LOUDWATER athlete Alan Chilton claimed the fifth fastest British spot in Sunday's London Marathon as he finished 26th overall.

And the incredible run now puts him in contention for a place in the Commonwealth Games marathon team.

The former Handy Cross Jogger, who now runs for Borough of Hounslow AC, completed the course in two hours, 17 minutes, eight seconds - smashing his previous best by nearly three minutes.

Chilton, who finished ten minutes behind Sunday's winner, Spaniard Abel Anton, was denied the chance to start with the race's elite athletes and forced to run from the main pack.

But Wycombe Phoenix coach Alan Hewson said: "Alan proved his worth in the best way possible by putting many of those best international runners behind him."

While Chilton was stealing the limelight for Bucks, runners from his old club were making their own mark on the race.

Eighteen Handy Cross Joggers successfully completed the marathon, braving the torrential rain and raising over £4,000 for Asthma Research, Wycombe Hospital Baby Unit, The Iolanthe Midwifery Trust, Friends of Russian Children, Macmillan Nurses and The Sue Ryder charities.

Cross runner John Dooey, finished within the first 300 in a time of 2hrs, 41mins while first-time marathon runners Harvey Lyon (3.50), Debbie Ridout (4.30) and Mike Blowing (4.31) all completed their debuts.

Other Handy Cross finishers: John Flint (3.01), Ron Newman (3.12), Rod Palmer (3.13), Terry Eves (3.15), Nick Martin (3.23), Roger Wilkes (3.23), Des Mannion (3.25), John Bradbury (3.27), Stephan Naunko (3.31), Martin Dean (3.47), Vernon Martin (4.03), Trevor Hart (4.05), Chris Busy (4.15) and Duncan Kennerson (4.45).

A bout of flu last week left Chiltern Harriers' Derek Brown unable to take part in the marathon. Harriers other big hope Jackie Leak picked up an injury and also had to pull out

However, Mikk Bradley carried the mantle for the club finishing in 2hrs, 32mins among the first 150 runners home.

Fine runs also came from the veterans Ted Holmquist (3.20) and David Walker (3.23). Walker has competed in every London Marathon since it began.

Harriers Cathy Holloway, making her debut at the distance, completed the course in 3hrs, 28mins.

Other Chiltern finishers: Roger Ellerby (3.29), Martin Fenlon (3.30), Patrick Wallace (3.35), Graham Palser (3.43), David Cox (3.50), Paul Longman (4.21), Claire Wrighton (5.07), John Johnson (5.58) and Dean Johnson.

Other local runners who took advantage of the club's coach up to the marathon on Sunday were: Andrew King (3.23), Andy Honour (3.29), Ian Chant (3.46), Phil Sheppard (4.00), Brian Eliott (4.14), Lynne Austin (5.19), Robert Taylor (3.20) and Duncan Taylor (4.15).

Marlow Striders were also out in force with ten of their members successfully completing the gruelling course.

The best of the Marlow performances came from Ian Gibbon, who finished in 2hrs, 47mins.

Mark Letsom (3.19), Les Lepper (3.30), Lisa Wedge (3.49), June Farnorth, and 65-year-old Gordon Hodson (3.51) all finished in under four hours.

Anne Colgan (4.08), Dot Jaques (4.30), Sue Rickman (4.30) and Kay Willis (4.42) made up the rest of the Striders contigent.

Hazlemere runner Dick Croxson, 51, missed out on a personal best when he was sick after drinking fluid from an official drinks station. Croxson completed the race in 5hrs, 12mins, 40 minutes outside his best.

Marlow businessman Paul Deriaz raised cash for Macmillan Cancer Relief as he finished in a time of 4hrs, 3mins.

Karen Ilott, boss of a cat centre in Winchmore Hill, raised over £1,500 for the South Bucks RSPCA.

Local competitors Sally Baker (5.44), Douglas Hulme (4.12), Chris Marland (4.22) and Alison Bowen all completed the race, while raising cash for Age Concern.

Mother-of-two Sue England, who ran the 26-mile course to raise cash for breast cancer research, just one year after fully recovering from the disease, completed the course in 4hrs 41mins.

Christopher Bantock, from Penn Bottom, completed his first-ever London Marathon in 2hrs 55mins.

Bantock, who gave up his 20-a-day smoking habit and alcohol for the event, raised £2,500 for Parkinson's Disease.

Policeman Michael Power improved on his last London Marathon time by seven minutes, finishing in 4hrs 11mins.

Davina Knight, who works for Allan Janes Solicitors, notched up a time of 4hrs,17mins.

Penn runner Gerry Matthews finished in 5hrs 2mins, while Downley's Dave Huggins, who donned a clown outfit, completed the course in 4hrs, 41mins, raising £1,500 for the NSPCC.

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