VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
06 THE MASS EVENT
Starters & Finishers
Year
Total
Accepted Starters Running Wheelchair Para WC Total finishers
applicants applicants finishers
finishers finishers
1981 20,000 7,7477,0556,255
0
6,255
1982
90,000 18,05916,350 15,116
0
15,116
1983
60,000 19,73516,500 15,776
17
15,793
1984
70,000 21,14216,992 15,649
26
15,675
1985
83,000 22,27417,50015,841
32
15,873
1986
80,000 25,56619,26118,030
37
18,067
1987
80,000 28,36421,485 19,545
41
19,586
1988
73,000 29,97922,469 20,889
43
20,932
1989
72,000 31,77224,452 22,652
49
22,701
1990
73,000 34,88226,500 24,953
60
25,013
1991
79,000 33,48524,500 23,393
42
23,435
1992
83,000 34,25024,500 23,783
50
23,833
1993
68,000 35,82025,000 24,448
47
24,495
1994
72,000 37,37926,000 25,194
48
25,242
1995
79,000 39,09727,00025,326
51
25,377
1996
68,000 39,17327,13426,761
45
26,806
1997
78,000 39,81329,500 29,135
54
29,189
1998
96,000 42,22830,663 29,924
48
29,972
1999
87,000 43,77431,58230,809
40
30,849
2000
93,000 42,59632,620 31,658
40
31,698
2001
92,000 43,51731,15630,286
32
30,318
2002
99,000 46,08333,29732,906
44
32,950
2003 111,000 45,62932,74632,281
43
32,324
2004 108,000 45,21932,74631,983
29
32,012
2005 132,000 47,96935,600 35,260
40
35,300
2006 119,000 47,02033,57833,224
26
33,250
2007 128,000 50,03936,396 35,698
31
35,729
2008 120,000 48,63035,037 34,602
35
34,637
2009 155,000 49,99535,884 35,366
38
35,404
2010 163,000 51,37836,956 36,632
34
36,666
2011
163,926 50,53235,303 34,836
36
34,872
2012
170,150 50,20037,227 36,774
38
36,812
2013
167,449 48,32334,631 34,311
46
24
34,381
2014 169,682 49,87236,337 35,911
41
25
35,977
2015
172,888 51,69638,020 37,641
53
99
37,793
2016
247,069 53,15239,523 39,091
61
32
39,140
2017 253,93053,229
1,001,896 1,397 1801,003,473
There have been 1,003,473 finishers since the London Marathon started in 1981.
A record 39,140 finished in 2016 after 39,523 started, the largest field so far.
Marathon first-timer Shannon Foudy from Hemel Hempstead became the London Marathon’s one millionth finisher
when she crossed the line in 2016. The 39-year-old was raising money for the Luton & Dunstable Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit that saved the life of her premature daughter. She finished in 5:45:18.
“I knew about the #oneinamillion campaign and it’s unbelievable that I am the millionth finisher,” said Foudy, a serving
police officer who works as a schools and youth engagement sergeant in Barnet. “I ran to say thank you to the Luton
& Dunstable NICU and it is the most worthwhile thing I have ever done.”
Just under 56% of the record number of 253,930 applications for 2017 came from people who have never run a
marathon before. More than 43% were from women (also a record).
Media Guide 2017 117
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
Mass Facts & Figures
Finishers’ medals – main race
Finishers’ medals – mini marathon
Finishers’ bags for runners – main race
Finishers’ bags for runners – mini marathon
Goody bag items
Pink Lady apples 40,000
2,000
40,000
2,000
600,000
40,000 (in finishers’ bags)
Operational vehicles (hired)
TNT lorries transporting runners’ kit
Renault cars carrying media, VIPs and staff
Portable toilets (incl. start, course, mini marathon and finish) Urinal bays at start
115
40
20
1,263
400
Blue line paint marking the course
Barriers in metres
Barrier Tape
Signs around the course
Ball bearings in finish cones
Cable ties
300 litres – 3-stripe line
50,000 metres
116,000 metres
1,189
3.2 million
68,900
Marshals at the start
Marshals at the finish
Marshals on the course
Marshals at drinks stations
1,000
2,000
1,500
2,500
St John Ambulance volunteers
1,200 (incl. 30 cycle response specialists
and 200 healthcare professionals)
Ambulances45
St John Ambulance treatment centres
59
First aid stations
52
First aid kits
100s
Stretchers300
Sterile gloves
5,000 pairs
Ice packs for sprains and strains
730
Petroleum jelly
250 tubs; 100lbs
Baby oil
200 bottles
Plasters2,000
Foil blankets
40,000
Ponchos6,300
Water stations
Elite drink stations
Lucozade Sport stations
Lucozade Sport (isotonic energy drink)
Lucozade Sport Carbo Gels Tables at drink stations
Bottles of Buxton Natural Mineral Water
23, one every mile from three miles
8 – for the elite runners where their chosen drinks are placed if required
5 – isotonic energy drink is available to
runners at 5, 10, 15, 19 and 23 miles; 149,100 100% recyclable 380ml bottles
38,000 bottles of isotonic drink are
distributed at the start and 38,000
in finishers’ bags.
50,000 at miles 14 and 21
671
Around 750,000 recyclable bottles in total
are distributed at the start, on the course
and at the finish
Pubs on or near to the course
Pubs hosting charities as part the London Marathon scheme
Live music sites on the course
Official cheering zone
84
50
42
mile 23
Rubbish bags filled after the race
Runners’ blogs
more than 5,000
7,200 – c. 20% of runners
Road closure leaflets delivered
200,000
118 Media Guide 2017
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
Celebrities
The challenge of completing the London Marathon
has attracted many well-known names and famous
faces over the years, and celebrities have become an
increasingly visible and important part of the charity
fund-raising element of the mass race.
Emmerdale actor Tony Audenshaw and model Nell
McAndrew are two of the quickest celebrities ever to
complete the course – Audenshaw once romped home
in 2:55:06 while in 2012 McAndrew finished in 2:54:39,
more than good enough to mix it with the serious club
runners in the UK championship race.
Chris Newton became the quickest celebrity ever in
2014, the world champion cyclist finishing well ahead of
the field in 2:45:10. Newton went even quicker in 2015
when he crossed the Finish Line in 2:39:27. He couldn’t
quite match that pace last year, but he was still the
fastest celebrity at 2:44:37.
Dame Kelly Holmes was the quickest woman celebrity
in 2016, Britain’s double Olympic champion surprising
even herself as she transferred her old track speed into
a highly respectable marathon time of 3:11:27. BBC
News presenter Sophie Raworth was the second female
celeb in 3:35:20.
Her BBC colleague, Radio 2 DJ Chris Evans, beat his
2015 time when he crossed the line in 4:39:53 while
actress Natalie Dormer of Game of Thrones fame came
home in 3:51:21.
