It has been another busy weekend of racing on the roads. James Rhodes brings you the highlights in this week’s Weekend Round Up.

Class Times at Chester

There were fast times aplenty at the MBNA Chester Marathon, led by Marshall Smith and Naomi Mitchell. Marshall crossed the finish line in 2:16:59, bettering his PB – set when finishing second in Manchester in April – by almost 90 seconds. Behind, Josh Griffiths (2:18:06) ran his fastest 26.2 miles of the year for second. In his first marathon since 2019, Peter Le Grice (2:18:31) was third.

In her first marathon of the year, Naomi Mitchell clocked 2:41:12 to finish as the fastest female. Less than half a minute behind was Lianne Milner, who had the race of her life to finish in 2:41:40. That improves her PB by over twelve minutes and follows a 10k PB last weekend. Alice Johnston (2:50:09) completed the top-three with an eleven minute PB.


Chester was not hosting the only marathon of the weekend. Dawn Godwin (3:04:30) and Guillaume Ruel (2:23:27) were victorious at the Standard Chartered Jersey Marathon. Ollie Garrod (2:27:08) and James Oliver (2:31:53) completed the men’s podium, and Natalie Hodge (3:19:43) and Vikki Stafford (3:23:02) the women’s.

The fastest times at the Dorney Lake Marathon were set by Peter Coates (2:32:51) and Katy Bracegirdle (3:18:40). Abdulla Al Zarra (2:33:07), Conor Culham (2:36:46), Sian Marker (3:19:19) and Charlotte Decaudaveine (3:22:34) completed the respective top-threes. Alice Malin (81:16) and Felix Stewart (71:28) won the associated Dorney Lake Half Marathon, both with commanding winning margins.

Not too far to the east, Adam Tango Holland (2:48:43) and Ellie Giles (3:41:22) won the Thames Meander Marathon. Thibaut Lecallier (84:14) and Teresa Murphy (91:39) did the same in the half marathon. Finally, Ricky Lightfoot (2:34:24) and Jane Hodgson (3:16:05) won the Kielder Marathon. Over half the distance, Luisa Hartley (90:39) and Callum Hanson (74:28) were victorious in the Kielder Half Marathon.

Winning in Wales

The Principality Cardiff Half Marathon has gained a reputation for fast times, and often attracts a speedy elite field from Kenya. This year was no different, with Miriam Chebet (66:42) and Patrick Mosin (60:00) the overall race winners. The top seven men all finished in under 61 minutes.

Bristol & West’s Charlotte Taylor (74:22 PB) had an excellent outing to be the quickest British female competing. It is only Charlotte’s third race of the year and her first since July. Her one and only previous half marathon came in 2022, where she ran 75:46.

In her first race since the Olympic Games (and getting married!), Clara Evans Graham finished in 75:41. Behind were Olivia Tsim (76:51), Deborah Bruce (77:10) and Sarah Holt (77:51).

Ben Connor (62:57) recorded his fastest time over 13.1 miles since 2020. He has raced sparingly over the past couple of years following injury, so it is great to see his return.

Seyfu Jamaal (64:17) finished second with Dorking & Mole Valley’s George James (64:58 PB) third. George’s previous best was 66:28 set last year. One week after pacing Philly Bowden to a big marathon PB in Berlin, Dan Nash recorded 65:12 and David Bishop (65:46).

Clara and Dan won the Welsh Half Marathon Championships, which were incorporated into the race.

Miriam Chebet wins the Principality Cardiff Half Marathon. Photo: Race Organiser

Great Scot(t)!

Rather than looking back to the future, let’s look at the Great Scottish Run. Glasgow played host to the annual half marathon with repeat victories for Callum Hawkins (63:25) and Natasha Phillips (73:26). Callum is in his final preparations for the TCS New York City Marathon next month. Should he reach the Central Park finish line, it will be only his second completed marathon since the 2019 World Championships.


Tewelde Menges (64:14) and Andrew Heyes (64:58) finished second and third amongst the men racing. Nynke Mulholland-Stummer (78:16) and Brogan Wallace (79:10) did the same in the women’s field.

The race was also the last competitive appearance of Chris Thompson in Scotland. He will retire after the Great South Run in two weeks.

