Runners from the Bradford area were today nursing aching muscles and great memories after taking part in Britain's greatest mass sporting event.

The cream of the district's athletic talent joined the great and the good in lining up for the 2003 Flora London Mara-thon.

Bingley Harriers runner Chris Carris was the fastest British man home, finishing in 16th place in the men's race - although still a whole minute slower than the winner of the women's race, Paula Radcliffe.

Other runners were less speedy, but covered themselves in glory by raising thousands of pounds for charity.

A team from the Bradford & Bingley Building Society, pictured, ran in aid of homeless charity Shelter, led by their chief executive, Christopher Rod-rigues.

He said he was thrilled after finishing in a time of 5hrs 30mins.

Although he keeps fit ski-ing and on a rowing machine, his running training had only extended to a single four-mile run. "I had a bad leg, but I found a wonderful physio, who got it right," he said.

He said he had encountered other members of the 100-strong team from the B&B on the start, but lost them soon afterwards. "You go into a world of your own.

"I saw the man in a giant bowler hat suit at the start but I think he must have come in ahead of me. Either that or he's still running!"

Prime Minister Tony Blair's chief spin doctor Alastair Campbell, who is originally from Keighley and attended Utley Primary School, completed the race in three hours 53 minutes and six seconds.

Diehard Burnley fan Mr Campbell, who is set to raise up to £300,000 for charity, crossed the finishing line within his target time but was forced to hobble away to meet the world's press.

The press chief had decided to run the marathon to raise funds for the Leukaemia Research charity in memory of his former close colleague John Merritt, who died of the disease.

Eccleshill runner Joanne Belcher, 31, clocked a time of 3 hrs 54 minutes in her first marathon.

The travel agent, who was cheered on by her parents and best friend Joanne Wilson, ran to raise cash for the Family Holiday Association.

Within hours of crossing the line she was celebrating by shopping in Covent Garden.

"I am really pleased because I wanted to get in under four hours," she said.

Her club mate from Idle AC, Chris Smith, 38, a teacher at Thackley Primary School, was disappointed by his time of 3hrs 19 minutes. "It was a bit too warm, but it was fantastic - a great festival," he said.

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