Finishing times are only one concern for celebrity
entrants, of course, as the race to raise funds is often
the primary goal. Former rower Sir Steve Redgrave
once held the record for most money raised in a single
London Marathon. The Olympic legend amassed £1.7
million, later surpassed by Steve Chalke who raised
£2,330,159.38 for Oasis UK in 2011.
Celebrities Running in 2017
A typical array of celebrities will be running in 2017.
Coming from the worlds of TV, show business, film,
music, sport and media, they all have their own target
times and will aim to raise as much money and publicity
as possible for their chosen charities. A full up-to-date
list of all the celebrities entered for this year’s race, and
their charities, can be found in the Media Resources
section of the London Marathon website.
Here are a few names to look out for:
Scouting for Girls: The English pop-rock band burst
onto the scene in 2007 with their self-titled debut album,
which went straight to the top of the UK album chart
thanks to hit singles ‘She’s So Lovely’ and ‘Heartbeat’.
They have now released four studio albums, sold more
than two million records and been nominated for four
Brit Awards and one Ivor Novello Award. All three
members of the band – Roy Stride, Pete Ellard and Greg
Churchouse – will be running for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Chrissie Wellington OBE: The four-time Ironman
Triathlon world champion won that gruelling race in
2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011. She is the current world
record holder for the Ironman distance and remarkably
was never beaten in 13 Ironman events. She first ran the
London Marathon in 2002 before becoming a triathlete,
and surprised herself by finishing in three hours eight
seconds. Astonishingly, on her way to the Ironman world
record of 8:18:32 in 2011 (a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike
ride, 26.2-mile run), she ran a marathon split of 2:44.
Since retiring from elite competition, Wellington has been
concentrating on charity work and she runs this year
for the Epilepsy Society and Cancer Research UK. She
gave birth to her first child, Esme, in December 2015 and
works as head of participation at parkrun, responsible for
the development of junior parkrun events across the UK.
Helen Glover and Heather Stanning: The double
Olympic rowing gold medallists won the women’s coxless
pairs title at London 2012 and at Rio 2016. In the four
years between they were invincible on the water, going
unbeaten at World Championships, World Cups and
European Championships. Now the pair are looking at
other challenges and first on their to-do list was the
London Marathon. Stanning is running for the Royal
British Legion Industries and Glover for the Brain and
Spine Foundation, although both admit their biggest
motivation is the desire to beat each other.
Media Guide 2017 119
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
ScoutIng for Girls
(l to r): Greg
Churchouse, Roy
Stride & Pete Ellard
News and sports presenters are well represented this
year led by BBC News’ Sophie Raworth who returns
for her fourth London Marathon. Raworth has been
getting faster each year, running her PB of 3:35:20 in
2016. She has become something of a marathon fanatic
in recent years – after completing the Tokyo Marathon
in February, she needs only to run the Chicago Marathon
to achieve her ambition of finishing all six of the World
Marathon Majors.
Jenni Falconer: A popular TV and radio presenter,
Falconer is no stranger to the London Marathon and this
is the sixth time she has run the race. Falconer made
her name presenting travel shows Holiday and How to
Holiday, and Entertainment Today on GMTV which she
hosted for eight years. She is currently a DJ on Heart
Radio every morning between Sunday and Friday and
a regular contributor to This Morning. Cancer Research
UK is her charity.
Jonathan Pearce: One of the best-known voices of
football, Pearce is heard by millions of fans each week
commentating on the BBC’s Match of the Day. He will
be running his sixth London Marathon on the 10th
anniversary of the formation of the charity dear to his
heart, The Lily Foundation. Named after his niece, Lily
– who tragically died of mitochondrial disease aged
just eight months – the foundation was set up because
Pearce and his family believed that Lily’s short life had
a purpose. The Lily Foundation is committed to finding
a cure for the disease through funding research, raising
awareness and family support.
Sports stars and actors are also ever present on
the London Marathon’s celebrity list, and 2017 is no
different.
Mark Chapman: A rising star of BBC Sport, Chapman
presents Match of the Day 2 on Sunday nights, as well
as the corporation’s Rugby League and NFL coverage.
He is also one of the main sports presenters on BBC
Radio 5 Live. This year he released his second book,
The Love of the Game: Parenthood, Sport and Me, which
followed up his 2010 release, Heroes, Hairbands and
Hissy Fits: Chappers’ History of Modern Football. He has
run the London Marathon twice before, in 2008 and
2010. He will be raising money for the Christie NHS
Foundation Trust.
Vassos Alexander: Best known as sports presenter on
The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Radio 2, Alexander
has also worked on Radio 5 Live as a presenter, reporter
and commentator and on BBC TV, BT Sport and
Eurosport. He is running for Children in Need.
Chris Evans: One of the UK’s most famous presenters
and current host of The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on
Radio 2, Evans shot to fame in the 1990s as the host
of Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast and then TFI Friday.
Evans also presented Top Gear and The One Show
on the BBC. He is part of this year’s Children in Need
squad.
120 Media Guide 2017
Cyclist Chris Newton has been setting ‘records’ as the
fastest celebrity for the last few years, his best being
2:39:27 in 2015. The multiple world track champion and
triple Olympic medallist runs for Anthony Nolan this year.
England and Great Britain rugby league captain Jamie
Peacock takes on the 26.2-mile challenge after a stellar
career that saw him become one of the most successful
players in Super League history. Peacock played for
Bradford Bulls and Leeds Rhinos, winning nine Super
League championships and four Challenge Cups. He
won Super League’s Man of Steel award in 2003 and is
now head of rugby at Hull Kingston Rovers. He runs for
Sue Ryder Wheatfields.
Pamela Relph: The first-ever two-time Paralympic
rowing gold medallist, won the mixed coxed fours at
London 2012 and Rio 2016. She also won four world
titles. She is raising money for Arthritis Research UK.
Adam Woodyatt, who has played Ian Beale in
Eastenders since the BBC show first began in 1985,
will be running alongside his 19-year-old son, Sam, for
the Air Ambulance. Just months ago, Sam needed the
ambulance himself after being hit by a car.
Jessica Ransom, who is running for Bloodwise, is best
known for her role as medical receptionist Morwenna
Newcross in the popular ITV drama Doc Martin. She has
also appeared as Mary, Queen of Scots in the children’s
TV programme Horrible Histories.
The full lists of celebrities and media presenters running
the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon are available
in the Media Resources section of the London Marathon
website: www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, the global authority on recordbreaking, has supported many individuals who have
attempted records while running the marathon. Since
2007 Guinness has officially partnered the London
Marathon to adjudicate record attempts in the mass
event and present successful record-breakers with
certificates.
Peake wasn’t the quickest spaceman of the day as
Martin Hewlett clocked 3:06:26 to become the fastest
marathon runner dressed as an astronaut, while Peake’s
ESA colleagues Jonathan Scott and Libby Jackson
both completed the distance wearing their replica space
suits.
