DASHING Darren Bilton was top of his class at the London Marathon.

The Pickering-based runner won the Over-40 section after beating the heat to finish 19th overall from a field of over 36,000 runners.

Running for Leeds City, the Ryedale bed and breakfast proprietor clocked 2 hours 25 minutes ten seconds to finish about two-and-a-half minutes ahead of the next runner in his section.

The leading English runner was Dan Robinson who timed 2:14:14 for eighth place.

Bilton led his club home to victory in the team event as they pipped Belgrave Harriers - although that result has yet to be confirmed by the race organisers.

"It was a really hot day and it was hard work," said Bilton.

As he crossed Tower Bridge, which marks the halfway stage of the race, he received plenty of encouragement from members of Knavesmire Harriers who were acting as marshals at the famous capital landmark.

"They kept shouting my name and it gave me a real boost," said Bilton who warmed up for the London event with a fine run the previous weekend at the national 12-Stage Relays at Birmingham when he ran the fastest three-mile leg, clocking 14 minutes 30 seconds, as Leeds City swept to victory.

Bilton's next major competitive run will be on May 13 when he defends his Beverley Minster 10K title - a race he has won eight times since it was first run 14 years ago.