Sir Steve outrun by 52-year-old

3:42pm Thursday 26th April 2001

FUNDRAISING runners are back home catching their breath after taking part in the world's most famous marathon.

Hundreds of people from the county flocked to the capital on Sunday for the 21st Flora London Marathon.

David Pitron, of Nash Place, Penn, gave up smoking and lost more than two stone in preparation for the gruelling 26.2 mile route.

But his moment of glory as he crossed the finish left him somewhat embarrassed. The 28-year-old, who took 4h 55m, explained: "I was overtaken by Mr Tickle in Pall Mall. There was me thinking everyone was giving me a great cheer, only to turn round to see a giant orange thing coming towards me!"

Olympic hero Sir Steven Redgrave made it round in 4h 55m one second ahead of his wife Lady Ann.

Dick Taplin, 52, of Ellsworth Road, High Wycombe, aimed to beat Sir Steven, and did that finishing in 3hr 34mins. He raised £2,500 for The Miscarriage Association.

Alison Adamson, 35, of Kestrel Close, High Wycombe, finished the race in 4h 52m. John King, 35, ran to raise money for the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home charity with a team of 17 runners from around the county, including John Fifield, of Tylers Green, Chris Pritchard from Beaconsfield and Brian Engles from Bourne End.

Trevor Murphy, 36, of Wakeman Road, Bourne End, also ran for Iain Rennie and finished in 4h 24m.

Kevin Bennell, 44, finished in 4h22m to raise cash for the Imperial Cancer Research Fund after it helped him get over the disease.

The father-of-two, of Oakley Lane, Chinnor said : "I did better than I expected to as I was planning for about five hours."

Three members of the Wycombe Phoenix Harriers completed the race in good time Roger Smith (4h 26m), running his 15th London Marathon, Dave Crowley (3h 40), competing for the 5th time,and Michael Aperghis (3h 19m).

Nine members of the Handy Cross runners completed, including Wycombe police officer Emma Taylor who raised more than £2,000 for charity BLISS and finished in 4h 40m.

Pete Smith was the first of the group to finish, in a time of 2h 41mins, raising £500 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and others running were John Dooey (2h 50m), Trevor Free (3h 17m), Rod MacClean (3h 25m), Rod Palmer (3h 26m), Nick Martin (3h 54m), Mike Blowing (4h 21m) and Pat Carter (4h 27m).

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