Australians ran away with the honours at the 29th annual Wedding Day 7km road race in Bushy Park on Friday.
David McNeil, 23, the 2008 Australian 10,000m cham- pion, was a runaway winner in 20 minutes, 27 seconds.
That was well clear of Hampton-based Mike Skinner (22:08), with Twickenham international Scott Overall third in the same time.
Thames Hare & Hounds’ Stuart Major was fourth (22:40), with Ranelagh pair Phil Killingley (22:48) and first veteran Pete Haarer (22:55) fifth and sixth.
Runnymede Runners’ Dave Truepenny was the first over-50 veteran (25:39), with Hercules Wimbledon’s Steve Badgery first over-60 (27:12).
The Wedding Day race, first staged on Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s wedding day in July, 1981, attracted almost 550 starters this year.
Hampton Hill-based former world cross country champion Benita Johnson was eighth overall and women’s winner in 23:10.
Representing Thames Hare & Hounds, Johnson finished nine seconds ahead of Team Australia’s Lara Tomsett.
Veterans Anna Critchlow, of West 4 Harriers, (26:03) and Louise Watson, of Stragglers, (26:39) were third and fourth.
Stragglers’ Dee Smale was first woman veteran over-45 home in 28:03, ahead of team-mate Phyllis Flynn (28:06).
Epsom & Ewell’s Jane Davies posted the top women’s age-graded performance in winning the veteran over-55 category in 29:13.
Earlier in the day, Belgrave’s Hassan Raidi won the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5km road race in Hyde Park in 15:56.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here