to Ehsan Hussain (35no) and Dougal Main (27no) to steer Horspath home at 225-5, Main finishing the job in style by thumping a six over long on.
Although Nondescripts (299pts) ended up losing by 48 runs, they had already done enough to be champions with Bledlow Ridge (297) runners-up and Horspath (296) a honourable third.
Finch was the side's top runscorer with 306, while Dan Stanley was the top wicket-taker with 29 victims and the second-best in the division.
Horspath 4th rounded off their Division 6C season with a nine-wicket defeat away to third-placed Oxford 3rd.
The visitors were 71 all out after choosing to bat with opener Sam Moore (15) top-scoring as the wickets were shared around.
Jamie Kerr then provided Horspath's lone success courtesy of a Pavlos Pavlides catch as Tom Tebay (49no) took Oxford to 73-1.
Skipper Craig Wharton was the side's leading run scorer with 405, while Sifat Habibi and Adrian Manger were the joint top wicket-takers with 23 apiece.
Horspath CC would like to thank the following 2026 Player Sponsors:
Amin Rafiq (STRONG Pilates Oxford)
Asad Rafiq (STRONG Pilates Oxford)
Will Eason (Oxford Marquees)
Josh Richardson (Steve Richardson)
Tyrone Eyles (Interduct UK Ltd)
Robbie Eason (ARB UK Ltd)
Tom Coleman (RJA & SL Coleman)
Ryan Hicks (Green & Wakefield)
Ehsan Hussain (RMA Properties)
Tom Nichols (Savona Foodservice)
Josh Cummings (Gardiners Opticians)