Alchester Running Club members stepped up their long-distance running training in preparation for the London Marathon in April by competing at the popular Sussex Beacon Half Marathon event in Brighton on Sunday.

The weather conditions were cool and crisp with sunshine to encourage the competing athletes over the classic 13.1 mile distance. Some 1,500 runners took part in the race.

Veteran athlete Nigel Lambert represented Alchester and was rewarded by achieving a season's best time with a commendable 1.38.25.

A steady start gave the Alchester athlete a growing sense of confidence as the race progressed and a strong finish saw him home with plenty to spare.

Other club colleagues were not so lucky with their race endeavours as they found that their planned trip to the Bramley 20-mile road race in rural Hampshire had to be curtailed, because of the foot and mouth disease.