SPONSORSHIPS

EDINBURGH MARATHON

As tangible proof of the commitment to healthy living both in terms of a healthy diet and physical activity, Albert Bartlett once again became title sponsors of the Edinburgh Marathon.

Being Scotland's largest marathon competition for entries is fierce, and fearful of a repeat of last year's amazing 85% increase in entries, this year's individual field was restricted to 12,000.

Held in the fierce heat on 31st May many thousands turned out to line the route to Musselburgh Race Course.With organisers declaring this the seventh Edinburgh Marathon the best one yet.

The warm conditions did not prevent race winner, Dudley-based police officer Martin Williams, 31, shaving more than a minute off his personal best, with a time of 2:18:24. While Holly Rush, from Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, was the fastest woman, clocking up a finishing time of 2:41:38.

The final participant to cross the line was Shaho Qadir. Despite losing both his legs in a bomb attack on his Kurdish home town, the London-based amputee completed the course with the help of crutches in just over eight hours.

Equally heartening was the news that more than 200 charities will benefit from the total of more than G3.5 million that was raised for good causes.