BOURTON Roadrunners' Shona Crombie-Hicks beat wet, windy conditions to finish as second woman at the Belfast City Marathon.

Crombie-Hicks clocked two hours 53 minutes behind Ethiopian Bayrush Shiferaw (2.41) and ahead of Northern Ireland athlete Karen Alexander (2.58).

Her overall position was an outstanding 20th out of more than 18,000 runners in the marathon.

Crombie-Hicks thanked her training partners at Bourton, adding conditions were difficult but “being showered with champagne made up for it”.

Participants in the Milton Keynes Marathon ran in sunshine which became increasingly warm.

Bourton’s four representatives all ran the Virgin London Marathon just three weeks before.

Darren Long finished in 3.02.37 and Steve Edwards completed his 633rd marathon in 3.14.30.

Mike Hobbs crossed in 3.37.54 and Ian Shoemark, despite feeling unwell, clocked 3.45.34.