A team of eight Guinness officials are on the course
throughout the day to judge any records and provide
immediate news of successful efforts.
More Guinness World Records were broken in 2011
than at any previous London Marathon with 35
successful attempts. In 2016, 70 runners made record
attempts and 31 new records were achieved, 30 on
terra firma and one in space where astronaut Tim
Peake completed the Digital Virgin Money London
Marathon on board the International Space Station
where he was working for the European Space Agency.
Peake set a Guinnness World Record for running a
marathon in space when he completed the treadmill
challenge in 3:35:21 watched closely by Guinness
World Records’ Head of Records, Marco Frigatti who
said of Peake’s historic record: “Running the fastest
marathon in space, on the only day off from his gruelling
schedule is a fantastic accomplishment. Tim is a true
inspiration and someone we can all look up to, literally.”
Back in London, a four-person fire engine, a 3-D
dinosaur and a horse and jockey were among the
finishers who earned the treasured GWR certificate.
Sean Fitzpatrick was fastest of the Earthlings as he
broke the record for wearing a film character costume
when he finished in 2:39:08 dressed as Elsa from the
film Frozen. He was followed closely by Alistair Smith,
who clocked 2:45:37 as the fastest in a nurse’s uniform.
Naomi Flanagan was the quickest woman, clocking
3:08:34 sporting a Tinkerbelle costume to become the
fastest dressed as a book character.
Katie Godof was almost hare-like as she donned a
tortoise costume to run the fastest marathon in an animal
costume (female) in 3:15:39, while Richard Kell (above)
never crumbled despite wearing a biscuit outfit as he
became the fastest gingerbread man to run a marathon,
clocking 3:29:21.
Chris Shirley brought up the rear, but then he was
wearing a 100lb pack. Shirley carried his heavy weight
across the line in 7:47:00.
The London Marathon is a Guinness World Record
breaker in its own right as it is officially the largest single
annual fund-raising event in the world. It first set the
record in 2007 and has broken it every year since, a
remarkable 10-year sequence. In 2016 runners raised
£59.4 million for charities, meaning that a total of more
than £830 million has been raised by London Marathon
runners since 1981.
A list of all the 2016 Guinness World Record Breakers
can be found at: www.guinnessworldrecords.com.
Media Guide 2017 121
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
This Year
Some 50 runners will be going for Guinness World
Records in this year’s race.
These attemptees have all registered on the Set a
Record section of the Guinness website:
www.guinnessworldrecords.com/set-a-record
A gingerbread man, a strawberry, Minnie Mouse and
a horse drawn carriage carrying a queen will also be
making their way from Blackheath to The Mall. You
might also spot Batman and Robin locked together in
one costume, a lobster, a telephone box, at least two
nuns, a pair of monks and a handful of chefs.
Everyone who registers receives a response from
Guinness, including guidelines on how to try to break the
record and the time they need to beat.
For a full list of this year’s Guinness World Record
attemptees go to the Media Resources page of
www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com.
Among the many records being attempted this year are:
• fastest marathon dressed as an emoji – Liam
White is the man who hopes to be smiling at the
end.
Staff from Guinness World Records will be based at
the media centre on race day, confirming records and
awarding certificates. The GWR and London Marathon
press offices can provide the stories behind various
record-breaking runners.
• fastest marathon dressed as a love heart
(male) – Richard Kell will be wearing it on his
sleeve … and his shoulders, and his legs.
More information, including a full list of the record
attempts planned this year, is available from the VMLM
and GWR press teams.
• fastest marathon wearing Wellington boots –
Damian Thacker is the runner in the green rubber
footwear.
GWR press officer: Doug Male
Tel. 07866 371615
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.guinnessworldrecords.com
Twitter: @GWR
• fastest marathon in a sleeping bag – David
Smith is ready to get all tucked up for 26 miles.
122 Media Guide 2017
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
Politicians
Seventy Members of Parliament have run the London
Marathon since 1981 and MPs have been present in all
36 races bar one, each of them encouraged and ably
organised by former lobby correspondent Mike Steele.
Matthew Parris holds the record as the fastest MP, a
fact of which he is enormously and rightly proud. His five
London Marathon times (1981-85) are all faster than
the next best, Doug Henderson.
Having run 10-apiece, Dick Douglas, Gary Waller and
Alistair Burt jointly hold the record for the highest
number of London Marathons completed as an MP.
Douglas went on to complete a further 11 London
Marathons after he left Parliament, then at the age of 70
decided that his 21st in 2002 would be his last.
In fact, six of the eight starters last year ran their fastest
times, including Labour’s Jamie Reed who has since
resigned as an MP.
Six of last year’s finishers are in this year’s line-up,
including Cairns, Jarvis and Timpson. Weaver Vale’s Tory
MP Graham Evans and independent Simon Danczuk
are also among 2017’s record entry list, as is Amanda
Solloway, back for another go after taking seven hours
in 2016.
In all, 16 MPs are running this year, smashing all
previous records for MP entries. There is a record
number of women MPs too – three in all, including one
from the Scottish National Party, Hannah Bardell, the
first SNP Member ever to run.
Burt ran his 10th London Marathon last year, an
incredible 32 years since his first in 1984. In fact, Burt
holds the record among MPs for the longest period
between his first and his most recent Marathons and has
completed at least one in each of the last four decades.
As usual, the Conservative Party provides the majority
of the running politicians with nine to Labour’s five,
although in 70-year-old Sir Kevin Barron, Labour does
boast the oldest and the first knighted MP to run. There
are no Liberal Democrats.
Conservative Alun Cairns was the fastest in 2016, as
he was the year before, and the Vale of Glamorgan MP
improved his 2014 PB to move up to seventh on the
all-time list. Labour’s Dan Jarvis improved his best for
the third time to come in ahead of Cairns’ Tory colleague
Edward Timpson who was third quickest for the second
year in a row.
Cairns will again start as the fastest entrant. The minister
for children and families was just 15 minutes faster
than Jarvis last year when Timpson was another seven
minutes slower. Graham Evans, Danczuk and Solloway
also produced their best times in 2016. No fewer
than nine of this year’s entrants are London Marathon
debutants.
