TWELVE Farnham Runners members were amongst the 41,000 starters in the London Marathon.

In record temperatures for this famous event, the Farnham group had to lower their expectations of finish times, but all completed the race and enjoyed the special atmosphere and superb support of the spectators, not least from the enthusiastic group of their own supporters.

Emma and Graham Russ ran together in celebration of their first wedding anniversary, having both joined a local athletics club aged nine. They were raising funds for Shooting Star Chase Children’s Hospice.

Added to sums raised at the Brighton Marathon two weeks before, Farnham members have raised over £4,500 for charities this year, taking the total since the year 2000 to more than £231,000.

First in for Farnham was experienced marathon, ultramarathon and track runner, Sean Smith, who ran well within his pace for 3hrs 18mins minutes 57secs.

Emma Pearson, running her ninth marathon, is renowned at the club for her even pacing and she hardly slowed at all during the 26.2 miles, despite the heat, and recorded an excellent 3-35-22 for 123rd place in the tough F40 category.

Linda Tyler was not far behind, and a fine 21st in the F55 group, with 3-48-47, an improvement on the time she managed in the Paris Marathon a fortnight before. She raised £400 for Cancer Research UK.

Charles Ashby suffered in the conditions and had to settle for 3-52-31.

It was Kayleigh Copeland’s first attempt at the distance and she was delighted with 3-57-56. Emma Russ (4-06-17) raised £2,600 in sponsorship and then came Hallam Foster (4-08-17), Neil Ambrose (4-30-19), Tara Hunt (4-38-28), Tina Harrison (4-46-16), Gerald Wyatt (4-48-37) and finally Chris Chapman, smiling all the way round and over the moon to to finish the race and record 5-50-30 on her marathon debut “ I couldn’t have made it without Farnham Runners,” she said.

On the same day, two club stalwarts took on the more hilly Southampton Marathon. Eloise Stradling recorded 3-54-55 to finish 24th lady and 13th in the senior category. Lindsay Bamford came an excellent fourth in the W50 category and 28th lady overall in 3-56-20.

Nine Farnham members had earlier run the Brighton Marathon. Michael Stevens collected almost £1,300 for the NSPCC and Philip Masters raised £300 for Get Kids Going.