I have been a fan of the London Marathon since it’s inaugural race in 1981, and even managed to complete the course as a competitor in 1988 in a time of 4 hours 26 minutes, when I was so much younger and fitter than I am now. The following year I trained a team to enter, running myself as a non competitor and the I subsequently was involved in the training of a team of ‘guides’ for a blind runner, to allow him to train during the months leading up to the race itself. I have always spent the Sunday morning watching the event either on the side of the course supporting friends or on enjoying the BBC’s excellent coverage, enjoying both  the elite athletes races in both the able bodied and wheelchair races, as well as the thousands of club and fun runners who every year raise millions of pounds for their chosen charities

I was, therefore, delighted to be asked to cover a colleague and entertain at the Awards Dinner for the 2016 London Marathon in London on Sunday evening. As well as having a marvellous time performing close up magic during the drinks reception as well as at the tables during and after the dinner, it was wonderful to meet the people I had keenly watched pounding the streets of London, earlier that day.

The top ten competitors in each category attended and I managed to entertain and amaze, familiar faces such as David Weir ( 6 times winner of the Elite Wheelchair race), the delightful Tatyana Mcfadden, (4 times winner of the Elite Women’s Wheelchair race),  both this years winners Eliud Kipchoge and Jemima Sumgong and leading British runner Callum Hawkins who finished 8th and automatically qualifies for the Olympics in Rio, what a lovely fellow and I wish him all the very best

Well done to everyone involved, from organisers, those who volunteered and of couse everyone who took part in the race

Here are some photos from the night, which I thought you may be interested in seeing, and you may wonder, like me, how the winner would manage to lift the trophy ( he didn’t) and after the event it goes back on display at the Museum of London.