MPs who ran in 2016
Alun Cairns
Con, Vale of Glamorgan
Dan Jarvis
Labour, Barnsley Central
Edward Timpson
Con, Crewe and Nantwich
Jamie Reed
Labour, Copeland
Graham Evans
Con, Weaver Valley
Simon Danczuk
Suspended Lab, Rochdale
Alistair Burt
Con, Bury North
Amanda Solloway
Con, Derby North
Time
3:28:02 PB
3:43:38 PB
3:50:37
4:22:38 PB
4:25:36 PB
4:49:11 PB
6:01:34
7:16:51 PB
MPs running in 2017
PB
Charity
Jon Ashworth
Labour, Leicester South
Debut
National Association for
Children of Alcoholics
Hannah Bardell
SNP, Livingstone
Debut
Michelle Henderson Cervical
Cancer Trust & Jaks Den
Sir Kevin Barron
Labour, Rother Valley
Debut
Age Concern Rotherham
Alun Cairns
Con, Vale of Glamorgan
3:28:02 (2016)
Heads Together &
Age Connects
Chishti Rehman
Con, Gillingham and Rainham
Debut
Cancer Research UK
Nic Dakin
Labour, Scunthorpe
Debut
Pancreatic Cancer &
Lyndsey Lodge Hospice
Simon Danczuk
Independent, Rochdale
4:49:11 (2016)
Rochdale Connections Trust
Mims Davies
Con, Eastleigh
Debut
CRY
Jonathan Djanogly
Con, Huntingdon
Debut
Cancer Research UK
Chris Evans
Labour, Islwyn
5:07:51 (2015)
Contact a Family
Graham Evans
Con, Weaver Vale
4:25:36 (2016)
ABF & Muscular Dystrophy
Chris Green
Con, Bolton West
Debut
Bolton Hospice
Dan Jarvis
Labour, Barnsley Central
3:43:38 (2016)
The Barnsley Hospice
Scott Mann
Con, North Cornwall
Debut
Friends of Bodmin,
Launceston & Stratton
Hospitals
Amanda Solloway
Con, Derby North
7:16:51 (2016)
Baby Unit at Royal Derby
Hospital
Edward Timpson
Con, Crewe & Nantwich
3:42:24 (2014)
ABF & Muscular Dystrophy
Media Guide 2017 123
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
The fastest MPs
Matthew ParrisCon, Derbyshire West2:32:571985
Doug Henderson
Lab, Newcastle upon Tyne North
2:52:24
1989
John McFallLab, Dumbarton3:08:241988
Rhodri MorganLab, Cardiff West3:14:441988
Paul Marsden
Lib Dem, Shrewsbury & Atcham
3:18:01
2004
Dennis CanavanLab, Falkirk West3:19:041985
Alun Cairns
Con, Vale of Glamorgan
3:28:02
2016
Robert SpinkCon, Castle Point3:31:151995
Jim Murphy
Lab, East Renfrewshire
3:31:44
2013
Chris BryantLab, Rhondda3:34:192007
Howard StoateLab, Dartford3:36:282000
Chris PondLab, Gravesham3:37:541999
Alan HowarthCon, Stratford-on-Avon3:41:411985
Edward Timpson
Con, Crewe and Nantwich
3:42:24
2014
Greg Mulholland
Lib Dem, Leeds North West
3:42:51
2012
Jonathan AitkenCon, Thanet East3:43:001982
Dan JarvisLab, Barnsley Central3:43:382016
David LockLab, Wyre Forest3:44:361998
David Heathcoat-Armory
Con, Wells3:55:451987
Jo Swinson
Lib Dem, East Dunbartonshire
3:57:00
2011
MPs who have run the London Marathon
Sitting MPs who have run
24
Former MPs no longer at Westminster
47
Former MPs now peers
1
Former MP, now deceased
1
Total73
(16 Con, 6 Lab, 1 Lib Dem, 1 Ind)
A full record of all the MPs who have run the marathon can be found in the Media Resources section of the London
Marathon website: www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com
The 2016 line-up of marathon-running MPs
124 Media Guide 2017
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
The Ever Presents
Twelve of the many hundreds of thousands of people
who have run the London Marathon over the years have
finished every race from the first in 1981 to the 36th on
24 April last year. They are known as the ‘Ever Presents’.
This informal group was first acknowledged after the
15th London Marathon in 1995, when it numbered
42. They were awarded with a special commemorative
medal, a sweatshirt and guaranteed acceptance in
future London Marathons. They cover a whole spectrum
of running backgrounds, come from all walks of life,
different locations and assorted occupations, although
many are now retired.
At the top of the list is Chris Finill who received a
Guinness World Record certificate in 2010 for ‘the
most consecutive editions of the same World Marathon
Majors marathon completed in under three hours’.
Name
1 Chris Finill
2 Michael Peace
3 Roger Low
4 Terence Macey
5 Charles Cousens
6 Stephen Wehrle
7 Malcolm Speake
8 William O’Connor
9 David Walker
10 Jeffrey Aston
11 Kenneth Jones
12 Dale Lyons
Age group
55-59
65-69
70+ 65-69
70+ 65-69 70+ 70+ 70+
65-69 80+ 70+ All but one of the remaining 12 have broken three
hours on at least one of their London Marathons. At 83,
Kenneth Jones is oldest Ever Present still running and in
2017 he has the honour of being the oldest male runner
in this year’s race which falls less than a month before
his 84th birthday.
The Real Marathon Men: London Marathon
Everpresents, written by Dale Lyons, one of the
surviving 12, was published in January 2014. As well
as providing a factual record, it tells the stories behind
the Ever Presents’ stats – the tales of triumph and
disappointment, the lives away from running, and the
spirit that keeps them going.
Below is a full list of ever-present names with their times
from the 2016 race and their London PB.
More information at www.everpresent.org.uk.
2016 time
2:56:05
3:52:29
4:25:45
4:47:19
5:00:23
5:18:01
5:18:04
5:18:35
5:46:17
6:09:31
6:45:54
6:52:33
London PB
2:28:27
2:38:23
2:33:47
2:58:18
2:55:29
2:59:59
2:45:10
2:34:29
2:45:48
2:29:34
2:55:38
3:06:48
Twelve made the photo call at the Green
Start for the 36th London Marathon on 24
April 2016. Top row: Ken Jones, Bill O’Connor,
Dale Lyons, Jeff Aston, Chris Finill, Roger Low,
Charles Cousens, Terry Macey.
Bottom row: Mac Speake, Steve Wehrle,
David Walker, Mike Peace.
Media Guide 2017 125
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
Human Interest Stories
For more than three-quarters of all runners at the
London Marathon their #ReasonToRun involves raising
money for charity, and more than £50 million is raised
every year. The event itself holds a Guinness World
Record for one-day charity fundraising, a record it has
broken each year for the last 10 years. The 2016 record
total was £59.4 million while the total raised over the
last 36 years is approaching £1 billion and now stands
at more than £830 million.
Many of those who run to raise money do so because
they, or someone close to them, has experienced
illness or tragedy, and they want to honour someone’s
memory, or give something back to the organisations
and charities which helped them. For many, taking on
the marathon is just one challenge in a whole host of
others over a period of time, or merely one stage in
an ongoing fund-raising campaign; for others, it’s the
climax of a personal journey. All of them have a unique
#ReasonToRun.
You can find summaries of many of this year’s ‘human
interest’ stories in the Media Resources section of the
London Marathon website. Here are just a few:
Zamzam Farah
When Zamzam Farah (below) ran for Somalia in the
400m at the London 2012 Olympics she did so with
a passion to show her country that women could and
should be able to compete on an equal footing with men.
