London Marathons & VAC
London Marathon 23 April 2023
VAC’s members were out in force and at least 49 members completed the course.
There were ten members under three hours and five who finished in the top ten of their age
groups. The fastest VAC member, once again, appears to be Richard McDowell in the M40-44 category
in a time of 2:38:08. The next fastest was Simon Shaw in 2:38:33 which placed him an excellent 9th
in the M50-54 age group. A near-identical time of 2:38:34 was set by Micah Evans (M40).
Ginevra Stoneley was the fastest VAC woman, in 2:56:01, placing 14th in the W45-49 category.
Next was Dani Tarleton in 2:58:45, an excellent 4th W50-54. Alice Riddell-Webster was the best
placed member with a fantastic 2nd place for her time of 2:59:45 in the W55-59 age group. Ruth
Hutton was 5th W55-59 and Susanna Harrison was 6th W60-64.
A special mention again goes to Bill O’Connor who is one of the seven “Ever-Presents” who have
completed every single London Marathon since its inception in 1981. Bill, now in the M75-79 age
category, duly completed his 43rd event in a time of 5:57:59. In 2023, seven Ever-Presents started,
and seven finished.
VAC was allocated one club place. Ben Martin-Dye of Fetch Everyone Running Club was the lucky
person to be drawn from the hat and he completed the course in 3:03:45, a time which pleasingly
should secure him a "good for age" place in next year's event.
The table below has been compiled from scrutinising the official results. Apologies if we have
failed to spot someone. Please let Maggie Statham-Berry (entries@vetsac.org.uk) know if this is the case.
VAC Members at the
TCS London Marathon: 23 April 2023 |
|
Name |
Time |
Age Group |
Age Pos. |
First claim club |
1 |
Richard McDowell |
2:38:08 |
M40-44 |
83 |
Hercules Wimbledon |
2 |
Simon Shaw |
2:38:33 |
M50-54 |
9 |
Ealing Southall & Midd |
3 |
Micah Evans |
2:38:34 |
M40-44 |
88 |
Blackheath & Bromley |
4 |
Paul Cheetham |
2:43:45 |
M45-49 |
24 |
Thames Hare & Hounds |
5 |
Eddie Ware |
2:46:49 |
M40-44 |
220 |
Serpentine RC |
6 |
Ginevra Stoneley |
2:56:01 |
W45-49 |
14 |
Reigate Priory AC |
7 |
Dani Tarleton |
2:58:10 |
W50-54 |
4 |
Arena 80 |
8 |
Alice Riddell-Webster |
2:58:45 |
W55-59 |
2 |
Fulham Running Club |
9 |
Graeme Drysdale |
2:59:13 |
M55-59 |
41 |
Striders of Croydon |
10 |
Ralph Gomarsall |
2:59:49 |
M55-59 |
45 |
Aldershot, Farnham & Dist. |
11 |
Joseph Wilkes |
3:03:12 |
M45-49 |
460 |
Kent AC |
12 |