The associated 10k went to Kirsty Walker (33:55) and Jamie Burns (29:55), the only runner to finish inside thirty minutes. Taha Ghafari (30:19) and Ross Good (30:32) completed the men’s podium, and Saoirse Mcnulty (37:18) and Josie Wren Golder (38:24) the women’s.

Half the Fun Continued

Plenty of other half marathons took place over the weekend. Phoebe Law improved her PB by 22 seconds to 76:56 at the Kingston Half Marathon. Ugur Altan (68:14) was fastest overall, and also set a lifetime best. Staying in London, Kit Lovgrove (84:03) and Tom Jervis (71:28) won RunThrough’s Victoria Park Half Marathon.

There were victories for Henry Webb (74:07) and Georgia Stanfield (84:50) at the Congleton Half Marathon, Muriel MacLeod (87:03) and Craig Moar (76:40) at the Orkney Island Games Test Half Marathon, and Max Costley (73:12) and Bethany Howarth (83:27) at the Solent Half Marathon.

Tom Harding (73:08) and Jilly Raw (88:35) were victorious at the Basingstoke Half Marathon. Wins in the associated 10k went to Gemma Strudwick (40:48) and Michael Stonw (34:07).

It was not just Cardiff hosting a half in Wales. Martin Sutherland (73:52) and Emma Alofs (90:06) were quickest of those who took to the Bangor Half Marathon. Finally, Adrian Holliday (72:03) and Chloe Kendal (81:31) won the Great Cumbrian Run Half Marathon.

Shorter Stuff

Georgina Schwiening (32:50) continued her winning form at the Bidwells Cambridge 10k. That time is the second PB in as many weeks for Georgina, who’s previous best was 33:36 set three years ago. She ran 16:04 at the Shelford 5k last weekend.

John Millar (30:12) ran fastest in a competitive field, with Jack Nixon (30:39) and James Connor (30:49) completing the top-three. Daisy Glover (33:42) set a considerable PB to finish second amongst the women racing. Maddie Jordan-Lee (34:38) was third.

Annabel Gummow set a Course Record of 34:25 at the Standalone 10k in Letchworth Garden City. Oluwatosin Adedeji (31:59) was fastest overall. Not too far away, the Herts 10k provided Patrick Hawker (37:01) and Kate Dixon (45:39) with victories.

Birchfield’s Omar Ahmed (29:15) and Kirsty Longley (35:03) were clear victors of the RunThrough-organised Jarrow 10k. Two RunThrough races took place in London. Firstly, the Greenwich Park 10k which was won by Barry Stephenson (33:18) and Elisabetta Ribera D’alcala (38:27). Freya Weddell (36:06) and Lee Gatland (32:27) crossed the finish line first at the Victoria Park 10k.

A quick-fire summary of the multiple remaining 10ks. Andy Lawrence (31:53) and Holly Burt (38:14) won the Alcester 10k, and Jordan Eastwood (34:16) and Sally Armitage (39:17) the Morley 10k. Matt Cooper (37:58) and Bridget Coomber (49:02) won the Hopton 10k, Toby Jones (32:15) and Hayley Lamkin (38:19) the Southend 10k, and Abi Poulton (39:49) and Paul Piper (33:37) the Kingston 10k.

Matthew Robins (35:01) and Hannah Trotman (45:30) set the fastest times at the Abbotts Langley Tough 10k. Nathan Posthill (32:09) and Kathryn Metcalfe (42:03) won the Great Cumbrian Run 10k, and the Abington 10k went to Sullivan Smith (34:38) and Cressida Hughes (38:56).

Ending back in Wales, the Bangor 10k saw Sam Griffiths (34:36) and Anna Buckingham (40:33) record wins.

Imperial Ending

The round up ends this week with a few races over imperial distances. At the Lewes Downland 10, Oliver Varney (58:49) was the sole runner to cross the finish inside one hour. Alice Robinson (72:18) joined him on the winners’ podium. Fastest times over half the distance were set by Rhian Davies (36:17) and Euan Baker (28:20).

Striders of Croydon Switchback 5. Photo: Stephen Siu

Over the same distance, Kimberley Newcombe (71:22) and James Bellward (60:54) won the Cirencester Slog 10. Striders of Croydon’s Switchback 5 saw Toby Rowlands (29:56) and Alexandrew MacEwan (34:38) take victories. A few miles further north, Firas Alhawat (27:23) and Camille Cowan (31:51) won the Dulwich 5.