Port Runners compete at London Marathon The annual pilgrim for runners of all levels saw twelve Ellesmere Port runner line up on Sunday at the world’s greatest marathon race, the London marathon. Months of hard training, which for most started back in December around the hills of Helsby and Frodsham, were now over and the objective to complete 26.22 miles of road around the capital city was about to be executed.

Taking the honours of First runner home for Ellesmere Port was Matt Whitfield, Matt’s first mile started slowly due to the sheer number of runners which appeared to be the same story for the 7.30 per mile pacer who came flying passed Matt after a couple of miles at a much faster pace and left behind the runners he was meant to be pacing. Matt hit the half-marathon mark in 1.32.43 and went onto finish the race in a time of 3 hours 11 minutes 34 seconds knocking 3 minutes of his personal best.

Andrew Hunt was the second home for EPort and showed that age is no barrier for a marathon runner as Andrew, who is 57 slashed a massive 12 minutes of his time at London two years ago to complete the course in a best ever time of 3.22.30, a satisfactory reward for the months of hard training.

Chris Bennion was the third runner home for EPort, Chris is an experienced marathon runner and is one of the best at the club for running at the right pace throughout a race and Sunday was no exception as Chris finished around his expected time, official time couldn’t be confirmed at time of going to press.

Alison Macdonald had a truly great run to make the last five years of rejection slips for the race worth the persistence, Alison has declared herself fastest marathon runner in her household as her personal best time of 3.27.54 even betters that of partner and fellow Port runner Mike Burns.

Following Alison in was John Jennings, who, suffering from injury for the last few months and therefore has been unable to train decided to give it a go all the same. John, who doesn’t know the meaning of the words Give-up was happily chatting on hid mobile phone at 7 miles, running with cramp from 17 miles, thought the 23rd Mile was the last and started sprinting until he saw the next mile marker finally finished in an unbelievable time of 3.50.25

Tracey Ellis was the next runner home for Ellesmere Port, Tracey looking to get under 4 hours looked good cruising through 10K in 50.44 and Half way in 1.49.07 started to struggle at 20 miles and showed great determination to the finish in a PB time of 4.03.41 knocking 25 minutes of her finishing time here in 2002.

Cheryl Evason, who has suffered with hamstring injuries for the last few years, can hopefully now put that behind her as she improved by 11 seconds from London 2002. Cheryl, looked relaxed early on passing 10K in 54.45 and posting a PB at half way in 1.59.39 started to struggle at 16 miles and reached for a Jelly Baby which are a firm favourite with long distance runners and helped her pick up the pace again at 20 miles to finish in a time of 4.27.33

Eric Corker was the next runner home, Eric passed 10K in 54.14 and half way in 1.57.41 but couldn’t quite maintain the early pace he had set to finish in a time of 4.36.43.

Amanda Penfold who has been in excellent form this season did very well to complete the race as she started to feel unwell after 3 miles but still posted a reasonable time of 4.48.37 to be the 9th EPort runner to finish.

Brian Treadwell, who had been training hard until an injury in early March dampened his chances of clocking under 4 hours still managed to complete the course, running 2.06.22 for Half and finishing in 4.50.08 was the 10th runner home for the club.

Former chairman of the club Arthur Hartshorn was the penultimate runner in the Eport posting halfway in 2.23.47 and finally finishing in a time of 5.50.45

The final runner across the finish line for the club was Julie Champion who passed the half marathon mark in 2.35.29 and eventually finished in 6.12.21