Ben Martin-Dye |
3:03:45 |
M50-54 |
228 |
Fetch Everyone |
13 |
Andy Bowen |
3:05:00 |
M55-59 |
78 |
West 4 Harriers |
14 |
Jeremy Garner |
3:06:21 |
M45-49 |
527 |
Epsom Oddballs |
15 |
Danny Holeyman |
3:08:53 |
M45-49 |
576 |
Ilford AC |
16 |
Tom Cheetham |
3:10:59 |
M55-59 |
135 |
Hercules Wimbledon |
17 |
Adam May |
3:11:03 |
M40-44 |
854 |
Hercules Wimbledon |
18 |
Ruth Hutton |
3:11:18 |
W55-59 |
5 |
South London Harriers |
19 |
Robert Nagorski |
3:13:43 |
M55-59 |
155 |
Herne Hill Harriers |
20 |
Eberhard Prill |
3:15:17 |
M60-64 |
40 |
Dulwich Runners |
21 |
Susanna Harrison |
3:17:44 |
W60-64 |
6 |
Guildford & Godalming |
22 |
Fiona Russell |
3:18:24 |
W50-54 |
36 |
Mornington Chasers |
23 |
Madeleine Armstrong-Plieth |
3:18:48 |
W40-44 |
141 |
Croydon Harriers |
24 |
Paul Doyle |
3:19:05 |
M55-59 |
200 |
Ranelagh Harriers |
25 |
Martin Daoud |
3:20:58 |
M60-64 |
65 |
Ealing Southall & Midd |
26 |
Shahzada Hussain |
3:21.07 |
M50-54 |
534 |
VAC |
27 |
Felix Allen |
3:22:15 |
M50-54 |
554 |
Hercules Wimbledon |
28 |
Sheridan Marshall |
3:23:22 |
W40-45 |
185 |
Epsom & Ewell |
29 |
Andrew Simms |
3:29:09 |
M55-59 |
283 |
Herne Hill Harriers |
30 |
Simon Danciger |
3:35:07 |
M60-64 |
154 |
Barnes Runners |
31 |
Lynn Chislett |
3:35:36 |
W55-59 |
29 |
VAC |
32 |
Robert Scott |
3:35:43 |
M50-54 |
818 |
Barnet & District |
33 |
Steve Smythe |
3:37:11 |
M65-69 |
34 |
Dulwich Runners |
34 |
Chloe Constantine |
3:37:12 |
W50-54 |
153 |
South London Harriers |
35 |
Richard Tweddle |
3:39:48 |
M60-64 |
193 |
VAC |
36 |
Shun-Lai Chan |
3:44:29 |
W50-54 |
229 |
South London Harriers |
37 |
Michele Coe-O'Brien |
3:52:43 |
W60-64 |
44 |
South London Harriers |
38 |
Nichola Atkins |
3:56:30 |
W55-59 |
154 |
Kingston & Poly |
39 |
Lisa Compton |
4:12:36 |
W65-69 |
25 |
Lingfield RC |
40 |
James De-Vivenot |
4:14:48 |
M50-54 |
1777 |
Ealing Eagles |
41 |
Alan Roberts |
4:19:27 |
M55-59 |
933 |
Vale of Aylesbury |
42 |
Jane Rowden |
4:26:56 |
W65-69 |
41 |
West 4 Harriers |
43 |
Barbro Julin |
4:37:46 |
W60-64 |
201 |
Ealing Southall & Midd |
44 |
Anthony Young |
4:43:16 |
M55-59 |
1250 |
Ilford AC |
45 |
Stuart Bennett |
5:33:07 |
M60-64 |
938 |
Ilford AC |
46 |
Bill O'Connor |
5:57:59 |
M75-79 |
31 |
Queens Park Harriers |
47 |
Heather Allen |
5:58:05 |
W70-74 |
55 |
Hart Road Runners |
48 |
Donna Richards |
6:03:40 |
W55-59 |
1108 |
South London Harriers |
49 |
Ann Bath |
6:54:12 |
W70-74 |
74 |
Chessington Unity |

