A RECORD nine club members from Bere Alston Trekkers (Bats) took part in last Sunday's London Marathon.

After a few months of warm training the weather was chilly and wet but this did not deter the team who all ran a great event.

First Bat home, and smashing his personal best by running under three hours, was Ben Neale.  First lady home for the team was Sam Lake.  Both Sam and Ben ran qualifying good for age times.

The London Marathon is well known for being an event for first timers and this year was no exception with five first timers in the team.  Jason Burns and Matthew Luckham who both secured club places ran under four hours.  Janice Fuller last ran the marathon in 1998 and ran a really great time this year.  Becky Rankin, Suzanne Treussard and Cally Barnes were other first timers and ran really great times.

Also well done to Alen Guy for another great marathon time.

Earlier in the month there was a lone Bat at Manchester Marathon.  Christine Le Flem ran her first marathon in over 20 years.  Christine at the tender age of 69 ran a distance personal best to finish first in her age group and also qualified for a good for age entry into next year's London Marathon – what better way is there to celebrate being 70.

Bats will next be running at their own club event next weekend, the Bere Pen 10k, all information for this annual road race can be found at http://www.berealstontrekkers.co.uk/races/bere-pen10k/">www.berealstontrekkers.co.uk/races/bere-pen10k/