The London Marathon was a very successful race this year for four Ledbury and District Harriers, Ollie Knight, Barry Thompson, Holly Gourley and Emma Jane Shail.

And as well as raising funds for charity they saw one or two famous faces along the way.

The 26.2mile course which starts at Blackheath and Greenwich park, takes the runners away from the centre around Woolwich Dock before tracking back to Greenwich past Cutty Sark at the 6 mile mark. The course then loosely tracks the Thames, through Bermondsey to cross Tower bridge at 12 miles.

Holly said: “The half way point saw some of the club runners pass Sir Mo coming the other way.

“They were a little adrift of the lead pack as the race headed out towards Canary Wharf and looped round the Isle of Dogs. Heading back through Canary Wharf, and looping out towards the Blackwell tunnel the course the Course passed the 18 mile mark and turned for home passing through Limehouse heading past the electrifying atmosphere of Tower Bridge and bring the relief that comes from knowing that the race is in the final phase, as London Bridge, Blackfriars and Waterloo Bridge are all passed before Westminster bridge sees the tired runners turn inwards along Birdcage Walk and on to the final run in down The Mall.”

Ollie Knight completed his first London Marathon raising just over £2000 for Whizz Kids, he achieved a time of 3:08:32. Next home was Barry Thompson in a time of 3:11:18, a little outside his sub 3hr PB but plagued by hamstring cramp for a large part of the run. Then Holly, who has raised just under £2000 for the Midlands Air Ambulance, came in in 3:18:08, a PB that will allow her to run again next year with another good for age place.

The three runners averaged between 7.10 and 7.30 mins/mile, by comparison Mo Farah averaged 4.04 mins/mile.

Emma Jane Shail come home in 4:16:06, to raise over £1500 for Action on Addiction.