Since January, the group has been training up to five times a week under the guidance of the club's coaches – with some runs reaching 22 miles in length.

Jon Patten, Simon Cook, Andy Squires, Sarah Squires, Paul Jackson and Helen Patterson were making their marathon debuts in the event and they were all proud to achieve good finishing times.

Jon's race went exactly to plan as he coasted in to 16th place overall in the field of 400 runners with a time of 2:57:13.

Both Danny Richardson and Anne Allan achieved new personal bests; Danny was delighted to break the three hour barrier for the first time with a PB of 2:59:05, and Anne knocked almost 12 minutes off her previous best to finish strongly in 3:46:52.

John Cockburn picked the event to make his marathon comeback in celebration of his 60th birthday after an interval of 20 years.

Full Alnwick results: 16 Jon Patton 02:57:13; 19 Danny Richardson 02:59:05 (pb); 77 Michael Henry (Male Vet 55-59) 03:19:22; 143 Charlie Gillon (Male Vet 45-49) 03:34:59; 149 Simon Cook (Male Vet 40-44) 03:37:12; 159 Christopher Atwell (Male Vet 45-49) 03:37:53; 189 Andrew Squires (Male Vet 45-49) 03:44:51; 194 Sarah Syers (Female Vet 35-39) 03:45:24; 200 Anne Allan (Female Vet 40-44) 03:46:52 (pb); 231 John Cockburn (Male Vet 60-64) 03:52:31; 299 Paul Jackson (Male Vet 45-49) 04:16:20; 311 Helen Patterson (Female Vet 45-49) 04:20:45; 312 Bridget Peberdy (Female Vet 45-49) 04:20:45.


Runners aged over 18 years of all standards are welcome to join Alnwick Harriers. Meet 6.45pm every Wednesday at Willowburn Sports and Leisure Centre and afterwards at The Grapevine. Both the eight to13-year-old and 13 to 16-year-old junior sections are currently over-subscribed. www.alnwickharriers.co.uk.