First British at London

Tom May (Leighton Buzzard AC)

You must be joking. Jon Brown is capable of beating the next Brit by 2 minutes, if he races. However, if he just tries to get the 2:14:59, he will still probably be the best Brit.

billy burns will be first brit.

After seeing Diddy Run the City, Keith Richards has decided to jump in at London, and try to win it to one up P Diddy's statement that he would win the NYC Marathon if he ran it again. So, my pick is that Keith Richards wins in 2:04:52 in a new world record. Of course he won't feel pain because he will only be conscious for the first mile.

What about the first British woman. No Paula this year, who else is there?

A couple of tips - not necesarilly the favourites mind...

Outright:

Men: Sammy Korir

Women: Sun Yingjie

Brits

Men: Haggai Chekwony

Ladies: Michaella McCullum (Nap)

red devil wrote:

billy burns will be first brit.

Good call. He didn't even warrant a mention in the AW or UKA website "Brit battle" previews!!

Jo Lodge WSE&H in under 2:34!!!

Jon Brown will be the first runner, Brit or other, to get his ass whupped at the finish line.

what about this guy from Blackburn based in America, Michael Green? Billy Burns ran a good 10k last week, if he runs conservatively in the first half he could run sub 2.14 I think, my outside bet fora decent run is Kasse Tadesse, very unpredictable but comes out with surprise runs every now and again...

There's actually a number of brits capable of getting close to 2-15. The most likely look to be Brown (obviously) IAN Hudspith, Mitchinson, Cariss and Bannister with the mad Mr. Burns as a loose cannon outsider and we should probably expect a number more to get inside 2-20. I'd gamble on Brown, Cariss and Bannister for the olympic team. I think we'll feel a whole lot more positive about british marathon by Sunday night. No-one will set the world on fire (no-ones going to suddenly come and run 2-10 are they?) but the sub-elite scene will look a lot more hopeful. Theres a few who are no older than mid 20's who have the potential go on to be at least as good as Steinle in four years time, and hopefully better.

Spoke to Bob Merrell (Salford team manager) last night. He said Burns is planning to go off much more conservatively so not to blow his chances. Plans to follow everything Brown does which should eb interesting.

Burns might surprise a few, especially the commentators who wont see him or even have heard of him, never mind recognise him.

Matt Smith and Ben Noad both have pedigree and Matt has kept a very low profile.

Women - Jo Lodge will be tough but Mara Yamuchi (sp?) and in addition to those already mentioned - Birhan Dagne and Susan Partridge should not be overlooked

Mike Green will probably run 2:17-18, that will put him 2nd or 3rd Brit. His build-up included 2 PR's

Early March: 2nd place 10k in Atlanta 29:53 (PB)

Late March: 1st place 1/2 mar in Nashville 65:57 (PB)

Early April: 8th place Azalea 10k 30:08 (hot, humid day)

Dominic Bannister GBR 02:14:39

Stuart Hall GBR 02:16:23

Hugh Lobb GBR 02:18:30

Dan Robinson GBR 02:16:51

Matt Smith GBR 02:23:49

Andy Jones GBR Debut

Chris Cariss GBR 02:17:39

Michael Green GBR 02:20:25

Billy Burns GBR 02:15:42

Chris Birchall GBR 02:18:53

Ben Noad GBR 02:21:19

Ian Hudspith GBR 02:15:47

Mark Hudspith GBR 02:11:58

Malcolm Campbell GBR 02:20:31

Dave Mitchinson GBR 02:19:38

Mark Croasdale GBR 02:16:02

Darren Bilton GBR 02:20:50

Dave Norman GBR 02:21:00

Gareth Raven GBR (64:28 - 03)

Adrian Marriott GBR 02:22:14

John McFarlane GBR 02:29

John Brown GBR (65:25 - 01)

Andy Coleman GBR PACE

Phil Hinch GBR PACE

Matt Vaux-Harvey PACE

Barry Royden GBR 02:18:54

Jon Brown GBR 02:09:44

Haggai Chepkonwy GBR Debut

Neil Wilkinson GBR Debut

Terry Wall GBR 02:25:20

Tracey Morris GBR 03:39:00

Sue Harrison GBR 02:38:52

Jo Lodge GBR 02:34:17

Birhan Dagne GBR Debut

Shona Crombie-Hicks GBR 02:42:44

Andrea Green GBR (73:28 - 00)

Lisa Heyes GBR Debut

Bev Jenkins GBR 02:44:32

Jill Keddie GBR Debut

Michelle Lee GBR 02:43:41

Michaela McCallum GBR 02:41:57

Mara Yamauchi GBR Debut

Susan Partridge GBR Debut

Annie Emmerson GBR Debut

Amy Stiles GBR 02:44:11

Lucy Hassell GBR 02:46:00

Amanda Allen GBR GB PACE

Alison Fletcher GBR 02:44:42

Tara Krzywicki GBR PACE

Michelle Lee will be there or thereabouts for the ladies too.

Ben Noad for the men.

Martin Scaife and Gareth Raven are also in good shape, Bannister is very dependable. Mark Hudspith is very experienced but hasn't been running great recently. He has the pedigree though.

Dave Taylor is running aswell I think, should run a good vets time, sub 2.20? Is Mark carroll running it too?

I am hoping that 2.17 - 2.18 isnt 2nd or 3rd Brit !

Mark Carroll isn't British.