Despite several fine individual performances, Havering’s young athletes just failed to retain the overall team title in Sunday’s Virgin Mini London Marathon finishing third behind Richmond and Bromley

Run over the final 4km of the main marathon course, the event is firmly established as the best road running event in the UK for young athletes. All 33 London Boroughs as well as numerous regions participate and each age group race has some 260 competitors.

Best performance of the day came from Isobel Ives in finishing 2^nd in the girls’ 11/12 age group race, winning her a sponsor’s prize.  She was well supported by Francesca Smith (8^th), Heidi Surman-Wells (19^th) and Natasha Patient (23^rd) to take 4^th place in the age group team competition.

In the same age group, the boys had five top-40 positions with Adam Hill 14^th, Sean Wilson 16^th, George Dixon 18^th, Sean O’Callaghan 21^st and Fraser Scott 34^th ensuring 1^st place in the team competition.

Lydia Hallam’s fine performances continued with 4^th place in the girls’ 13/14 age group with Lindsay McLachlan in 21^st and Rebecca Christmas in 38^th with the team finishing 7^th.

In his first year in the age group, Freddy Keefe ran a good race for 12^th place in the 13/14 boys’ event supported by Nick Shade in 31^st with the team in 8^th place.

In the girls’ oldest age group (15/16/17), there were excellent runs from Sidnie Sales in 4^th, Rebecca O’Neil 5^th, Lauren Stripling 17^th and Gemma Phillips 30^th. The team took 2^nd place.

For the boys, ever reliable Jamie Buckley-Stanton took 4^th in his final mini-marathon. Hoseah Gikungu in his first year in the age group, ran well for 22^nd with the team finishing 7^th.

14th - Adam Hill; 16th - Sean Wilson ; 18th - George Dixon; 21st - Sean O'Callaghan; 34th - Fraser Scott; 43rd - Robert Woodgate; 78th - Sam Thompson; 100th - James Giodmaina; 158th - Sean Jacks. Team: Havering - 1st

12th - Freddy Keefe; 31st - Nick Shade; 51st - James Kidd; 102nd - Andrew Holland; 104th - Jordan Fox; 124th -Liam O’Driscoll; 150th - Finbar Smyth; 203rd - Lewis Middleton; Team: Havering - 8th

4th -Jamie Buckley-Stanton; 22nd - Hoseah Gikungu; 49th -Joseph Waked; 83rd - Ryan O'Mahoney; 87th - Thomas Davis; 115th - Josh Connors; 125th -Ross Earney; 139th - Liam Bush; 153rd - Massi Dendani 18:29; Team: Havering - 7th

Marathon

There was a good showing from club members in Sunday’s London Marathon.

Steve Rand was first to cross the line, coming home in 2:55.17, just none seconds outside his 2009 clocking, but he had earlier been on target for a faster time, passing half-way in under 1:24.  Ian Anthony was just one second outside his best clocking 3:00.37 in an even paced run, while Graham Pritchard suffered for his 1:24 half marathon split, finishing in 3:08.46.  Multi eventer Arron Bonning, stalwart of the Men’s Southern League squad, ran a commendable 4:14.09, former vaulter Kevin Tufton clocked 4:43.00 while Derek Earney came home on 6:04.52.

Jane Hallam’s marathon debut produced a commendable 3:57.32 clocking, for fifth on the club ladies all time list and coach Claire Richards finished in a respectable 4:43.

Photos: Gary Howard

Photo: Jane Hallam

Team Photos: Kevin White