THIS weekend it is safe to bet that a large number of local enthusiasts will be stationed in front of televisions watching progress in the Flora London Marathon, writes GEORGE KIRBY.

Some of Blackburn Road Runners who failed to find a place in the race are doing the next best thing with a club watch-in.

They will meet at Witton Park at 8am on race day. After a training run, showered and changed, they will repair to the home of their chairman, Andy McAllister, who will prepare a cooked breakfast for them.

During and after the meal they will be watching the race in comfort, no doubt looking out for clubmates who managed to get into the event.

Many of the rest of us will be viewing, though probably not in such an organised way, and trying to pick out faces we know from the thousands which will pass across the screen.

On current form I would suggest that the first could be Eric Wilson of Blackburn Harriers, now in the veteran-40 class, who has a personal best time of 2hrs 30mins 19secs which he has actually clocked twice. John Wieczorek of Accrington Road Runners actually went faster in 1995 when he clocked 2:24 at London and finished 51st.

He could be on his way through with Eric.

Around 10 minutes later we could be looking for Mick Green, Adam Durkin and Keith Sturdy of Clayton, and Peter Livesey of Rossendale, all at about 2hrs 40mins. I have a feeling that George Davies of Blackburn Harriers could be among them because he already has a best of 2:47 to his name.

Another bunch who should be among them or very close behind could be Neil Holding of Darwen Dashers, Barry Rawlinson, Nigel Gotts and Peter Duffy of Rossendale. Jimmy Nolan of Blackburn Road Runners is now 53. Jimmy is an asthmatic, but has a best time of 2:44, run when he was 46, and is still capable of three hours or thereabouts.

The club's first lady is likely to be another asthmatic, Sandra Snape, who could be inside the four hours mark.

As the clock gets round to three hours we could see Ken Rishton, Dr John Dixon, Ian Hamilton, Eric Tomlinson and Jimmy Smith from Accrington, Gary Taylor, John Sears and Elizabeth Rocke of Darwen, Neil Law and Tony Gotts of Rossendale.

Two athletes we should certainly spot are Louise Cooper and Vanessa Hamlet of Rossendale. Louise could better 2:55 and Vanessa will be thereabouts. Both have earned places in the elite section of the starting grid. Next lady home could be Janet Bolton of Accrington, around the 3:30 mark.

Our oldest local runners will be Jack Riley of Clayton and Al Hodgson of Accrington, both past the 70 mark.

According to my reckoning the most experienced marathoner of our representatives will be Harry Haseley of Accrington who has a best of 3:06 and will be running in his 106th marathon - his 14th London race.

There will be others whose names I have missed. I apologise, but will make up for it by giving them a cheer as they go by on my set.

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