London Marathon 2022
Pending

London Marathon 2021
Pending

London Marathon 2020
Pending

London Marathon 28 April 2019

Martin Daoud, 3:22:55

Victoria Carter, 3:28:55, as the tail-end of a sausage dog!

Runs in the family: Peter Kennedy's son (1716), 2:41:25, and daughter (788), 2:44:35, 2nd
W40
At least 34 VAC members completed the 39th
London Marathon. After a cold start, the cool conditions contributed to good times, which in most
cases were quicker than achieved in last year’s heat wave. Richard McDowell of Hercules Wimbledon
was the first VAC person home, and also the first Masters athlete in the non-elite men’s field.
With the VLM defining Masters as 40 and over, Richard qualified by less than two weeks. His time of
2:23:08 was four minutes quicker than last year’s and a big PB. It placed him 10th overall in the
non-elite race. Another VAC star was Kent AC’s Chris Greenwood who came in as 1st M45 in a fine
time of 2:25:50. Fellow Kent AC runner, Robert Laing, was 6th in the M40 category with 2:27:17, and
a massive PB. In the older age groups, Len Reilly’s sub 3-hour time placed him 25th M55, John Foss
was 12th in the M60s with 3:09:22 and Liam O’Hare’s 3:48:21 placed him 11th in the M70
category,
Jo Vickers of SLH
was the first VAC woman in 3:00:32, 16th in the W40 age group. Victoria Buck (W40) of Kent AC was
next in 3:11:46, continuing her consistent five-year sequence of similar times. Ange Norris from
Dulwich Runners and Susanna Harrison from Guildford & Godalming dominated the W55 age group.
Ange was 2nd in a time of 3:12:58, whilst Susanna was 3rd in 3:14:35. Rachel Badham, in her first
marathon for ten years, clocked a pleasing 3:13:14 and was 40th in the W45 age
group.
VAC’s walkers were
represented by Kathy Crilley and David Hoben. Kathy completed the course in 5:45:38 and was 39th in
the W70 age group. David (M65) was pleased to dip under six hours, by 11 seconds.
VAC’s club place had
been won in a ballot by Alan Roberts who is in the M55 age group. He completed the course in a
creditable 3:55:09.
Special
congratulations once again go to VAC’s Bill O’Connor who is famous as one of the dwindling band of
London Marathon “Ever-Presents”. He kept up his amazing record and competed for the 39th time,
completing the course in 5:33:13. After this year’s marathon, ten ever-presents remain.
Athletics’ prowess
runs in families and maybe members have stories to share about the achievements of their offspring
or parents? For example, VAC’s Membership Secretary, Peter Kennedy, had the pleasure of watching
his son and daughter run in the London Marathon and eclipse his own best marathon time of 2:45. His
son, in the M35 age group, clocked 2:41:25 and his daughter ran 2:44:35 to place second W40 in the
non-elite field (photo of both above).
And finally, to
follow up her “fastest nun” marathon record, Victoria Carter this year donned a three-person
