NINE Great Yarmouth Road Runners ran in the second Virgin London Marathon.

In a field that totalled 34,656, times were always going to be difficult to obtain, and some finished happier with their times than others.

The first club member home was always going to be either Neil Sibley or Jeff Helmore, who both performed well.

Andrew Baker, competing in his first London Marathon, must be pleased with his time, and Carol Spong yet again competed well in her age group, coming fifth overall.

Andy Peck got around in his usual fashion, while Mark Mountain in his first marathon finished well, ,just holding off fellow club member Linda Carter who was also a first-timer.

Nicos Symeou, in far from his first marathon, also finished under the five-hour mark while Bob Arnell cruised to the 20-mile mark when an old injury reared its head and slowed him down for the last six miles.

Well done to everyone for finishing in what were unfavourable conditions for such a long race.

Results: Neil Sibley 3-00:14, 1061 (pb); Jeff Helmore 3-12:00, 1960; Andrew Baker 4-07:40, 10899; Carol Spong 4-12:26, 11,934 (fifth in age category); Andy Peck 4-17:11, 13,086; Mark Mountain 4-54:14, 22,196; Linda Carter 4-56:17, 22,617; Nicos Symeou 4-57:38, 22,967; Bob Arnell 6-20:27, 32,895;

In the Chase the Train event, Mark Thompson, Peter Spandler, Dave Kelf, Ivan Lees, Stephen Leeves and Pauline Richardson took to the picturesque views of the race along the train tracks from Aylsham to Wroxham.

Once at Wroxham, the runners have the choice of running back again or catching the train back to the start – providing they get to Wroxham before the train pulls away!

Dave Girling entered the qualification race for King of the Mountains. It means he gets to run to the summit of Snowdon and down again.

His time for the race over 20k was 2-05:00, and was another race complete towards his personal challenge of 50 races in this year of his 50th birthday.

Six of the Great Yarmouth Road Runners took part in a field of 106 in Saturday’s parkrun.

With Steve Stringer stretching his legs from last week’s Bungay Marathon, and Matthew Sutton doing the same after his Paris Marathon and Andy Peck saving his legs for the following day’s marathon.

Results: 25 Steve Stringer 22.39 (new club and parkrun pb); 48 Pauline Richardson 26.11; 53 Paul Spandler 26.33; 55 Dave Girling 26.40; 56 Andy Peck 26.41; 90 Matthew Sutton 33.44.