Lindsay and Milford Lead the London Congestion Charge

On Sunday 17 April over 36,000 runners from all over the world converged on London for the 31st London Marathon sponsored by Virgin. A team of 8 first claim and 2 second claim Trotters were at the mass start on Blackheath Common at 9.45am.

The day was clear and conditions at the start were perfect but under a cloudless sky the temperature quickly rose to an uncomfortable level.

With so many runners there was the inevitable congestion and from any position in the field it was difficult to get into a natural stride however at the sharp end of proceedings Vaughan Lindsay and Daryl 'Tarquin' Milford quickly settled into race mode and both moving well through the field.

After suffering a nasty fall around 20 miles Vaughan Lindsay was just unable to break the 3 hour barrier but despite this he recorded a splendid 1,050th place finish in 3.00.05. Just behind him and running some fantastically consistent split times was the ever reliable Tarquin Milford, crossing the line 1,234th in a massive personal best of 3.02.54.

There was then a time lapse of over an hour before Rod Payne nursing a number of injuries including a long standing back problem was grateful to see the line and in clocking 4.10.20 took 11,487th place. Exactly 2 minutes later Kirsty Chrysanthou, running her first ever marathon, had her long hours of preparation rewarded with a 11,912th place finish. Next across the line and right in the heart of the rush hour was Peter Blakesey, 14,451st in 4.22.52. Peter was followed home by the amazing Graeme Baker, now running in the V70+ category, despite finding the going really tough in the closing stages he finished 17,160th in a fantastic time of 4.33.14. just 3 minutes further down the field was Marsha Garrard who has been putting in a mass of behind the scenes training, following her unfettled delight at being awarded a place through the club ballot, she finished 18,147th in 4.37.23. The Royal Blue first-claim line up was completed by recently signed-up member Zoe Brodie, also running her first marathon and leaving over 7,000 runners in her wake, finishing 28,624th place in a creditable 5.30.06.

2nd claim members running in the race were WRN's Helen Anthony finishing a magnificent 5,919th overall in 3.43.37 and running with his daughter Nicola (23,251st), Jim Portus of Newton Abbot AC finished in 23,247th place. Both father and daughter were awarded times of 4.58.42.

Meanwhile at the National Trust's Arlington Estate in North Devon Rick Clarke was a lone Trotter in the Arlington Court 10k. The course is run entirely off road and is a tough challenge. In similarly hot conditions to those being experienced in London Rick ran well to finish a very creditable 61st in a field of 137 finishers recording a time of 53.40.

Please get your photos to Fizz or myself to accompany report. The absence of photos this week means you have to put up with one of me. Rodders.

Report by Rod Payne

Photos: Top Colourful London Marathon Scenery on the Embankment. Bottom: Rod Payne showing off his Marathon finisher's medal.