Stubbington Green Runners & AC

LESLEY HARDING has been given a chance to run her first ever marathon by picking up one of the club places for the London Marathon.

As an affiliated club, Stubbington Green receives five places each year from the organisers for the prestigious event. Those Stubbington runners who applied for the London Marathon but who received a rejection slip in December's post, are then invited to apply for one of the club places which is decided upon by the club committee.

Mum of two Lesley, a stalwart of the ladies team, missed out on a club place last year, but this time around struck lucky for the 26.2-mile event on Sunday, April 23rd, when she will run with more than 30,000 other runners from Greenwich to the finish along Pall Mall.

Jon Leigh, who ran last October's Dublin Marathon in 3hrs 42mins, will be hoping to better that time in London.

And he will be joined by 79-year-old Michael Aimable who has run several marathons, Steve Wylie, and Caroline Watts - who wants to run a marathon seven months after giving birth! Marcus Lee has been awarded the reserve place in case any of the quintet drop out.