When she returned home, however, she and her family
received death threats. Fearing for her safety, she fled to
the UK and was granted asylum.
Her attempt to start a new life was not always easy,
however. Initially, she stayed with relatives, but they did
not want her to pursue an education or career, so she
left and initially struggled to find somewhere to live.
Eventually, she discovered The Running Charity, the UK’s
first running-orientated programme for homeless and
vulnerable young people, and their partners, DePaul.
Through her passion for running and positive spirit, she
soon became a committed member of the Running
Charity and is now employed, rents privately and is
proud to be the charity’s nominated runner for this year’s
London Marathon. The Running Charity receives funding
from London Marathon Events Ltd.
Dan Farnworth and Richard Morton
This pair so inspired HRH Prince Harry with their
harrowing and inspirational speech at an event to mark
World Mental Health Day that the Prince asked them to
run the Marathon for Heads Together, the campaign he
leads with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Dan was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder
after the pair, both paramedics in Blackpool, were called
to a horrific incident where a child had died. Richard
was there for Dan when he admitted he was suffering
and the pair have been advocates of promoting mental
health and awareness ever since. They will be running
for the Blue Light campaign, run by Mind, one of the
Heads Together partners.
Jackie Scully and Duncan Sloan
Jackie and fiancé Duncan will become one of the
London Marathon’s wedding couples when they get
married on the Cutty Sark at 07:30 on Race Day. Then
they will then hot foot it to the Start Line at Blackheath,
Jackie wearing a specially-designed marathon-friendly
wedding dress and Duncan his groom’s suit, to start a
26.2-mile journey to The Mall.
This pair have already completed a remarkable and
heart-warming journey, however. Jackie, who had her
pelvis rebuilt in 2007, found out just three weeks after
getting engaged that she had breast cancer. She had
a mastectomy and started to run “to feel alive at a time
when my body had other ideas”. Duncan soon joined her
as a running partner and when their thoughts turned to
planning their wedding, they decided to exchange vows
before the race “to thank the people who helped us
find our way back to happiness, both during and after
treatment”. The couple will be running for Breast Cancer
Care and The Willow Foundation.
126 Media Guide 2017
Pippa, Henrietta and Will Creasy
Pippa Creasy is running for CALM (the Campaign
Against Living Miserably) with two of her four children,
Henrietta and Will, in memory of her husband, Dr Terry
Creasy, who committed suicide four years ago following
an acute battle with depression. Suicide is the biggest
cause of death among men under 45 in the UK, and
Pippa is keen to encourage more people to talk about
mental health as part of the wider Heads Together
project. CALM, one of the Heads Together partners, is
dedicated to preventing male suicide.
For more information on these and many other human
interest stories go to the Media Resources section of the
London Marathon website, or contact a member of the
London Marathon media team.
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
Runners by Age
Age Group
Men
Women
All
18-19 191 159350
20-29 5,142 5,08810,230
30-3910,228 7,035 17,263
40-4910,262 6,160 16,422
50-594,621 2,434 7,055
60-691,130 448 1,578
70-79243 72315
80-8913 3 16
Totals31,830 21,399 53,229
Oldest Runners
The oldest man is:
Kenneth Jones, 83, born 19 May 1933
(He is also an Ever Present, see page 125.)
The oldest woman is:
Eleanor Draper, 81, born 1 May 1935
Youngest Runners
The youngest man is:
Thomas Hodges, 18 years 8 days, born 15 April 1999
The youngest woman is:
Bronte Randle-Bissell, 18 years 3 days, born
20 April 1999
Runners who have birthdays on Race Day
MenWomenTotal
9578173
Oldest & Youngest All Time
Oldest winner (men): Allister Hutton (GBR)
1990 (35 yrs 278 days)
Oldest winner (women): Joyce Smith, (GBR)
1982 (44)
Youngest winner (men): Sammy Wanjiru (KEN)
2009 (22)
Youngest winner (women): Małgorzata Sobanska (POL)
1995 (25)
Oldest finisher (men): Fauja Singh 2004 (93)
Oldest finisher (women): Jenny Wood-Allen 2002 (90)
Fauja Singh: the London Marathon’s oldest finisher
Media Guide 2017 127
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
Runners by Occupation
Occupation
Accountant
Actor
Administrative and Clerical Support
Administrator
Advertising
Agriculture
Airline Cabin Crew
Airline Pilot
Ambulance Service
Analyst
Apprentice
Architect
Armed Forces
Artist
Banker
Banker (City of London)
Beautician / Hairdresser
Builder / Construction
Building Society
Building Trade
Business Owner
Business Owner / Entrepreneur
CEO / COO
Catering
Catering - Professional
Catering - Support
Chairman / President of Company
Civil Aviation - Cabin Crew
Civil Servant
Clergy
Clerical
Communications
Construction
Consultant
Data Processing / MIS Manager
Data Processing / Systems Analyst
Data Processing Engineer
Data Processing Manager
Data Processing Programmer
Dental Assistant
Dentist
Designer
Doctor
Doctor - GP
Doctor - Specialist
Driver
Economist
Editor
Education - Support
Electrician
Engineer
Engineer - Civil
Engineer - Electrical
Engineer - Mechanical
Events and Operations
Film Maker
Finance and Investment - Support
Financial Analyst
Firefighter
Forestry / Game Keeping
Haulage
Health Service
Health and Fitness
Healthcare - Professional
Healthcare - Support
Homemaker
Hospitality
Hotel
Hotel and Leisure Industry
Housewife
IT Professional
IT Support
Insurance
Investment Broker
Labourer
Lawyer / Barrister
128 Media Guide 2017
MenWomen
Total
1,439 8462,285
68 40108
330
1,079
1,409
266691957
107104 211
47 1158
10
28
38
29
6
35
27
22
49
241131372
16 521
201 48249
311
70
381
77 91168
683285968
256
59
315
21
98
119
601
18
619
28
8
36
302
8
310
699
238
937
388
157
545
137
20
157
139 68207
91
50
141
15
27
42
171
29
200
