Chester Marathon: British record set as top English masters compete

While much of the spotlight will have been on the thousands of runners pounding the streets of London on Sunday, more than 100 leading masters athletes from England went to the races to compete in the MBNA Chester Marathon on the same day.

And, as with London, there were some truly outstanding performances across the board on this scenic route around Chester and along the River Dee.

Not least M60 athlete Peter Hockin (Bideford AAC) who ran 2:39:16 for a British record. Littledown Harriers' Caroline Horder was the leading V70 athlete in a fantastic 3:53:51 and V80 athlete Roger Osgood ran 4:40:45.

The fastest masters man was Thomas Charles (Chorlton Runners) V35 athlete in a time of 2:22:58, finishing second to overall race winner David Bishop (Derby AC) who ran a new course record in 2:20:22.

The fastest masters woman was Annabel Granger (Bristol & West AC) V45 athlete in a time of 2:47:29, finishing second to overall race winner Sarah Webster (Northern AC) 2:44:34 and just in front of England's Sarah Holt (The Stragglers) who ran 2:47:56.

Click here for all of the masters results

The England Athletics Masters Programme is a celebration of masters road running and offers England Athletics members over the age of 35 the chance to qualify to represent England as a masters athlete.

More details can be found on the masters page of our website.

Photos by Tom Craggs