The big event in the North West of England kicks off our weekend round of UK-wide endurance racing.
ADIDAS MANCHESTER MARATHON, April 19
France’s Johan Lidov won in 2:15:19 over veteran Will Strangeway’s 2:15:43, not only his second marathon of the year, but also by more than two minutes at the age of 40.
Together with Charlie Brisley, Alex Carter and Norman Shreve, they covered 10 km in 32:03, and after 15 km (48:16) only Shreve dropped the pace of the leader.
The others were still together at the half-marathon distance, with Strangway just ahead in 68:05.
It was then Brisley who took the lead alongside Lidow on the approach to the 30km board and the pair, along with Carter, went 10 seconds clear of Strongway as the clock read 95:58.
At 35km Lidow and Brisley were still challenging for the lead as Strangway and Carter were together in 1:52:26.
While Lidow continued the race with a strong finish, Brisley had no answer in the final few kilometers for Strangway as the 40-year-old from Lincoln Wellington found second gear and took the silver medal position.
In the women’s race, Naomi Robinson was in front for most of the race despite a spirited challenge from Heather Townsend, but the Leeds W35 never really made contact and finished almost a minute ahead in 2:37:42.
It was BRAT’s Robinson who won his second Manchester Marathon title in 2:36:56, after previously winning in 2023.
In general. 1 Y Lidove (FRA) 2:15:19; 2 W Strangeway (Linc W, M40) 2:15:43; 3 C Brisley (NEB) 2:16:04; 4 A Carter (T Bath) 2:16:26; 5 N Shreve (C&C) 2:17:26; 6 P Rodi (TSH) 2:19:26; 7 C Sarsfield (Helsby) 2:19:35; 8 J Holman (Norway) 2:21:01; 9 S Roberts (Retford) 2:21;22; 10 C Davidson (Salf) 2:21;53; 11 G Ravenhall (Aire) 2:22:05; 12 M Kallenberg (Swan) 2:22:26; 13 C Newnham (Ryde) 2:22:43; 14 M Brown (Salph) 2:23:10; 15 R Payne (Clee) 2:23:58
M40: 2 T Cornthwaite (Salf) 2:24:15; 3 T Charles (Chorl) 2:25:32; 4 M Thackwray (Ilk) 2:26:47
M50: 1 G O’Hanlon (Clonliffe) 2:26:37
M55: 1 J Walton (Leeds) 2:38:19; 2 D Parkin (Leeds) 2:36:37
M60: 1 R McGrath (N Masters) 2:51:56
Women. 1 N Robinson (BRAT) 2:36:57; 2 H Townsend (Leeds, W35) 2:37:42
W40: 1 L Flynn (Les C) 2:44;23
W50: 1 S Shedden (Win R) 2:55:53
W55: 1 T Medley (Border) 3:08:56; 2 J Johnson (Launc) 3:09:19
W60: 1 J Ward (Sedgley) 3:15:48
W65: 1 N Haggart (Bed H) 3:31:07
COVENTRY HALF MARATHON, West Midlands, 19th April
In general. 1 A Lazenby (CoH) 71:03
M40: 1 K Fairbank (I&I) 72:24
Women. 1 E Watters (Bir) 87:45
W50: 1 S Ward 90:45
NORSTOW HALF MARATHON, Cambridge, April 19
In general. 1 C Anderson (Kent) 71:01; 2 M Sampson (Hants) 71:12; 3 B Jones (C&C) 71:34
Women; 1 G Ruddy (W35) 89:01
BRISTOL TRACK CLUB 5km, Bath, Somerset, April 18
Kadar Omar, who set a personal best of 13:44 at the Podium distance a month ago, was just off that mark in 13:48 after losing to Jonathan Escalante-Phillips in the opening third wave of this qualifying meet.
For the women competing in wave two, Rebecca Flaherty beat her previous best by 23 seconds in 15:56 after edging out Esme Davies’ 16:06.
The controversial new age regulations for young athletes, which changed all the historical rankings, came into play and in the men’s under-16 Theo Creed ran 15:20 and under-18 Tom Laughlin 14:46.
Flaherty was previously considered to be under 20, but the new regulations make him a senior.
Men (Channel 3). 1 K Omar (Beer) 13:48; 2 J Escalante-Phillips (C&C) 14:02; 3 A Barber (Harb) 14:08; 4 D James (V Temp) 14:19; 5 T Chandler (AFD) 14:19; 6 J Cornish (HW) 14:20; 7 R Serif (Belgium) 14:25; 8 T Doran (AFD) 14:26; 9 R Harvey (Brack) 14:28; 10 S Moakes (Unsanc) 14:21; 11 B Felton (Chelm) 14:38; 12 M Roostaei (Ports) 14:38
M40: 1 M Battenby (B&W) 15:12
U18: 1 T Loughlin (T Bath) 14:46
U16: 1 T Creed (HW) 15:20; 2 O Cobbold (Swan) 15:25
General (Wave 2). 1 C Booth (Swan) 15:48
M60: 1 James (Wales) 16:57; 2 M Robinson (B&W) 17:58
Women. 1 R Flaherty (Bing) 15:56; 2 E Davies (Border) 16:06; 3 C Baker (B&W, W35) 16:09; 4 R Ramieres (TVH) 16:19; 5 K O’Neill (Hav’g) 16:20; 6 J Leggate (C&C) 16:26; 7 B Boys (Card, U18) 16:27; 8 M Marchant (V pace) 16:31; 9 I Harrison (HW, U18) 16:48; 10 H Andreychuk ((THH) 4:50 p.m
General (Channel 1, selected)
W50: 1 V Ratcliffe (T Bath) 19:11; 2 T Hinxman (Glouc) 19:44
W55: 1 J Rockliffe (W Tempo) 18:38; 2 C Jolliffe (B^W) 20:23; 3 S Everitt (B&W) 21:04
CHESTER SPRING 5, Cheshire, April 15
In general. 1 L Morris (W Chesh) 25:02; 2 T Charles (Chorl, M40) 25:06; 3 A Doyle (Vale R) 25:07
M40: 2 N Barry (Sale) 26:04
M45: 1 M Gittins (Helsby) 26:34
M55: 1 P Hancock (S Chesh) 29:24
M60: 1 C Hollinshead (C&S) 30:39
Women. 1 G Stanfield (Trent) 28:45; 2 L Lee (Penny L) 29:16
W40: 1 N Reece (Wilms) 30:07
W45: 1 F Kenny (Wilms) 32:38
W50: 1 S Harrison (Willms) 33:33; 2 D Bygrave (Willm) 35:09
W55: 1 D Broad (Vale R) 35:48
W60: 1 C Higgs (Trent) 34:45
HEREFORD COURIERS 5km SPRING SERIES, 15th April
In general. 1 H White (Here U20) 15:22
M55: 1 C Stainton (Warley) 17:58
M60: 1 J Mower (W Tempo) 18:42
M75: 1 A Daley (Glouc) 22:51
Women. 1 L Hilary (W Tempo, U18) 18:47
W55: 1 M Bowley (Here) 21:23
RUN EXE SUMMER 5km, Exeter, Devon, April 14
In general. 1 N Avery (Halden) 15:34
M40: 1 B Neale (Tav) 15:45
M55: 1 T Wright (Maize) 17:16
M60: 1 P Monaghan (Torbay) 17:26
Women. 1 L Knox (Storm Plym) 17:34
W60: 1 S Capstick (R forever) 11:20 p.m