sausage dog costume and completed the race in a commendable 3:28:55 as the tail-end of the dog
(photo above)!
The
VAC members’ results, below, have been compiled by scanning the Virgin Money London Marathon
results website. Inevitably, some members will have been missed. Apologies if you are not included.
Please let Maggie at entries@vetsac.org.uk know your placings, and we will amend the
list. If you have a suitable photo for the website, we would be pleased to show
it.
I have
included several VAC members in the list whose subscriptions expired on 31 March. If you are one of
them, I hope you will renew soon. Your continued membership is appreciated.
VAC Members at the
Virgin Money London Marathon: 28 April 2019 |
|
Name |
Time |
Age Group |
Age Grp Pos. |
First claim club |
1 |
Richard McDowell |
2:23:08 |
M40-44 |
1 |
Hercules Wimbledon |
2 |
Chris Greenwood |
2:25:50 |
M45-49 |
1 |
Kent AC |
3 |
Robert Laing |
2:27:17 |
M40-44 |
6 |
Kent AC |
4 |
Stuart Beaney |
2:38:48 |
M45-49 |
18 |
Kent AC |
5 |
Dan Madams |
2:40:56 |
M45-49 |
26 |
Tonbridge AC |
6 |
Richard Giles |
2:42:52 |
M40-44 |
111 |
Kent AC |
7 |
Steve Hobbs |
2:50:45 |
M45-49 |
98 |
Victoria Park Harriers |
8 |
Clayton Bannon |
2:55:08 |
M40-44 |
316 |
Hercules Wimbledon |
9 |
Andre Dahlkamp |
2:55:44 |
M45-49 |
172 |
Victoria Park Harriers |
10 |
Len Reilly |
2:59:18 |
M55-59 |
25 |
Kent AC |
11 |
Jo Vickers |
3:00:32 |
W40-44 |
16 |
SLH |
12 |
Tom Cheetham |
3:04:22 |
M50-54 |
167 |
Hercules Wimbledon |
13 |
Gavin Mackay |
3:06:21 |
M45-49 |
419 |
Petts Wood Runners |
14 |
John Foss |
3:09:22 |
M60-64 |
12 |
SLH |
15 |
Victoria Buck |
3:11:46 |
W40-44 |
52 |
Kent AC |
16 |
Ange Norris |
3:12:58 |
W55-59 |
2 |
Dulwich Runners |
17 |
Rachel Badham |
3:13:14 |
W45-49 |
40 |
West 4 Harriers |
18 |
Susanna Harrison |
3:14:35 |
W55-59 |
3 |
Guildford & Godalming |
19 |
Martin Daoud |
3:22:55 |
M55-59 |
170 |
Ealing Southall & Midd |
20 |
Victoria Carter* |
3:28:55 |
W45-49 |
130 |
Thames Valley Harriers |
21 |
Andrew Simms |
3:29:17 |
M50-54 |
548 |
Herne Hill Harriers |
22 |
Marie Synnott-Wells |
3:37:33 |
W50-54 |
447 |
Ranelagh Harriers |
23 |
Liam O'Hare |
3:48:21 |
M70-74 |
11 |
Barnet & District |
24 |
Nichola Atkins |
3:55:04 |
W55-59 |
83 |
Kingston & Poly Harriers |
25 |
Alan Roberts |
3:55:09 |
M55-59 |
449 |
Vale of Aylesbury |
26 |
Stephen Parker |
3:55:25 |
M60-64 |
234 |
Ilford AC |
27 |
Julia Galea |
4:19:01 |
W60-64 |
89 |
Ilford AC |
28 |
Anthony Young |
4:37:03 |
M50-54 |
1690 |
Ilford AC |
29 |
Stuart Bennett |
4:55:54 |
M60-64 |
515 |
Ilford AC |
30 |
John Carter |
4:59:44 |
M75-79 |
22 |
Wimbledon Windmilers |
31 |
Jacqui Reid |
5:15:22 |
W50-54 |
1069 |
Metropolitan Police |
32 |
Bill O'Connor |
5:33:13 |
M70-74 |
116 |
Queens Park Harriers |
33 |
Kathy Crilley |
5:45:38 |
W70-74 |
39 |
Serpentine RC |
34 |
David Hoben (walker) |
5:59:49 |
M65-69 |
250 |
Surrey Walking Club |
* In a three-person sausage dog
costume! |
|

