The London Marathon saw thousands flock to the streets of the capital once more - and clubs from across Hertfordshire were among them.

For Stevenage Phoenix, the focus was on charity with four of their members all running their debut over the 26-mile distance, raising almost £9,000 in the process.

The Comet: Bobby Buckley of Stevenage Phoenix with his London Marathon medal. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIXBobby Buckley of Stevenage Phoenix with his London Marathon medal. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIX (Image: Stevenage Phoenix)
First to cross the finish line on The Mall was Bobby Buckley in a well-paced three hours 48 minutes 32 seconds.

He was raising money for the Royal British Legion.

The Comet: Ashton Marshall of Stevenage Phoenix with his London Marathon medal. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIXAshton Marshall of Stevenage Phoenix with his London Marathon medal. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIX (Image: Stevenage Phoenix)

Behind him was Ashton Marshall who had every right to be delighted with his run.

A little more than three years ago, he began 18 of the hardest months of his life.

But after three rounds of BEP chemotherapy and two life-saving operations, he charged round the course in 4:03:12 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The Comet: Kerry Cunnane of Stevenage Phoenix on course at London. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIXKerry Cunnane of Stevenage Phoenix on course at London. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIX (Image: Stevenage Phoenix)
Despite an early injury setback, Kerry Cunnane was rewarded with a time of 5:29:14, raising money for MacMillan Cancer Trust.

The Comet: Charlie Day of Stevenage Phoenix at the 2024 London Marathon. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIXCharlie Day of Stevenage Phoenix at the 2024 London Marathon. Picture: STEVENAGE PHOENIX (Image: Stevenage Phoenix)

Charlie Day has been progressing through the various distances starting following the couch to 5k course.

Supporting the Lords Taverners, he finished in 6:37:18.

A spokesman for the club said: "It was a great set of achievements, raising much needed funds for charity and making fantastic memories in the process."

The Comet: Chloe Chapman of Fairlands Valley Spartans with her London Marathon medal. Picture: ZOE JACKSONChloe Chapman of Fairlands Valley Spartans with her London Marathon medal. Picture: ZOE JACKSON (Image: Zoe Jackson)

Chloe Chapman was part of a Fairlands Valley Spartans squad, finishing in 4:42:36. while Matt Gifford was delighted to beat his three-and-a-half hour target by 29 seconds.

That target was also the one Grant Ramsay was aiming for but a recurring calf injury slowed him down from four miles and he finished in 3:31:51.

Martin Jacob and Linda George ran together, finishing in 4:54:12, while Paul Holgate managed 6:27:29.

The club had two debutants over the distance, Becky Raynor and Nichola Durent.

Rayner was running for RATS - Rehoming Animal Telephone Service and finished in 5:55:44 while Durent came home in 7.04.05.

She said: "The crowds were so supportive and seeing my family and friends on route gave a much needed boost.

"I loved most of it, some parts were tough, but I did it I got round in one piece."

The Comet: Jim Brown of Fairlands Valley Spartans with his London Marathon medal. Picture: ZOE JACKSONJim Brown of Fairlands Valley Spartans with his London Marathon medal. Picture: ZOE JACKSON (Image: Zoe Jackson)

Jim Brown finished almost two minutes quicker than last year, coming home in 4:48:21 while raising funds for the Mayor of Stevenage’s charities.

The Comet: Mike Roberts, Rachel Arnott and Matt Sayers of North Herts Road Runners at the London Marathon. Picture: NHRRMike Roberts, Rachel Arnott and Matt Sayers of North Herts Road Runners at the London Marathon. Picture: NHRR (Image: North Herts Road Runners)

There were 13 involved from North Herts Road Runners and some finished with records.

First home was Mike Roberts in an impressive 2:31:45 and he was closely followed by Matt Sayers in 2:36:57, breaking his own club record for the fastest MV50 marathon.

Rachel Arnott was the first female squirrel across the line, complete with a PB of 3:09:10 and the club FV45 record.

Ian Datlen also ran a PB, his time being 3:00:10.

The Comet: Stuart Cocks of North Herts Road Runners with his London Marathon medal. Picture: NHRRStuart Cocks of North Herts Road Runners with his London Marathon medal. Picture: NHRR (Image: North Herts Road Runners)

Stuart Cocks and Steve Tracey were raising vital funds for the club’s charity of the year – Young Carers Crew.

Cocks was another to delight in a PB, the time of 3:31:50 19 minutes quicker than previously.

Laura Fairbanks finished 46 minutes quicker than her first time round the streets of London 10 years ago, coming in with 3:41:51.

She was raising funds for Breast Cancer Now.

Others to run were Phil Hawkes (3:50:58), Steve Tracey (3:58:19), Becky Geekie (4:03:43), Sonny Kurmi (4:46:58), Danny Alden (5:25:42), Carina Quayle (5:53:34) and Clare Hooley (6:33:02).

The Comet: Graduates of the Stevenage Striders couch to 5k course. Picture: STEVENAGE STRIDERSGraduates of the Stevenage Striders couch to 5k course. Picture: STEVENAGE STRIDERS (Image: Stevenage Striders)

This week will see Stevenage Striders celebrate with 19 graduates of their couch to 5km program, a 10-week course.

A spokesman for the club said: "Many of these dedicated runners have gone from not being able to run 1km continuously to now completing a 5km run.

"The determination and heart shown by these graduates has been admirable, when it's been cold, wet and just miserable they still showed up every Tuesday for training.

"Before each session they would start off with a short lesson on various running topics like correct breathing techniques to understanding their bodies when they get tired.

"Thereafter they would head out onto the cycle paths where they would have the opportunity to put what they had been taught into practice in a controlled environment , under the guidance of the the specially trained Stevenage Striders run leaders."