STRIDERS preparation for Spring marathons continued with a successful outing at the Finchley 20.

Herts Advertiser: Martin Whitworth was the third male strider to finish the Finchley 20.Martin Whitworth was the third male strider to finish the Finchley 20. (Image: Archant)

The North London race attracts many of the top runners in the south of England and it was a considerable achievement for the St Albans Striders’ men’s team to take second prize.

Simon Riley led the team in coming 13th out of 502 in a fantastic time of 2hrs 16secs. He was followed in by Gary Warren in 17th overall and 2nd Vet (2hrs 2mins 20secs), 55th placed Martin Whitworth (2hrs 12mins 30secs) and Richard Harry in 60th (2hrs 13mins 9secs). Also running were Mark Taplin, Colin Braybrook, Andrew McKillop, Patrick Green and Helen Durance. On Sunday Vanessa Hastings completed the Trimpell 20 mile race in Lancashire.

The other big race on Sunday was the Reading Half Marathon. Eleven Striders braved the atrocious weather to tackle the fast course.

Blake Vivian was the first male Strider to finish (1hr 18mins) and Deborah Steer was the first Striders lady (1hr 27mins). Also running were Marcus Hooper, Nick Bradley, Richard Maw, Abby Reilly, Jim Simpson, Rose Mcginness, Richard Sved, Laura Hawkins and David Prince.

Further afield Kathryn Hall completed the Rome Marathon (4hrs 21mins) and Jack Brooks ran the Great Barrow Challenge Trail Marathon.