EIGHT Tiptree Road Runners took part in the London Marathon.

Kate Finch, who qualified for a good for age entry following last year’s event, was first home for the club in three hours, 33 minutes and 29 seconds, around 12 minutes inside her target time.

Andy Goodson, who is training for a 100-mile event in the summer, finished in 3h 43m 10s.

Jamie Fairfull completed his first marathon inside the four-hour mark with a run of 3h 59m 17s. Valerie Rees, running her first London Marathon, improved her personal best by almost 20 minutes with a run of 4h 4m 22s.

Tina Clarke, hampered by a knee injury, set out to enjoy the London experience but still ran a creditable time of 4h 10m, just a few minutes from her best mark.

Sarah Hempstead returned to the London event after a 23-year gap and ran five minutes faster with a time of 4h 18m 43s.

Anthony Knight, in his eighth London Marathon, finished inside his target time with a run of 4h 29m 21s, despite a limited build up.

Lynne Baines in her sixth marathon finished in 4h 33m 21s to complete a remarkable period in which she set three half-marathon bests in a month.

James Haskey-Jones completed a weekend winning double with victory in the Essex Walker Marathon, a scenic off-road event starting from Purleigh and taking in the Crouch valley.

He finished the event in 3h 55m.

Tracy Harrington, running her third marathon in successive weeks, and Mark Lawes came home in 4h 34m.