AT a very wet Yorkshire Marathon, Richard Walker braved the conditions and led the Airecentre Pacers team home in three hours, 11 minutes and seven seconds to come 260th overall in his first ever marathon.

The event was held around a beautiful York circuit and a baker’s dozen of Airecentre athletes turned out in the torrential rain to run the 26.2 mile distance.

Following Walker over the line were Andrew Humphries, in 3.23.49, Nick Leathley, in 3.51.20 and Kate McFarlane, in her inaugural marathon, with a time of 3.54.22.

The next batch of Pacers runners to cross the line were Carole Keighley (4.29.40), Jenny Mynett (4.30.56), first timer Denis Callaghan (4.32.48) and Lynda Parkinson (4.44.43).

Coming home in just over five hours were Amanda Connolly (5.14.23) and marathon newbies Bernadette Murby (5.14.23) Sue Hulme (5.14.24), Sharon Elms (5.14.25) and Donna Stansfield (5.43.08).

The Yorkshire 10 Mile was run in the same downpour and Jen Sebright-Pickard was first across the line for the Pacers in 1.27.49. Carly Dykes (1.40.24), Simon Walker (1.45.53) and Sally Russ (1.49.43) were the other finishers.

Further afield, Margaret Britton ran for Team England in the Chester Marathon at the end of an injury-hit summer season, producing a fine time of 4.09.52 and a category finish of 14th in the FV60.

Meanwhile, Tony Rivers ran 4.02.20 at the same event in the MV50.