London Marathon 22 April 2018
Over 30 VAC members
completed the Virgin Money London Marathon in unseasonably hot conditions which did not promise
fast times. Nevertheless, there were some great achievements.
Lynda Hembury was
ranked Number One in the W60-64 listing with a superb time of 3:28.33. Susanna Harrison’s time of
3:25.46 placed her fourth in the W55-59 ranking, while Fiona Russell was 10th W45-49 in 3:14.02.
For the men, in the M60-64 category, Jon Cross was second in 3:03:46 and Steve Smythe 10th in
3:16:39.
The first VAC
member to finish was Richard McDowell in 2:27.56, placing him 11th in the M18-39 age category and
15th in the whole non-elite men’s race. He was one of the few who ran faster than last year and was
rewarded with a PB by over seven minutes. Kent AC’s Stuart Beaney was next for VAC in 2:42.25,
placing him 25th in the highly competitive M40-44 age group. He was closely followed by clubmate,
Robert Laing, in 2:42.35 for 28th place.
On a good day for
Kent AC, Victoria Buck was the first VAC woman to finish in a time of 3:12.51, placing her 27th in
the similarly highly competitive W40-44 age group.
VAC’s
Club place had been won in the ballot by Dave Hoben. As a race-walker, he was on the course for a
testing 6 hours 26 seconds, but coped well.
Special
congratulations go to Bill O’Connor who is famous as one of the 11 remaining London Marathon
“Ever-Presents”. He kept up his amazing record and competed for the 38th time, completing the
course in 5:46.09. For 2018’s marathon, it is reported happily that all the 11 ever-presents
started, and all finished.
The
VAC members’ results, below, have been compiled by scanning the Virgin Money London Marathon
results website. Inevitably, I am bound to have missed some members. Apologies if you are not
included. Please let me (Maggie at entries@vetsac.org.uk ) know your placings, and I will amend
the list. I have included several VAC members whose subscriptions expired on 31 March. If you
are one of them, I hope you will renew soon. Your continued membership is
appreciated.
VAC Members at the
Virgin Money London Marathon: 22 April 2018 |
Name |
Time |
Age Group |
Age Grp Pos. |
First claim club |
Richard McDowell |
2:27.56 |
M18-39 |
11 |
Hercules Wimbledon |
Stuart Beaney |
2:42.25 |
M40-44 |
25 |
Kent AC |
Robert Laing |
2:42.35 |
M40-44 |
28 |
Kent AC |
Neil Hume |
2:42.58 |
M40-44 |
31 |
Garden City Runners |
Andrew Barnes |
2:49:23 |
M18-39 |
290 |
London Heathside |
Tony Macdowall |
2:54.55 |
M18-39 |
452 |
Victoria Park Harriers |
Jon Cross |
3:03:46 |
M60-64 |
2 |
Hart Road Runners |
Victoria Buck |
3:12.51 |
W40-44 |
27 |
Kent AC |
Gavin Mackay |
3:12.57 |
M45-49 |
276 |
Petts Wood Runners |
Jo Vickers |
3:12.58 |
W18-39 |
86 |
SLH |
Fiona Russell |
3:14.02 |
W45-49 |
10 |
Mornington Chasers |
Steve Smythe |
3:16:39 |
M60-64 |
10 |
Dulwich Runners |
Chris de Mauny |
3:18.17 |
M18-39 |
1376 |
Walton AC |
Andre Dahlkamp |
3:22.37 |
M45-49 |
441 |
Victoria Park Harriers |
David Finch |
3:23.44 |
M45-49 |
457 |
Victoria Park Harriers |
James Ward |
3:24.54 |
M40-44 |
712 |
Herne Hill Harriers |
Susanna Harrison |
3:25.46 |
W55-59 |
4 |
Guildford & Godalming |
Martin White |
3:26.02 |
M18-39 |
1705 |
West 4 Harriers |
Lynda Hembury |
3:28.33 |
W60-64 |
1 |
Tring Running Club |
Sebastian Parris |
3:37.03 |
M18-39 |
2214 |
Ilford AC |
Mark Cawood |
3:50.24 |
M50-54 |
642 |
SLH |
Dennis Briggs |
3:56.42 |
M40-44 |
1416 |
Ilford AC |
Jacqui Reid |
4:09.56 |
W50-54 |
214 |
Metropolitan Police |
Caroline Helder |
4:10.47 |
W55-59 |
77 |
Wimbledon Windmilers |
Rhiannon Needham |
4:22.19 |
W18-39 |
2002 |
Serpentine Runners |
Barbara Ralph |
4:25.44 |
W60-64 |
41 |
Chiltern Harriers |
Fiona Bishop |
4:26.43 |
W55-59 |
123 |
Woking AC |
Nichola Atkins |
4:28.22 |
W50-54 |
355 |
Kingston & Poly Harriers |
William Tuson |
4:43.53 |
M40-44 |
2526 |
VAC |
Ann Bath |
5:34.23 |
W65-69 |
58 |
26.2 Road Runners |
Bill O'Connor |
5:46.09 |
M70+ |
108 |
Queens Park Harriers |
David Hoben (walker) |
6:26.31 |
M65-69 |
229 |
Surrey Walking Club |

|