London Marathon 2008 - Results


27 OUT OF 27 FOR SPARTANS AT LONDON

Some of the Spartans who ran the London Marathon

A fantastic twenty seven Fairlands Valley Spartans completed Sunday’s London Marathon.  Conditions were almost perfect at the start then deteriorated to heavy rain from about 12 to 17 miles.  After a fine period it was cold rain again as the slower runners finished.

First Spartan was GRAHAM BLACKBURN, 1514th out of more than 30,000 in a time of 3 hours 6 minutes 23 seconds.  Dodging Masai warriors, chain gangs and oversized clowns into second place was JIM BROWN, 1860th in 3:10:24.  Third Spartan was ANNETTE BELL who ran her first marathon in 3 hours 22 minutes 30 seconds.

Altogether seven Spartans were running their first 26.2 miles.  The other six were ANDY GARRETT (3:34:54), SARA O’CALLAGHAN (3:58:23), MARK GOODWIN (4:07:48), TRICIA HOPPER (4:32:57), CHRISTINE FEELY (4:40:50) and SAM SMEETON (5:02:15).

Four Spartans ran new personal bests including RICHARD SIDLIN who achieved a huge 72 minute improvement with his time of 3 hours 29 minutes 2 seconds.  The others were CHRIS LEIGH (3:46:01), ALISON SUCKLING (4:21:52) and DOUG HALL (4:51:59).

New season’s bests were run by ROGER BIGGS (3:29:37), KEVIN LAWLOR (4:23:02) and ANDREW HULL (4:25:23).

While seven Spartans were first timers who have successfully trained with the club over the last few months three have completed at least half the London Marathons.  They are JIM BROWN (14), CAROL PAUL (16) and NICK STEWART (20).

The oldest Spartan finisher was “Vet 75” RON COHEN in 5 hours 1 minute 22 seconds.

Some of the less fortunate included TONY WILLSON who twisted his ankle on a water bottle only three miles into the race - he walked most of the rest of the way but ended with one ankle looking three times the size of the other – and IAN COLLIER who pulled a calf muscle at 15 miles but decided to struggle on rather than pull out and still finished.

So wet and cold in places – ideal for soggy socks, soggy shoes, blisters and risk of slips and twangs – but, as always, a brilliant event.  See you next year?

Position (Gender)

Name

Time

Comments

Position (Age Group)

1514

GRAHAM BLACKBURN

3:06:23

 

331

1860

JIM BROWN

3:10:24

14th London

29

231 (L)

ANNETTE BELL

3:22:30

First Marathon

49

4066

RICHARD SIDLIN

3:29:02

PB

602

4180

ROGER BIGGS

3:29:37

SB

54

4898

ANDY GARRETT

3:34:54

First Marathon

978

6678

CHRIS LEIGH

3:46:01

PB

1312

6745

TODD GRAY

3:46:22

 

266

7199

STEVE MILLS

3:48:53

 

1417

8484

DAVID CLARKE

3:55:01

 

1645

1760 (L)

SARA O’CALLAGHAN

3:58:23

First Marathon

353

11032

NICK STEWART

4:07:22

20th London

1472

11094

MARK GOODWIN

4:07:48

First Marathon

820

2486 (L)

KERRY JAMES

4:09:04

 

488

3450 (L)

ALISON SUCKLING

4:21:52

PB

331

13935

KEVIN LAWLOR

4:23:02

SB

1033

3689 (L)

CAROL PAUL

4:24:26

16th London

366

14364

ANDREW HULL

4:25:23

SB

2729

4458 (L)

TRICIA HOPPER

4:32:57

First Marathon

439

16250

TONY WILLSON

4:37:59

 

2934

5216 (L)

JULIE GOODWIN

4:40:49

 

516

5218 (L)

CHRISTINE FEELY

4:40:50

First Marathon

517

18479

DOUG HALL

4:51:59

PB

2357

19664

RON COHEN

5:01:22

Vet 75

11

6991 (L)

SAM SMEETON

5:02:15

First Marathon

1240

23195

IAN COLLIER

6:24:57

 

893

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Want to Run in 2009?

Flora London Marathon 2009 online entry ballot

Due to an overwhelming response Phase 1 of the Flora London Marathon 2009 online entry ballot has now closed. The limit of 80,000 applicants was reached at 10pm on Monday 14 April.

Phase 2 (the remaining 35,000 places in the online ballot and 5,000 paper ballot entries for runners who are unable to enter online) will open on Monday 21 April at 9am. Paper ballot entry forms, for those unable to enter online, are available by pre-registering with the London Marathon helpdesk on 020 7902 0200 from Monday.

http://www.london-marathon.co.uk