16
27
43
175
115
290
26 228
51 63114
131109240
469 19488
1,066 4021,468
38
4
42
104
35
139
29
4
33
74
6
80
46
7
53
01818
75 56131
294197491
193207400
79
71
150
146
113
259
377 16393
332053
58 55113
86
309
395
299 3302
1,254 961,350
189
30
219
189
10
199
302
17
319
56
89
145
56
17
73
156
89
245
468
154
622
295 33328
13
1
14
32 234
140285425
104
221
325
281
725
1,006
85
182
267
30388 418
514697
662490
42
24
66
4381385
988
117
1,105
112
23
135
244 113357
47
4
51
106 9115
166
192
358
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
Lecturer
Legal - Support
Legal Profession
Librarian
Local Government
Machinist
Machinist / Plant worker
Manager
Manufacturing - Production Management
Manufacturing - Shop Floor
Marketer
Marketing
Mechanic
Media and Publishing
Military Services
Musician
Newsperson
Nurse
Other
Paramedic
Pharmacist
Photographer
Physician
Physiotherapist
Pilot
Plumber
Police
Politician
Postal Worker
Printer
Programmer
Psychiatrist
Public Relations
Public Service - Manager / Professional
Public Service - Support
Public Transport
Publishing
Radio / TV
Recreation Worker
Restaurants
Retail - Manager
Retail - Support
Retail Trade
Retired
Sales - Support
Sales - Professional / Manager
Sales - Support
Sales Manager
Salesperson
Scientist
Secretary
Security
Self Employed
Shop Worker
Skilled Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery
Social Worker
Solicitor
Sportsperson
Stock Exchange
Stockbroker
Student
Surveyor
Systems Analyst
Taxi Driver
Teacher
Teacher / Education
Trade and Craft - Professional
Trade and Craft - Support
Transportation
Travel
Travel and Tourism - worker
Unemployed
Waiter / Waitress
Web Designer / Developer
Writer / Journalist
Youth / Community Worker
Total
135 125260
27
63
90
354339693
10 919
114
96
210
909
114
8
122
1,163 5321,695
127
16
143
38
5
43
185245430
394463857
34 337
191
151
342
196
34
230
92 42134
24 1236
114 714828
3,9192,6246,543
30 1141
461965
28 1745
10 515
34 81115
25 126
67 067
548273821
22 426
43
12
55
26 026
56 965
4 610
100
132
232
374
283
657
128
108
236
39
7
46
442872
104
61
165
538
74 36110
154
90
244
103
162
265
306
171
477
635285920
30
28
58
557
181
738
42
18
60
626
196
822
374168542
254205459
10240250
40 545
394
308
702
23
25
48
73
18
91
30
82
112
66 65131
212 72284
12
2
14
28 331
609 8021,411
185 42227
36
9
45
28
1
29
655 9301,585
638
983
1,621
111
28
139
9
6
15
146 16162
53 49102
38
38
76
94 77171
11
21
32
44
6
50
76
69
145
40
54
94
31,83021,39953,229
Media Guide 2017 129
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
Runners by Nationality
Country
Aland Islands
Albania
Andorra
Angola
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belgium
Bermuda
Botswana
Brazil
Canada
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
England
Spain
Estonia
Finland
Falkland Islands
France
Faroe Islands
United Kingdom
Germany
Guernsey
Ghana
Gibraltar
Guadeloupe
Greece
Guatemala
Hong Kong
Hungary
Isle of Man
Indonesia
India
Ireland
Iceland
Israel
Italy
Ivory Coast
British Virgin Islands
Jersey
Jordan
Japan
Kenya
South Korea
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
130 Media Guide 2017
Code MenWomen Total
ALA
1
0
1
ALB0 1 1
AND1 0 1
ANG0 1 1
ARG13 7 20
AUS 85 70155
AUT11 1 12
BAH0 1 1
BAN1 0 1
BAR1 0 1
BEL70 23 93
BER5 712
BOT1 1 2
BRA40 15 55
CAN 61 59120
CAY
0
1
1
CHI20 323
CHN142 60 202
COL5 3 8
CRC
1
0
1
CRO1 0 1
CYP 6 410
CZE
7
5
12
DEN66 20 86
DOM
2
0
2
ECU3 0 3
EGY2 0 2
ENG161 116 277
ESP202 39 241
EST 5 510
FIN 16 1531
FLK
2
0
2
FRA452 161 613
FRO
1
1
2
GBR
28,155
19,626
47,781
GER229 90 319
GGY6 511
GHA1 0 1
GIB3 14
GLP0 1 1
GRE9 110
GUA10 3 13
HKG
79
35
114
HUN5 2 7
IMN
8
3
11
INA18 523
IND29 534
IRL 275 146421
ISL 7 613
ISR 8 210
ITA340 73413
CIV
1
0
1
IVB
0
1
1
JEY 9 1019
JOR1 0 1
JPN59 31 90
KEN8 311
KOR
8
2
10
KSA
2
0
2
KUW0 1 1
LAT0 22
LIB 3 36
LIE 1 01
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madagascar
Morocco
Malaysia
Mexico
Macedonia
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
Nepal
Nigeria
Northern Ireland
Norway
New Zealand
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion
Romania
South Africa
Russia
Scotland
Senegal
Singapore
Slovenia
San Marino
Serbia
Sri Lanka
Switzerland
Slovakia
Sweden
Tanzania
Thailand
East Timor
Taiwan
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Ukraine
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Uruguay
United States
Venezuela
Wales
Zambia
Zimbabwe
LTU1 45
LUX4 3 7
MAD0 1 1
MAR4 1 5
MAS2 1 3
MEX52 14 66
MKD2 0 2
MLT1 5 6
MON0 2 2
NED105 41 146
NEP0 1 1
NGR3 1 4
NIR
22
12
34
NOR52 48100
NZL
17
24
41
PAR0 1 1
PER4 0 4
PHI12 719
POL53 18 71
POR31 6 37
PUR
2
1
3
QAT2 0 2
REU2 0 2
ROU1 3 4
RSA
101
37
138
RUS26 9 35
SCO32 6 38
SEN1 0 1
SIN25 1944
SLO5 2 7
SMR
1
0
1
SRB1 0 1
SRI
1
0
1
SUI 94 42136
SVK5 4 9
SWE 75 31106
TAN1 0 1
THA5 2 7
TLS
1
0
1
TPE21 5 26
TUR2 0 2
UAE
7
7
14
UKR3 2 5
UMI
2
0
2
URU1 1 2
USA
366
347
713
VEN3 0 3
WAL24 13 37
ZAM0 1 1
ZIM0 11
Total
31,830 21,39953,229
Media Guide 2017 131
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
Marathon Weather
Runners will be hoping for a fine spring day to help them
get around the 26.2 mile course on 23 April. A mild, not
hot, day with a light breeze will help the mass runners,
most of whom will complete the race in the afternoon.
Those conditions will also help the elites run at close to
world record pace.
Average weather conditions for the London Marathon
up to 2016 give some indication of what to expect:
• average maximum temperature: 14.9°C
• average minimum temperature: 8.9°C
• average rainfall: 1.3mm
• average sunshine: 5.4 hours.
The event has seen some extremes of weather in the
past. In 2004 it was particularly wet and windy. Evans
Rutto, the eventual winner of the men’s race, was just
one of the runners who slipped and fell in the poor
conditions.
The highest temperature of 22.2°C was recorded on two
Race Days – in 1996 (21 April) and 2007 (22 April); the
lowest of 5.3°C on 18 April 2004.
The wettest Race Day on record was 18 April 2004
when 12.4mm fell, while the sunniest was 26 April 2009
with 12.3 hours of sunshine.
