An Olympic gold medallist known as the 'little mouse' was cheesed off with his performance in the biggest half marathon to date staged by Boreham Wood Athletic Club.

Don Thompson, who scooped first place in the 50km walk in the 1960 games, crossed the finish line in a time of 2 hours and 30 seconds.

The 65-year-old was 261st out of 312 athletes, a record number of participants in the annual event, held on Sunday at Hawksmoor School.

Winning the race was Andy Holt (1hr 11secs), a runner from the Verlea club in Welwyn Garden City, who was almost four minutes clear of the field.

Judy Brown (1hr 35secs), representing Boreham Wood Athletic Club, grabbed runners-up spot in the ladies vets section and was only a minute behind the winner.

Her performance, together with excellent runs from race debutantes Simone Leslie (1hr 59secs) and Marion Gray (2hrs 45secs), helped the club grab top spot in the 1st team event. PC Bob Blackman (1hr 35secs), of Borehamwood Police, was the first local vet.

Over 170 athletes, including a runner aged only seven, took part in the fun run.

And there was a number of notable performances by members of a football team based in Borehamwood.

Martin Stevens, who plays for Hertsmere FC, was third overall with a time of 20mins 24secs. The club won the prize for best team in the race, thanks to the performances of Christopher Murray, Timothy Corcoran, Ryan Hall and Stevens.

First school over the finish line was St Teresa's. Racers for the Brook Road school were Danny Noakes, Jamie Kekoe, Kirsty Francis, Wayne James, Katie Hyde and Laura Nugent.

The oldest runner in the team that won the first ladies event was aged only nine.

Megan O'Neill, of Boreham Wood Athletic Club, finished the fun run in a respectable time of just under 28 minutes. Other members of the team were Nicola Chow (25mins 46secs), Amanda Chow (28mins 19secs) and Zoe Powell (27mins 56secs).

It wasn't just fellow runners that the race participants were trying to beat, said event organiser, Pauline Poole.

"The final athletes managed to cross the finish line just before the heavens opened."

Race-goers from Isle of Wight and Scotland took part in the half marathon.

All proceeds from the event, estimated to be a four-figure sum, will be shared by by the Elstree and Borehamwood Branch of the Arthritis and Rheumatism Council and Boreham Wood Athletic Club.

Added Pauline: "I'd like to say a big thank you to Pinnacle Insurance for their kind sponsorship of the event.

"The whole day was a resounding success."

The date for 1999 has already been announced. For details on the June 27 runs, telephone Pauline Poole on 0181 207 2852.

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