Jo Buckley finished Sunday’s London Marathon in 26th place in a time of 2hr 54min 20sec.

She was disappointed not to beat her 2:48 from Berlin but the Bingley Harrier said: “I’m raring to try again after a rest.”

In what proved to be difficult conditions, she set off too fast, against coach Brian Scobie’s advice.

Buckley said: “Brian warned me ‘Don’t get carried away in the first six miles’. The trick is actually listening to him and doing it.”

The Haworth-based runner passed six miles at 2:41 pace but then settled for exactly four-minute pace per kilometre, until the early speed took its toll in the last seven miles.

Halifax athlete Sarah Cumber, passed Buckley near the Mall to come one place higher, and sixth over-40 lady, in a time of 2:53:58.

Fellow Bingley Harrier Katie Phillips, in the same training group as Buckley, was jubilant to knock 30 minutes off her personal best in 4:25:36.

James Robinson was first Harrier home in 2:52:27.

Former Bingley Harrier James Mason finished a superb 62nd.

The ex-Grassington resident, who now lives in London, clocked 2hr 33min.

As he had previously broken 2hr 45min in the race, 30-year-old former England fell runner and junior cross-country runner Mason, who now runs for Herne Hill Harriers, was among the elite starters, and hopes to break 2hr 30min next year.

Ilkley’s Sally Malir confirmed her recent good form to finish ninth over-45 lady in a time of 3:09:46, with every split consistent throughout.

Clubmates Alison Bennett (28th F50; 3:31:55) and Hilda Coulsey (15th F60; 4:03:26), also ran impressively.

Saltaire’s Hannah Oldroyd took wise advice, setting off slowly, at almost 5min per km pace, before speeding up throughout, to run her final kilometres at 4min 10sec speed.

Her 3:16:29 was a PB by 20 minutes, while clubmates Jen Willingham and Dairine Nethercott knocked 14 and 48 minutes off their previous bests.

Another of the Buckley-Phillips training group, Lorne McNeill (Baildon), ran a PB. He said afterwards: “I went through halfway in 1:31 and completed in 3hr 16min 50sec. That knocked a good two minutes off my PB. I was looking to run about 3hr 10min but the weather really got me!”

Eccleshill’s Gary Scott, struggling recently with injury, was on course to break three hours but faded in the last four miles to run 3:05:15.

Keighley’s Gary Chapman overtook Scott on the Embankment to be first K&C finisher in 3:03:08.