Race Day Temperature (°C)
Race Date
29 Mar 81
09 May 82
17 Apr 83
13 May 84
21 Apr 85
20 Apr 86
10 May 87
17 May 88
23 Apr 89
22 Apr 90
21 Apr 91
12 Apr 92
18 Apr 93
17 Apr 94
02 Apr 95
21 Apr 96 13 Apr 97
26 Apr 98
18 Apr 99
16 Apr 00
22 Apr 01
14 Apr 02
13 Apr 03
18 Apr 04
17 Apr 05
23 Apr 06
22 Apr 07
13 Apr 08
26 Apr 09
25 Apr 10
17 Apr 11
22 Apr 12
21 Apr 13
13 Apr 14
26 Apr 15
24 Apr 16
132 Media Guide 2017
09:00
10.1
10.5
10.1
8.6
6.0
8.1
10.0
10.6
8.4
9.4
5.8
11.3
11.8
5.9
8.3
17.6 9.9
11.1
5.9
6.6
7.6 7.6
9.5
9.6
7.7
11.1
16.3
10.4
14.1
11.8
14.1
8.8
7.0
10.5
8.0
6.8
10:00
10.2
11.1
10.0
10.4
6.9
10.2
10.6
13.2
8.5
10.0
7.1
12.1
12.2
6.6
9.6
20.3 11.2
11.2
6.8
8.7
8.4
9.2
11.5
10.2
9.4
11.3
18.6
12.1
14.9
13.8
15.9
10.4
8.9
11.3
8.0
7.4
11:00
10.2
13.4
10.4
12.2
8.0
15.6 12.0
14.6
8.7
10.2
9.4
13.2
13.1
7.5
12.0
20.1 12.0
13.0
7.6
9.9
8.6
10.6
15.0
10.3
10.9
12.1
20.5
8.9
16.1
14.4
18.3
12.5
10.4
12.7
8.0
8.0
12:00
10.9
14.0
10.0
13.0
8.6
17.0
12.4
16.4
10.1
10.9
9.1
13.8
13.8
7.6
14.1
21.0
13.3
12.7
8.4
11.3
10.4
11.2
16.4
11.2
12.3
12.7
21.7
9.5
16.2
15.6
19.9
13.4
12.8
13.7
9.0
9.0
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
Race Day Relative Humidity (%)
Race Date
29 Mar 81
09 May 82
17 Apr 83
13 May 84
21 Apr 85
20 Apr 86
10 May 87
17 May 88
23 Apr 89
22 Apr 90
21 Apr 91
12 Apr 92
18 Apr 93
17 Apr 94
02 Apr 95
21 Apr 96 13 Apr 97
26 Apr 98
18 Apr 99
16 Apr 00
22 Apr 01
14 Apr 02
13 Apr 03
18 Apr 04
17 Apr 05
23 Apr 06
22 Apr 07
13 Apr 08
26 Apr 09
25 Apr 10
17 Apr 11
22 Apr 12
21 Apr 13
13 Apr 14
26 Apr 15
24 Apr 16
09:00
89
65
87
70
75
96
65
80
92
93
62
82
81
84
78
51 58
72
83
75
68
58
77
89
64
78
48
65
55
82
68
76
67
55
80
67
10:00
91
56
87
56
74
94
61
64
88
91
58
78
82
78
72
36 56
71
74
65
63
49
69
88
54
81
43
54
49
79
58
69
55
49
88
54
11:00
94
52
87
45
68
93
56
62
88
91
50
64
73
66
61
33 47
61
65
57
80
38
55
90
46
78
35
80
46
80
51
61
46
48
86
55
12:00
94
51
79
30
65
71
50
57
75
88
51
60
64
54
54
28
43
67
57
51
46
31
50
85
44
81
30
73
42
77
44
55
51
48
79
46
Media Guide 2017 133
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
134 Media Guide 2017
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
07 VIRGIN MONEY GIVING MINI LONDON MARATHON
The Virgin Money Giving Mini London Marathon is a
series of races for girls and boys aged between 11 and 17,
divided into three age categories.
It is run over the last three miles of the marathon course,
starting at Old Billingsgate and finishing under the
finish gantry in The Mall. The runners race along Victoria
Embankment, through Parliament Square, down Birdcage
Walk, and past Buckingham Palace.
The race started in 1986 involving children from all 33
London boroughs. In 2001, selected teams from English
counties were invited, based on their performances at
the English Schools Cross Country Championships.
From 2005, teams representing Wales, Northern Ireland
and Scotland were added.
In 2009, a new format was introduced. The English
county teams were replaced by regions, while the top
finishers from the London boroughs scored points for
a ‘united London team’ in the regional competition. In
2011, the races were adopted as the official British
Athletics Road Running Championships for young
athletes. More than 2,000 boys and girls take part in three
age groups – under 13, under 15 and under 17.
The following London boroughs compete in the
London competition:
Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley,
Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney,
Hammersmith & Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering,
Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea,
Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, City of
London, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon
Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham
Forest, Wandsworth, City of Westminster.
The following regional teams compete in the UK
Road Running Championships: East England, East
Midlands, London, North East, North West, South East,
South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside;
Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales.
Mini London Wheelchair Marathon
There are also four wheelchair races along the same
course, open to youngsters aged under 14 and under
17 from all parts of the UK. They race as individuals
rather than members of a team.
Future stars
Over the years the Mini Marathon has unearthed a number
of future stars of British athletics. A quick glance through
the list of medallists reveals some young racers who have
gone on to gain major international honours:
Mo Farah, the Olympic, world and European 5000m
and 10,000m champion, was a Mini Marathon winner for
Hounslow three years in a row between 1998 and 2000.
He went on to win gold medals in 5000m and 10,000m
at the 2010 and 2014 European Championships, the
2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and the 2013 and 2015
World Championships, among others. He broke the
English record on his London Marathon debut in 2014.
Scott Overall, who was third in the Mini Marathon in
2000, ran the marathon for Britain at the 2012 London
Olympics and is one of the leading British competitors in
this year’s London Marathon.
Freya Ross was fifth in the Mini Marathon in 2001
(as Freya Murray). She went on to represent Britain at
London 2012 where she was 44th in the marathon.
David Weir won the Mini Wheelchair Marathon seven
times in his youth, and has since won the senior London
Wheelchair Marathon six times and claimed six gold
medals at Paralympic Games.
Shelly Woods won the mini event twice before rising to
become senior champion in 2007 and 2012. She won a
marathon silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympics.
Hannah Cockroft also won the event twice, in
2009 and 2010, before going on to break world and
Paralympic records on the track for T34 100m and
200m, and to win gold medals at the London 2012 and
2016 Paralympics.
The Mini London Marathon has also been a seedbed for
talented athletes who have gone on to succeed in other
sports, such as Alistair Brownlee, the double Olympic
triathlon champion, who ran the Mini Marathon in 2002
and 2005, his brother Jonathan Brownlee, the Olympic
triathlon bronze and silver medallist, and Non Stanford,
four times a Mini Marathon winner between 2001 and
2005, who won the 2013 world triathlon title in London’s
Hyde Park.
