WARRINGTON firefighter Graham Green was among the winners of the London Marathon today and says it is his "best athletic performance ever."

Green, who works for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, won the over 50s category and crossed the finish line 84th overall in the sun-drenched capital.

"The conditions were brutal, so to finish in overall position of 84th and win the masters 50 category in 2hrs 36mins 35seconds, I can’t begin to tell you how thrilled I am," he said on Facebook.

"Without doubt the hardest thing I have ever done, but my best athletic performance ever when I take the conditions into account."

Graham's son Ben also took part but the pair were unable to improve the world record time they had previously set for a father and son in a marathon.

Ben, a former member of Warrington AC, had a bad patch mid race and finished in 558th place in 2hrs 52mins 44secs.

Fellow Warrington Athletics Club runner Steve Watmough clinched a bronze in the men's over 55s race.

He came home 349th overall in 2hrs 48mins 06secs in age group which was won by former world champion Martin Fiz of Spain.

Louise Blizzard, running the London Marathon for the 24th time, was next to finish in 4,025th place with a time of 3hrs 28mins 05secs.

Tom Mills - in his second marathon - was 5,047th in 3hrs 40mins 39secs after struggling in the later stages, having been on course for a sub three-hour time at halfway.

Marathon debutant 18-year-old Jasmin Dobson also struggled in the later stages, having started too fast.

She slowed after the first 10k and was then battling to run at a more even pace.

Dobson fought on and eventually finished in 14,714th place with a time of 4hrs 24mins 56secs.




 

More to follow.