ERIC Ranicar realised the ambition of a lifetime when he won his first national title in the British Veterans Marathon Championships in Wolverhampton.

The Bolton Harrier was victorious in the Over-55 category in an impressive time of 2 hours 51.23 and was clearly delighted to claim such an honour after a running career spanning 40 years.

Ranicar has battled back over the past 12 months from a two-year injury nightmare which must have left him doubting whether he would ever complete another marathon.

He admitted to being a little short of strength in the race, saying: "I went off too fast and slowed in the closing stages but had a big enough lead to hold on."

This is not his first success at the distance, having run the first ever London Marathon in 1981. A year later he finished second in the Bolton Marathon in a career-best 2:24:48.

Ranicar also recalled almost winning the veteran title as a 40-year-old when he led the event but was forced to drop out.

He said: "I was in good shape at the time and was really disappointed when I pulled a calf muscle."

A retired fireman, he also has a number of fire service marathon titles to his name and was very active for the service alongside his Bolton Harriers commitments during a 21-year career, which ended three years ago.

The former Harriers president has also had a successful summer build-up to the big event, winning the Over-55 category in both the Mansfield Half Marathon and the Chorley 4-mile series.