Hull’s first marathon yielded double delight for Driffield Striders Sian and Jon Morgan.
The Nafferton couple ran personal bests – Sian 3hrs.20mins.17secs. and Jon 2.57.55 – for the classic 26.2m. distance.
Months of hard training were also reflected in a personal best 3.54.27 for Karen Gordon and a confident return to marathon running by Wendy Baxter (4.32.13).
And on a day of many individual achievements, several other Striders made their marathon debuts: Shaun Hobson (3.21.05), Paul Turner (3.46.26) and Paul Jones (4.19.53). Another first-timer, Andy Basford, bravely defied injury to finish in 5hrs. 30mins.
Driffield Striders also fielded a team in the marathon relay. Benita Jones, Karen Falcus, Jo Hetherington and Andrew Boyes came fifth out of 17 in 3.39.29.
Race winner Phil Taylor (Bridlington Road Runners) led almost 900 runners from gun to tape to finish in an outstanding 2.31.29 – six minutes quicker than his previous best. The 32-year-old now takes the best form of his life to the London Marathon on 29 April.
Bridlington also boasted the first woman home in debut marathoner Jackie Lord (27).
But she shared first prize with Barnsley Harriers Dawn Broom because of a route mix up involving her and another runner in the later stages of the race.