IT was a big weekend for athletes from Dudley Kingswinford Running Club as many headed to the capital for the London Marathon, putting months and months of training to the test in what is probably the biggest event of the year.

The blue hoops joined a near 38,000 runners from international class athletes to those just happy to finish on Blackheath Common before making their long and winding way towards a finish on The Mall and many club members were glued to their televisions tracking their exploits every step of the way.

First back for the hoops was Ben Foster in a new personal best of 2.34.09 in 395th place, Kevin Duckworth finished in 2.52.14 to claim 35th in his age group, James Wright bagged a PB in 2.57.29 and Mark Judge claimed a Good For Age qualifying time in 3.14.52. Helen Tromans finished in a new PB of 3.16.11 finishing 35th in her age group and in the process setting a club record for the fastest female member over the distance. Lorna Hulme went off fast but struggled in the later stages but still claimed a respectable 3.25.11, Andy Litchfield PB’d in 3.34.17, Dave Hickman ran 3.49.28, Marie Latreche clocked 3.52.13, Carol Fisher finished in 3.55.41, Lee Avery 4.35.30, Natalie Litchfield 4.52.40, Debbie Richards 4.54.24 and Alison and Keith Whitehouse finished together in 5.58.58.

Elsewhere, in Stratford Upon Avon away from the crowds in the capital a couple of hoops completed the Shakespeare Marathon. Helen Hickman finishing in 4.08.13 in 338th place and Phil Sayers ran 4.28.01 to claim 442nd. Over the half distance John Sixsmith clocked 1.44.13 at the same event finishing in 338th position. And over much shorter John Andrews finished in 51st place in 22.22 in the Fordhouses 5k.