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VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
What Happened in 2016
In an event that has unearthed a number of future
British superstars, it was Josh Cowperthwaite who
marked himself as one to watch in 2016. The North
East athlete set an impressive new course record in the
Under 15 boy’s race when he finished in 14:48, taking
six seconds from Euan Gillham’s 2012 mark.
Katy Ann McDonald’s joint course record of 16:28, set
last year in the Under 15 girls’ race, was safe for another
year as Faye Ireland of the North West won that event in
16:57, three seconds ahead of the South East’s Claudia
Lance-Jones who moved up from third in 2015. Grace
Brock of the South West was third this time.
Lachlan Wellington of the South East was second as he
held off London’s Joseph Owen by just one second in
15:00.
The biggest victory of the day went to Northern Ireland’s
Amelia Kane who won the Under 13 girls’ race in
17:23, 12 seconds clear of Eve Jones of Yorkshire and
Humberside. Morgan Squibb from the London borough
of Bromley was third.
Thomas Mortimer of the South West was crowned
champion in the Under 17 boys’ race, finishing in 14:14,
one second ahead of Welsh teenager Jake Heyward, but
14 seconds shy of the course record set in 2015 by Ben
Dijkstra. James Edgar from Northern Ireland came home
third in 14:20.
Osian Perrin of Wales won the Under 13 boys’ race
in 16:03, just two seconds ahead of Croydon’s Harley
Norman with Angus Williams of the South East third in
16:11.
Sabrina Sinha stepped up from second in 2015 to take
the 2016 Under 17 girls’ title, the British international
winning a Mini London Marathon race for the sixth time.
The Londoner crossed the line in 16:23, well outside
Jessica Judd’s 15:38 course record from 2011.
Lucy Pygott of the South East was runner-up in 16:29
with Scotland’s Laura Stark third in 16:33. Judd’s
younger sister Jodie, an Essex cross country champion
herself, finished 17th, 55 seconds behind the winner.
Jack Agnew was champion of the Under 17 boys’
wheelchair race. A previous Under 14 victor, he won
in 12:18, six seconds ahead of Isaac Towers, another
former Under 14 champion. Michael McCabe was third,
another eight seconds behind. Zien Zhou and Andrew
Greer tied the Under 14 boys’ wheelchair race, both
finishing in 17:46, with Morgan Woods well behind in
third in 19:28.
In contrast, Shauna Bocquet won the girls’ Under 14
wheelchair event by more than five minutes in 15:20.
She moved up from second in 2015 to beat CourtneyLea Daly with Murran Mackay third in 22:48.
British elite wheelchair racer Kare Adenegan made it
a hat trick of Mini London Marathon wins by coming
out on top in the Under 17 girls’ race in 13:40. Eden
Rainbow-Cooper was second in 15:08 after being
Under-14s runner-up in 2015. Catherine Stott was third
for the second year in a row, clocking 20:27.
2017 Medallists
Boys
U17
U15
U13
1st
Thomas Mortimer (South West)
14:14
Josh Cowperthwaite (North East)
14:48
Osian Perrin (Wales)
16:03
Girls
U17
U15
U13
Sabrina Sinha (London) Faye Ireland (North West)
Amelia Kane (Northern Ireland)
2nd
Jake Heyward (Wales) 14:15
Lachlan Wellington (South East) 15:00
Harley Norman (London)
16:05
3rd
James Edgar (Northern Ireland) 14:20
Joseph Owen (London)
15:01
Angus Williams (South East)
16:11
16:23 Lucy Pygott (South East)
16:29 Laura Stark (Scotland)
16:57 Claudia Lance-Jones (Sth East) 17:00 Grace Brock (South West)
17:23 Eve Jones (Yorks & Humb)
17:35 Morgan Squibb (London)
16:33
17:02
17:44
Wheelchair Boys
U17 Jack Agnew U14 Zien Zhou
Andrew Greer
12:18 Isaac Towers (Aks Lytham)
12:24 Michael McCabe 17:46
Morgan Woods
17:46
12:32
19:28
Wheelchair Girls
U17 Kare Adenegan (Coventry)
U14 Shauna Bocquet
13:40 Eden Rainbow-Cooper
15:20 Courtney-Lea Daly
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15:08 Catherine Stott (Saddleworth) 20:27
20:33 Murran Mackay
22:48
VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON 2017
The 2017 Races
The 2017 Mini London Marathon participants will be the first to cross the line on the morning of Sunday 23 April
giving early spectators something to shout about as they wait for further action later in the day.
Trials have been held over the winter months in 33 London boroughs and nine regions in England, Scotland, Northern
Ireland and Wales to determine age-group teams to represent each area over the three-mile races in three age
categories – under 13, under 15 and under 17.
Each London borough, region and home nation team enters 36 runners, six for each of the race categories. The best
athletes from across the country will come together in a battle to win the coveted title and join legends such as Farah
and Weir as Mini London Marathon victors.
The start times and T-shirt colours this year are:
WHEELCHAIR GIRLS
UNDER 17
Start time: 08:40
Intense Pink
BOYS
UNDER 15
Start time: 09:02
Collegiate Royal Blue
WHEELCHAIR BOYS
UNDER 17
Start time: 08:40
Sandstorm
BOYS
UNDER 13
Start time: 09:09
Victory Red
WHEELCHAIR GIRLS
UNDER 14
Start time: 08:42
Collegiate Purple
GIRLS
UNDER 17
Start time: 09:16
White
WHEELCHAIR BOYS
UNDER 14
Start time: 08:42
Forest Green
BOYS
UNDER 17
Start time: 08:55
Black
GIRLS
UNDER 15
Start time: 09:23
Sun Yellow
GIRLS
UNDER 13
Start time: 09:30
Collegiate Blue
Current Course Records
Boys
U17
U15
U13
14:00
14:48
15:42
Ben Dijkstra
Josh Cowperthwaite
Tommy Dawson
East Midlands
North East
Yorkshire & Humberside
2015
2016
2015
Girls
U17
U15
U13
15:38
16:28
16:28
17:05
Jessica Judd
Annabel Mason
Katy-Ann McDonald
Almi Nerurkar
East
Yorkshire & Humberside
London
South East
2011
2012
2015
2014
Wheelchair Boys
U17
11:35
U14
13:22
Nathan Maguire
Isaac Towers
Kingston & Poly Harriers
Aks Lytham
2015
2013
Wheelchair Girls
U17
12:39
U14
12:41
Jade Jones
Kare Adenegan
New Marske Harriers
Coventry
2013
2015
More information and full results from past races can be found at: www.minimarathon.co.uk
Also, see the Mini London Marathon Facebook page: www.facebook.com/VirginMoneyGivingMiniLondonMarathon
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