IT TURNED out to be a memorable Virgin Money London Marathon for Abingdon runner Paul Fernandez.

The veteran 40 athlete not only finished 60th – his highest finish – but was sixth in the age category as he recorded a personal best of 2hrs 30mins 26secs.

Fernandez was just over 15 minutes behind the club, charity and ballot winner Josh Griffifths, of Swansea.

His time was also only 25 minutes off Kenya’s Daniel Wanjiru, who won the elite men’s race.

Fernandez was not alone as an Abingdon runner setting a new mark round the 26.385-mile course.

Steve Holder beat his previous best by 16 minutes, Becks Compton broke her time by two minutes, while Sophie Tumelaire sent her marathon mark from three years ago tumbling by an impressive 26 minutes.

Abingdon’s Sarah Dudgeon and friend Victoria Carter achieved another Guinness World Record.

Following their three-legged exploits from last year, the duo were joined by Dudgeon’s husband Max Livingstone-Learmonth.

The trio dressed as a monk, nun and bishop to gain a triple world record.

Six White Horse Harriers were also among the 40,000 runners at the start line.

Dan Peace led the way for the club in his ninth London Marathon, finishing in 3.11.04secs.

Clubmate Lori Fellingham impressed, coming home 45th in the veteran 65 category in 3.52.20.

Ros Burgess was Harriers’ first lady to cross the finish line in 3.37.51.

RESULTS

(senior men unless stated)

VIRGIN MONEY LONDON MARATHON

Abingdon: 60 P Fernandez (6th V40) 2.30.26pb, 1568 M Deering 2.57.58, 1802 T Coney (V40) 2.59.18, 3185 S Holder (V50) 3.11.11pb, 3457 J Moore (V50) 3.13.09, 3863 C MacLennan (V45) 3.15.25, 4348 M Lewy (V55) 3.18.34, 4781 M Livingstone-Learmonth 3.21.32, 4784 S Dudgeon (LV40) 3.21.33, 5028 N Hamilton (V55) 3.23.10, 8890 J Clayton 3.43.17, 13113 B Compton (LV40) 3.59.11pb, 14144 J Wiblin (LV45) 4.03.33, 15835 S Tumelaire (LV45) 4.11.10pb, 17090 S Coulson (V40) 4.16.17.

Didcot Runners: 2826 M Jones-Walters 3.08.26, 3464 T Wise (LV40) 3.13.12, 5438 R Sharp (V50) 3.25.43, 7983 E Naughton 3.38.50, 18166 J Talbot (V49) 4.20.33. 19521 N Francis (V60) 4.35.53, 37815 C Davies (V45) 6.27.51.

White Horse Harriers: 3174 D Peace (V40) 3.11.04, 7773 R Burgess (LV50) 3.37.51, 7935 S Sheehy 3.38.37, 11030 L Fellingham (V65) 3.52.20, 14508 J McCabe (LV50) 4.05.15, 38161 V Stott (LV50) 6.38.35.

MADRID MARATHON

Abingdon: 9183 C Hutchings (SL) 4.52.02.

MADRID HALF-MARATHON

Abingdon: 11802 M Hamilton (LV45) 2.39.22.

MADRID 10K

Abingdon: 4472 J Styles (V50) 1.08.29.

l THIS year’s Mota-vation Series gets under way at Charlton-on-Otmoor tomorrow tonight (7).

The race starts at the recreation ground on High Street.