PICTURED: London Marathon marvels battle through the heat

A clutch of runners from around the borough took on the challenging course around the capital, raising thousands for charity.

Marathon man Anthony Rebori said being blind did not stop him soaking up the London Marathon experience.

The 52-year-old pig farmer from Bramley completed the capital course in 5hrs 17mins with guide runner and friend Kate Lodge.

He said: “It’s been a big team effort and I think we’ve done really well to get round.”

Anthony has done much of his training on a treadmill, while Kate travelled down from Selby regularly to complete training runs — attached to Anthony with a tether.

“The atmosphere on the day was amazing,” he said. 

“There were people calling my name all the way round.

“I cannot see at all but Kate does a great job of guiding me.”

Anthony paid tribute to friends and fellow runners Jeanette Bernardi and Stuart Anthony.

Mum of-two Emma Richards went further than most to complete her first marathon — losing four-and-a-half stone and reversing her diabetes in the process

Emma (below), of Bramley, only started running in October 2015 after she was prescribed her fourth type of medication for diabetes which spurred her into action after her weight soared to 16st.

The 41-year-old completed Sunday’s hottest-ever London Marathon in seven hours and 22 minutes in “horrific conditions”.

Proud Wayne Singleton described completing the London Marathon as “the most amazing memorable experience of my life”.

The council worker (below) crossed the line in four hours, one minute and 38 seconds and said the race lived up to all his expectations.

Businessman Ian Chester (below) praised the “unbelievable” backing of roadside supporters for getting him through the London Marathon, admitting: “I wouldn’t have done it without them.”

Ian, the managing director of Yorkshire Windows, clocked a respectable time of five hours, seven minutes and 15 seconds — but this was more than 40 minutes slower than his time in his first marathon in Paris, which he put down to the blazing heat.

“It was quite brutal but the atmosphere was unbelievable — there were people lining the streets all the way through.

“It took four months of training but the sense of achievement is massive.”

Ex-police chief Fred Scholey said he had a feeling of “immense satisfaction” at completing the London Marathon on Sunday.

Fred, who was running to raise cash for Muscular Dystrophy UK in memory of his son, Lee who died from the disease in 1989, said the crowds had spurred him on but the hot weather was a challenge.

The 68-year-old, of Manor Farm Drive in Swinton (below), got round the course in five hours 15 minutes.

He said: “I am proud of myself — there is an immense feeling of satisfaction.

“But I don’t think Mo Farah needs to worry.”

Fred’s daughter-in-law Fleur and son Damian also took part in the race to raise cash for the National Autistic Society.

The former superintendent and district commander for Doncaster West police division has so far raised £2,300 with more to come.

Other Rotherham runners completing the course included Laughton Infant and Junior School headteacher Emma Gill, who got home in six hours and 44 minutes and 11 seconds. school pastoral care worker Catherine Davies, who clocked a time of four hours, 20 minutes and 46 seconds, and Sheffield Children’s Hospital supporter Jarrad Kitson, who reached The Mall in five hours, 25 minutes and 39 seconds.

Jarrad, of North Anston, said he was delighted to have finished 2,000 places higher than last year despite the record-breaking heat.

Emma struggled with a knee injury to get round and raised £2,300 for CLIC Sargent. 

Natasha Hinton, a senior nurse at Rotherham Hospital who ran for Sense, said she finished in a slower time than expected (five hours, 37 minutes and 56 seconds), describing the heat as “brutal”.