Local marathon runners share heroic stories
Dozens of people from across West Berkshire and north Hampshire took part in the London Marathon on Sunday
THERE were many heroic stories at Sunday's London Marathon, including one local runner who played his part in setting a new world record in the scorching heat.
The owner of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, Roger Jones, was part of ‘Team Centipede', which saw 47 people complete the gruelling 26.2 mile course whilst being tied together with harnesses and bungee ropes.
Michelin-starred chef Mr Jones said one of the many challenges faced by the group came during toilet and refreshment breaks which had to be undertaken while the mixed gender group were still roped together and which he described as a “logistical nightmare.”
However, the group of 47 people from across the country, who had only previously completed the Silverstone half marathon together, overcame this and several injuries to complete the marathon in about seven hours, breaking the record for the most people completing a full marathon tied together, which previously stood at 34.
The group has also raised more than £80,000 for SCOPE.
There were other credible performances from the region's runners, with Bishops Green man James Knight completing his second marathon in under three hours, recording a fantastic time of two hours and 50 minutes, while his friend and Channel 5 news presenter, Emma Crosby, who grew up in Wash Common, finished her first marathon in four hours and 58 minutes.
Several other local people ran to raise money for charity, including Theale man Ross Hammett, who overcame a bout of flu to complete his first London Marathon in just under six hours, raising more than £4,000 for the Starlight Children's Foundation.
Siblings Matt and Louise Bailey, who have run 13 half marathons between them, took on their first marathon on Sunday, raising £3,000 for the Vision charity, which helps blind and visually-impaired children.
Mr Bailey, of Newbury, finished in four hours and 21 minutes, while Miss Bailey, who works for Imago in Thatcham, finished in five hours, two minutes and 36 seconds.
Rupert Haynes, of Silchester, raised more than £1,500 for Parkinson's UK in completing the marathon in four hours and four minutes, while Headley couple Richard and Kathryn Saunders also ran to raise money for Parkinson's UK, raising a combined £4,500 and finishing in three hours and 55 minutes and four hours and eight minutes respectively.
Two Newbury mothers also enjoyed their first attempt at the marathon despite the heat, with Clare Bull (five hours and 10 minutes) and Claire Dodridge (four hours, 53 minutes and six seconds) raising close to £4,000 for Cancer Research UK.
Lorraine Bailey ran the marathon with her friend Linda Booth in memory of Mrs Bailey's mother, Frances Williams, who lived in Newbury for 40 years and died of Motor Neurone Disease last year.
The friends, who completed the marathon in five and a half hours, raised more than £800 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Andrew Wild and Neal Granville, of Sandford Springs Golf Club in Kingsclere, also completed the marathon in respective times of four hours and 17 minutes and four hours and 43 minutes, raising a total of about £5,000 for the North Hampshire Medical Fund.
Other local runners included area sales manager for Waverley TBS, Kieran Dooley, who achieved a personal best of three hours and 41 minutes, raising more than £600 for the New Life charity, while Newbury man Dean Oliver raised more than £1,000 for Swings and Smiles, completing the marathon in five hours and 39 minutes and Edward Kennedy, of Tutts Clump, completed his first marathon in four hours and 30 minutes, raising about £1,000 for the Berkshire MS Therapy centre in Reading.
Meanwhile, several runners from local athletics clubs took part in this year's event, with Thatcham man Guy Watts recording a time of three hours, 16 minutes and four seconds, raising £1,124 for the mental health charity MIND and Newbury resident Yvonne Pape, who finished in a time of four hours, 25 minutes and 57 seconds and raised more than £1,000 for Parkinson's UK through her efforts.
Another club runner, Emma Carter, a teaching assistant at St John the Evangelist Nursery and Infant School in Newbury, finished her first marathon in five hours, 19 minutes and 56 seconds and raised more than £200 for the Naomi House Children's Hospice, which she said was worth every blister.
For a list of club runners and their times, see below and for photos of some of the runners, together with their times, click on the additional pictures link.
Team Kennet runners:
Tom Milburn - three hours and 52 seconds
Guy Watts - three hours, 16 minutes and four seconds
John Marriott - three hours, 19 minutes and 18 seconds
Jenny Eaton - three hours, 25 minutes and six seconds
Lee Jones - three hours, 34 minutes and 36 seconds
Simon Whatson - three hours, 39 minutes and 38 seconds
Simon Berry - three hours, 42 minutes and 51 seconds
Yvonne Pape - four hours, 25 minutes and 57 seconds
Nikki Thomas - four hours and 45 minutes
Newbury Athletics Club runners:
Chris Pudney - three hours, four minutes and 54 seconds
James Craggs - three hours, 14 minutes and 30 seconds
Rick Wyatt - three hours, 15 minutes and 54 seconds (PB)
Sue Van Huyssteen - three hours, 41 minutes and 46 seconds
Lynn Davies - three hours, 57 minutes and 24 seconds
Paul Mansbridge - four hours, 31 minutes and 33 seconds
Graeme Berry - four hours, 57 minutes and seven seconds
Emma Carter - five hours, 19 minutes and 56 seconds
