Plan B Forum

When 69-year-old Anthony Gaskell crossed the London Marathon finishing line in a mere three hours and five minutes, he found himself in the record books. His was the fastest time ever recorded by anyone over 65 and he was due to receive a plaque marking his achievement.

Observers questioned, however, how a previously unknown veteran could have performed so well.

And analysis of the race revealed that he must have completed the second half in way under an hour - a pace that even the world record holder could not match. Six weeks after the event, Mr Gaskell has been stripped of his 'fastest pensioner' title after admitting that he took a short cut.

He appears to have used a part of the course just after Tower Bridge - where the marathon doubles back on itself - to cut from the outward leg to the home leg, taking around ten miles off the course.

Mr Gaskell, a grandfather from the Wirral, Merseyside, said: 'I have been called a cheat and disqualified from a race I never claimed to have won.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z0pb3FTNKA

Mr Gaskell, a grandfather from the Wirral, Merseyside, said: 'I have been called a cheat and disqualified from a race I never claimed to have won.'

Gob wrote:

...from the Wirral, Merseyside...