Flying visitor hits the track running

ATHLETICS: Inaugural Royal Berkshire marathon at Crookham Common raises £1000 for air ambulance

AMERICAN Michael Arstein flew in and then flew around the Crookham Common track to win the inaugural Royal Berkshire Marathon on Friday.

He headed a 47-strong field that tackled the 26.2 mile distance over 105 laps of the track in aid of the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.

The race winner was over from New York and took the chance to cover the course in a time of 2 hours 32 mins 49 seconds, finishing almost six minutes ahead of runner-up Adam Holland. Basingstoke and Mid Hants' Dan Doherty was third and Newbury AC's David Wright fourth in 3:03.31.

Other runners marathon veteran Brian Mills, who was undertaking his 776th marathon, and John Dawson, who took up running marathons at the age of 52 and is now approaching his 400th marathon run at the age of 73.

The event raised more than £1,000 for the air ambulance.

Pictured: winner Michael Arstein