ELSWICK Harrier Ieuan Ellis won his first major event as a veteran when he finished the first over-40 in the Flora London Marathon.

The University of Northumbria head of department had a tremendous tussle with Bolton's Tony Duffy before winning by almost a minute, finishing 43rd overall in 2 hours 27 mins 52 mins.

Ellis, who finished seventh for Wales in the 1986 Commonwealth Games, overcame the challenge of the 44-year-old Lancastrian when he built up a 21-second lead at the halfway mark.

However, it looked as though he would have to be content with the silver medal as 1996 Chicago Marathon winner Paul Evans stormed away in search of the world veteran's record.

But Evans, who joined the veteran ranks on April 13, saw his hopes of beating the recently-set record of 2:10:32 dashed when he was forced to pull out after 20 miles.

This left the way clear for Ellis to see off a late rally by Duffy and take the coveted veterans' title.

Ellis, 40 last May, had hoped to make his mark as a veteran but could hardly have expected to do it in such a prestigious event.

The vastly experienced long-distance exponent, who won the Iceland and Katmandu international marathons in the early 90s, recently won the silver medal when he made his over-40 debut for Wales in the British and Irish Veterans Cross Country Championships in Navan.

l Morpeth Harriers retained their AAA Marathon Team Championship in London, thanks to the performances of 11th-placed Mark Hudspith, Rob Holladay (21st), Terry Wall (81st) and veteran Gordon Dixon (130th).

Morpeth's aggregate time was 9 hours 44 mins 21 secs, well clear of runners-up Salford (9:58:49).

l Chester-le-Street husband and wife Geoff and Heather Robinson finished 194th man (2:41:52) and 112th woman (3:11:47) respectively