Tales of joy and pain from the London Marathon

SOUTHEND AC’S Paul Whittaker showed promise over the 26.2 mile distance by finishing his first marathon in 2h 24m 39s – the fastest south Essex finisher.

The 25-year-old dropped out of last year’s London Marathon but has since linked up with former winner of the race Steve Jones who has been coaching him ever since. And that training has been paying off as he became the second fastest Southend AC marathoner of all time behind Graham Payne who ran 2h 15m 17s.

Neil Casey in his nurse's uniform

THE RECORD BREAKER

BENFLEET Running Club’s Neil Casey became the fastest man dressed as a nurse to complete a marathon on Sunday when he clocked an impressive 2h 46m 48s around the London streets.

Casey was raising awareness for Great Ormond Street Hospital which saved his daughter Grace’s life in 2013 when she nearly died with severe blood clots. Also benefiting was the Labrador Retriever Rescue Southern England (LRRSE), in memory of Oscar the dog that Neil rescued. Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ fundraiser to donate.

Patt Dobbs

THE PAIN

THURROCK Harriers stalwart Pat Dobbs suffered pain as his bid to continue being one of just a handful of “ever presents” to finish every London Marathon ended seven miles into Sunday’s race.

Dobbs, 76, from Grays, has made it to the end of every marathon since the capital’s first one in 1981.

There were just 14 of those ever presents before Sunday, but that list now stands at 12 with Dobbs’ dream coming to an end when his badly damaged hamstrings gave way.

Leigh on Sea Striders' Neil Spicer (718) 

LEIGH ON SEA STRIDERS

LEIGH-ON-SEA Striders’ endurance queen Elisabet Barnes said she would have tiredness in her legs running the London Marathon on Sunday, but you wouldn’t have known it.

Barnes toed the startline in Greenwich Park just weeks after winning the gruelling Marathon des Sables in the Sahara desert.

But she still had enough spring in her step to set a new personal best (PB) over the marathon distance in London.

Barnes, one of 25 LoSS members running, clocked 2h 59m 28s to dip inside three hours for the first time.

Other notable runs from the LoSS contingent came from Cathy Salmon who completed her second marathon in two weeks, and Paul Cornwell who managed his third, having run one the previous two weekends.

Neil Spicer was first LoSS man back in an impressive 2h 42m.

A proud club chairman Mark Dobson said: “Huge congratulations to all 25 of the incredible LoSS members who ran the London Marathon. Amazing times and performances from all.”

Other results: Sam Luton 2.49.40, Pete Goldring 3.08.46, Jerry Bethell 3.29.43, Martin Hitchcock 3.29.43, Elliott Cone 3.36.20, Andy Collier 3.40.51, Tracy English 3.47.08, Justin Bush 3.49.38, Paul Cornwell 4.12.22, Rob Marek 4.22.47, Loren Murrell 4.38.47, Elisha Letley4.43.32, Jo-Anne Hall 4.47.51, Kerry Slesser 4.51.31, Cathy Salmon 5.01.13, Rebecca Davenport 5.03.03, Theresa Philips 5.16.01, Tim Ketterer 5.16.01, Melanie Horton 5.18.42, Claire Walsh 6.14.43, Nico Hampton 6.33.20, Ben Clark 6.58.40.

SOUTHEND AC

BEHIND the Seasiders’ Paul Whittaker who clocked a swift 2h 24m 39s came Ty Farrer who was 10 minutes down on his best of 2h 52m 35s, a notable achievement given he had spent weeks in the build-up to the race not being able to run.

James Campion must have groaned at the finish – with a best of 3h 9m.00s set recently, this time he recorded 3h 9m 30s – a shade over a second a mile slower.

First lady home for the Seaside squad was, as expected, Anne Jenkinson who broke through the 3h 20m barrier for the first time with 3h 19m 41s.

Vanessa Mathers who continues to pick up where she left off before injury struck was another just 10 minutes outside her best ever, with a 3h 42m 39s run, while the road runners’ lead coach Ian Glover was just eight minutes off his own best with 3h 52m 27s, but this was compensated for him by the PBs, set by everyone else in his training squad: Other results: Stephen Solomon, 3:32.28; Steve Jewell 3:45.08; Debbielyn Hallam 4:44.45; Teresa Pearmain 4:44.46, and first timers Natalie Cummins 4:55.44 and Lisa Allix 5:17.

BENFLEET RC

THE fastest of an army of Benfleet RC runners in London on Sunday was dressed as a nurse!

Neil Casey clocked 2h 46m 48s around the course, finishing just ahead of James Caldon who set a PB of 2h 48m 50s.

Terry Spooner was the third red and white vest back home just three seconds back on Caldon.

The first Benfleet woman home was Tarnya Parker who clocked 3h 24, 04s.

Other results: John Gould 3h 2m 12s, Tim Tomlins 3.12.19, Tom Bynre 3.22.47, Dave Spain 3.25.05, Stuart McMeekin 3.32.19, Richard Nation 3.34.41, Dan Smith 3.38.46, Trevor Mickleburgh 3.45.25, Brad Benfield 3.51.02, Angela Hall 4.03.23, Mohammed Shofiuzzaman 4.03.33, Kelly McClenaghan 4.07.04, Darren Abbott 4.11.26, Matt Harper-Ward 4.13.06, Marie Smith 4.25.08, Jeanette Ridgley 4.31.21, Elizabeth Bonnett4.31.21, Kate Bruns 4.24, Mark Cowan 4.38.22, Jessica Dudley 4.41.25, Dennis Dudley 4.41.25, Sarah Norton 4.44.41, Elizabeth Durrant 4.52.49, Paul Durrant 4.52.50, Stuart Ross 4.54.45, Kerry Williams 4.55.24, Kate Nichols 5.07.26, Damien McGee 5.08.37, Phillip Mansfield 5.14.49, Victoria Read 5.17.30, Lynda Crisp 5.23.20, Tracey Fagg 5.25.36, Natalie Kitchen 5.25.37, Daniel Lyons 5.30.07.

PITSEA RC

PITSEA had six runners pounding the streets of London, with Mike Woodward leading them home in 3h 12m 06s. He was followed home by Laura Wragg (4h 24m 18s), Angela Smith (4h 34m 18s), David Davidson (4h 36m 39s), Julie Wasmuth (4h 51m 27s) and Steve Macdonald (5h 7m 35s).

ROCHFORD RC

DARREN Latter led home the 10 Rochford runners to compete in London in a PB of 3h 27m 3s. The first club woman home was first-timer marathoner Emma Beardsell who finished in 3h 56m 26s. Other results: Paul Claydon (3:59:51); David Gittings (4:10:20); Michelle Thomas (4:50:56); Hayley Hedger (4:52:51); Rebecca Latter (5:14:35); Lindsey Manly (5:16:19); Geoff Meredith (5:30:47) and Lian Simmonds (6:00:01).

CASTLE POINT JOGGERS

BEN Avery was the first of nine Castle Point Joggers to cross the line on Sunday, finishing in 3h 41m 30s.

Sue Frost was the club’s first female finisher in 4h 31m 8s.

Other results: Nick McCullagh 4.44.52, Ray Selwyn 3.43.21, Colin Dunn 4.33.09, Liz Jackaman 5.31.23, Becky Jackaman 5.42.34, Jo Hamilton 4.32.24, Rachel Welch 4.49.04.