Menu

‘Jogging Farmers’ finish London marathon to raise £31,000

Isabel Davies 24 April 2017
>More in

A team of five “Jogging Farmers” successfully completed the London Marathon, raising at least £31,000 in the process for Farm Africa.

The team included Hertfordshire NFU County chairman Stuart Roberts from Hammonds End, near Harpenden, who lost an incredible 10 stone while in training for the event.

He was joined by his friend and neighbour Jamie Burrows and fellow NFU colleagues Adam Bedford, James Mills and Richard Potts.

See also: Farmer shares secrets of 10 stone weight loss as marathon looms

https://twitter.com/J_Mills87/status/856051274235748352

Mr Roberts, who finished the course in five hours and 41 minutes, said it had been an unbelievable day.

“Everyone tells you it is an experience that you are never going to forget and they are absolutely right,” he said.

“I had said I was going to throw my trainers in the Thames after it and never run again, but I would definitely do it again.”

Mr Roberts said he probably ran the first half of the race a little too quickly which meant that miles 17 to 20 were “very tough”. However, the large crowds lining the course helped him to pick things up again.

He and his fellow team mates were feeling “extremely stiff” 24 hours later and carrying a few minor injuries. But everyone still had their toenails and were delighted with the support they received.

They had originally set themselves a target of raising £20,000 for Farm Africa.

Flippant comment

The idea to run the marathon actually started out as a flippant comment that took on a life of its own.

Last June, at the time of the EU referendum, farm minister George Eustice suggested that subsidies could increase post-Brexit.

Mr Burrows tweeted Mr Roberts, with the emphasis on the word could, “We ‘could’ run a marathon.”

“Why don’t we?” he responded. So they did.

You can still donate to the Jogging Farmers

71-year-old farmer completes marathon

71-year-old farmer Mervin Mullard ran his first London marathon yesterday – despite a nasty fall at mile 12 – he finished the race in just over five hours.

See also: 71-year-old farmer takes on London marathon challenge

“I damaged my shoulder and my arm, but I got up and got going again,” he says. “I just tripped over something, I never saw what it was. A lot of people complained they had slower times than usual. Perhaps it was the heat but the fall didn’t do me any good.”

Despite not finishing in under five hours like he had hoped for, he only missed the mark by six minutes. Mervin is in high spirits this morning after three portions of chicken and rice and a few beers as his reward last night.  

“I ate a lot last night, chicken and rice about three portions, actually. I don’t feel too bad today, muscles okay, I slept well last night so that helps doesn’t it.”

Mervin is raising funds for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and has so far raised about £1,351 through his Justgiving page.

“Maybe we can get it up to £2,000 if everything goes well.” His daughters attended the marathon to wish him well and see him cross the finish line. He’s returning home to his livestock farm near Bishop’s Castle in the Shropshire hill country today.

Joe Burns

See more