Marathon man Mountford

The Hastings AC talent triumphed by just nine seconds from Steven Nimmo (Orpington Road Runners) having led throughout the 26.2-mile event.

He said: “I was quite far ahead for most of it. It was only the last mile or two I turned round and I could see the guy behind me was closing in. Luckily I had something left in that last mile.”

Mountford, whose only previous race over the distance was the Hastings 100th Anniversary Marathon in 2008, completed the demanding course in two hours, 55 minutes and 43 seconds.

John Terry (Westbury Harriers) was third in 3:02:08, while the leading was Sam Alvarez (Hailsham Harriers), who finished 10th overall in 3.12.58.

The race, which started and finished at Battle Sports Centre and took in some of the nearby countryside in between, took place beneath sunny skies and there was little wind. There were 319 finishers.

A full report and pictures will appear in Friday’s Battle Observer.