NIGEL Marley, from Bicester, finished second in the Cotswold Marathon at Temple Guiting.

Running for his first-claim club Coventry Godiva Harriers, Marley clocked 2hrs 53mins 18secs, just 46 seconds behind winner John McFarlane (Thames Hare & Hounds).

Marley, whose personal best for the 26.2-mile distance is 2.31.08, was using the race as part of his training for April’s London Marathon.

Abingdon Amblers’ Paul Fernandez finished third in the Cotswold 35.2 mile race at the same venue.

The 37-year-old clocked 3hrs 57mins 10secs to continue the good ultra marathon form, which saw him come fourth in last month’s Gloucester 50K.

  • THE Otmoor Challenge will take place on Saturday, June 9 to avoid clashing with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

More than 300 runners are expected to take part in the multi-terrain half marathon, which is a popular fixture in the Oxfordshire athletics calendar.