ELY Runners once again enjoyed strong representation at this year s London Marathon, with seven competitors taking the start-line at Blackheath. Ian Day, Alex Tate, Keith Mitchell, Diana Gipp, Michael Butler, Chass Matharu and John Corbishley were among t

ELY Runners once again enjoyed strong representation at this year's London Marathon, with seven competitors taking the start-line at Blackheath.

Ian Day, Alex Tate, Keith Mitchell, Diana Gipp, Michael Butler, Chass Matharu and John Corbishley were among the 33,000 runners who took part on Sunday, facing a punishing 26.1-mile course which travels to Tower Bridge, Isle of Dogs, City and Westminster to the finish at The Mall.

It was Butler and Matharu's first marathon, and they both set personal bests, with times of 4:04.07 and 4:26.23 respectively.

Club secretary John Turner said: "They both trained extremely diligently and got themselves in a lot of tough races before the marathon. They were very careful and sensible and avoided injury and were rewarded with good personal bests."

First Ely Runner home was Day, with a time of 2:54.08 - another personal best - to cross the line as 701st male.

Mitchell also set a personal best with 3:21.02, as did Corbishley with 4:35.04. Gipp's effort of 3:26.42 was particularly admirable, given that she has only just returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

Tate was the second Ely Runner home, his 2:58.21 making him the 980th male across the line.

Two other Ely Runners, Alfredo Verna and Lana Chalmers, were also scheduled to take part in the race but had to pull out with injury. Their entries have been carried over to next year.