KNAVESMIRE Harriers were heavily involved in the London Marathon, having once again been invited back by the organisers to provide course marshals near the Tower hotel (approximately 22 miles) as well as having nearly 50 successful competitors.

Fastest of the Harriers was ultra-distance runner, Ian Anderson, who clocked a creditable two hours 40min 44sec to take 184th-place overall. He was followed home by Neil Holdsworth 2-57-58 and Mike McGrath who had several stops with stomach problems, but still improved his best to 3-03-15s.

Other notable personal bests were achieved by Mandy Clarke, 3-20-58, just missing the qualifying time for an elite ladies entry for the 2003 event. Margaret Metcalfe knocked four minutes off her fastest time, whilst Tricia Hawkins and Carmel Parker both improved to 3-50-03 and 3-52-14 respectively.

But the biggest improvements were by Ken Tinker and Jean Snelling who were both more than 20 minutes faster than before.

Knavesmire's first time marathon runners were led home by Julie McDonald 3-40-38s, Philip Duck 3-59 and Ruth Harold 4-11-44.

Updated: 12:03 Wednesday, April 24, 2002