Siggers claims a club record with 
a top-75 finish at London Marathon

Kenilworth Runners had their strongest-ever representation at the London Marathon, with four men taking part in the incorporated England Marathon Championships and it was reflected with four sub-2hr 45min finishes.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Apr 2013, 13:45 BST
Six of Spa Striders London Marathon finishers enjoy the moment: Simon Radcliffe, Nick Adams, Melissa Venables, Roz Cox, Clare Hinton and Barbara Gunter.Six of Spa Striders London Marathon finishers enjoy the moment: Simon Radcliffe, Nick Adams, Melissa Venables, Roz Cox, Clare Hinton and Barbara Gunter.
Six of Spa Striders London Marathon finishers enjoy the moment: Simon Radcliffe, Nick Adams, Melissa Venables, Roz Cox, Clare Hinton and Barbara Gunter.

Jim Sawle and Stuart Hopkins took the early pace, but it was Andrew Siggers who passed through 10k first in 36:20, followed by Sawle in 36:35 and Hopkins in 36:42.

Chris McCarthy, who had planned on starting more cautiously having endured an injury-plagued build-up, followed through 10k in 38:24.

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The order established, the four raced hard and fast all the way to the finish, with Siggers, who passed halfway in 1:16:41, finishing an outstanding 73rd in a new PB and club record of 2:35:07.

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Kenilworth Runners Chris McCarthy enjoys a downhill section during Sundays London Marathon.Kenilworth Runners Chris McCarthy enjoys a downhill section during Sundays London Marathon.
Kenilworth Runners Chris McCarthy enjoys a downhill section during Sundays London Marathon.

He was followed by Sawle, who maintained an almost robotically consistent pace throughout to cross the line 93rd in 2:36:45, slicing an incredible eight minutes from his previous PB.

Third home for the club was Hopkins. Troubled in the second half of the race with stomach cramps and nausea, he nonetheless ran brilliantly to finish in 2:40:46, bettering his old PB by nearly 90 seconds.

McCarthy was next home, running the second half of the race in 1:20:18 for a negative split and a superb new PB of 2:41:45 - beating his old best by a staggering 15-and-a-half minutes.

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Andrew Holbrook, who at halfway looked on course to break three hours, still ran well to finish in 3:07:21.

He was followed by Sean Mitchell who paced himself excellently to finish strongly in 3:09:31, passing in the closing stages of the race Roger Homes, who came home in 3:11:40 and finished a fine 116th in his age category.

Performing the best of any of the 18 Kenilworth Runners in their age category, Dave Pettifer ran well to finish in 3:28:28 - 30th in the V60-64 section.

Emma Litterick was the first of four Kenilworth ladies to finish.

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Running in a sparkling Union Jack dress and matching tinsel wig, Litterick beat former England cricket captain Andrew Strauss to the finish line as she clocked a superb 3:30:59 to finish 669th female, 131st in her age category and just outside the club’s top ten best female marathon times.

Other Kenilworth finishers: 5,534, Stephen Chalkley (3:41:58); 5,336, Anton Raath (3:42:00); 1,488, Claire Goult (3:47:30); 1,830, Becky Smith (3:53:20); 8,106, Rod Goodwin (3:57:27); 2,919, Vicky Putt (4:10:25); 12,036, Colin Bailey (4:22:23); 6,450 Sam Moffatt (4:52:16); 17,037, Charles Keane (4:57:47).

Two women led home the Spa Striders contingent with Carolyn Wilkinson the 96th female finisher in 3:05:57 and Mel Venables the 115th female in 3:08:01.

Nick Adams was next in 3:24:02 followed by Clare Hinton (3:30:19) and Simon Radcliffe (3:31:27).

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Justin Mallard followed his Brighton run with a respectable 3:39:09, with Michelle Clements (4:06:09), marathon debutant Barbara Gunter (4:21:56 )and Roz Cox (4:29:40) completing the finishers.

Lucy Burnett sensibly pulled out after 21 miles with discomfort in her chest.