London Marathon 13th April 2003

Full marks for Richmond and Zetland Harriers’ marathon runners as eight out of eight completed the distance at London on Sunday 13th. There were light easterly winds and clear blue skies and the temperature had nudged into double figures by 9.30 am when the mass started from Greenwich. Paula Radcliffe was nearing the 6 mile marker by this time, having started in the Elite Women’s race at 9 am, on her way to a world best time of 2:15:25. Gezahegne Abera of Ethiopia was at home in the summery conditions and won the Elite Men’s race, sprinting clear of the Italian Stefano Baldini and three more, to win in 2:07:56.

Ian Jon Mike at Finish

Behind the Elite there were equally keen races amongst the Club athletes, none more so than in the M40 class. Jon Orange turned 40 last December and, with the $1,000 first prize in the Veteran’s race as his target, had set his sights on a 2:25 finish. Sponsored by Peacocks of Richmond, he had been running up to 120 miles a week in training, had completed several tempo-runs up to 18 miles at race pace and three weeks beforehand had won the Yorkshire Veteran’s Half Marathon Championships at Ackworth in an outstanding 69:24. Across the start-line in next to no time he settled into his stride and his pace was so consistent that his 10K splits varied by a mere 41 seconds. Unfortunately, his K pace was 5 seconds adrift of Mark Hargreaves of Bournemouth who won the M40 race in 2:26:42. Ronnie Adams of Portsmouth was second and earned $600, beating last year’s winner, Dave Robertson of Sunderland, who in turn hung-on to third place and a $400 prize, just one place and 6 seconds ahead of a fast-finishing Jon Orange. Jon finished the race in 52nd place in a time of 2:29:51 and this gives Jon the RZH Veteran’s record - but is still shy of Shaun Purkiss’ Club record 2:27:11 set at Redcar in 1991. His summer plans include a full T&F season, the AAA 10,000m Championship at Watford in July, an attempt at the World Vets One Hour Track Record at Catterick Garrison Stadium in late summer and another marathon (possibly Berlin or Chicago, sponsorship or invitation permitting) in the autumn.

There is no prize money on offer for a Veteran runner outside the first three but there is always competition. Another good race between three M50s, Mike Brooks and Colin Sewell of RZH and Pete Wicks of Swaledale Road Runners, unfolded in the last mile when the two Harriers gave it one last push along Birdcage Walk and got away to win by seconds. Ian Hepworth was the Club’s third M50 to cross the line, completing an unofficial 4th M50 team place behind Poole Runners, Great West Runners and the Road Runners Club of Great Britain!

Tony Hewson, chef at The Stable Door in Middleham, was fifth home running his first marathon and raising £1500 for the Tommys children’s charity. Similarly, The Rev Ann Chapman, vicar of Askrigg, ran her first marathon and finished with fellow Harrier Judith Fowden, both full of emotion, only to be interviewed by the BBC’s Hazel Irvine. Last-but-never-least, Sean Fowden (having urged Judith, his wife, to leave him at 12 miles, athletically speaking of course!) took 45 minutes of his previous best and hopes to raise £1700 for Macmillan nurses with his efforts.

RZH results: 52nd (& 4th M40) Jon Orange 2:29:51, 2782nd (& 64th M55) Mike Brooks 3:22:11, 2830th Colin Sewell 3:22:37, 4463rd Ian Hepworth 3:35:24, 7116th Tony Hewson 3:51:39, Ann Chapman 4:44:42, Judith Fowden 4:47:11 and Sean Fowden 5:31:41.