Heat turned up on racing's representatives in testing London Marathon

Runners had to contend with the hottest London Marathon in history on Sunday as racing’s participants battled sizzling conditions in the capital.

Arena Racing Company’s director of external affairs Susannah Gill, who was contesting her tenth London Marathon, had her hopes of a personal best ended by the weather in what she described as “the toughest marathon I’ve done”.

Gill said: "I wasn't surprised when they said it was 23.2C and the hottest London Marathon.

"I knew it wasn't a day for personal bests after I had to pour water over my neck at the first water station. I don't usually have to do that until around halfway. I was trying to find a bit of shade whenever I could."

Gill added: "You don't realise how much sudden hot weather affects your performance, whether humans or horses, when you're not prepared for sudden hot weather, having trained in the cold. Most people were 20 minutes slower than usual."

Gill still managed 3hr 14min 47sec to finish 2,409th overall and 154th female home but it was 16 minutes slower than her time in 2017.

Trainer Grant Tuer recorded a time of 4hr 35min 38sec and RUK presenter and former jockey Niall Hannity got home in 5hr 44min 14sec.

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