HORWICH Harrier John Coope had already been running seven hours as the cannon fired to start yesterday's London Marathon.

At the age of 61, John triumphed in his own long distance epic when he became only the 14th person to complete the 48 mile Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge.

Joss, the legendary fell running shepherd from Wasdale, did the run in 1990 for charity and threw down the gauntlet for other veteran athletes to have a go.

It starts at Pooley Bridge on the north eastern side of the Lake District and crosses many of the highest Lakeland mountains, with total climbs of 16,250 feet.

It finishes as Wasdale, near Joss's farm in the shadow of Yewbarrow.

John, of Wellington Road, Atherton, completed the traverse in 16hrs 56 mins - more than an hour inside the allotted time, despite rain and poor visibility over many summits. He started his run at 2am and was supported in stages by his brother Edwin from Harwood and fellow fell runners Paul Murray, John Hope, Norman Matthews and brothers John and Eddie Swift.

John was sponsored by family and friends to raise cash for Cancer Research and was awarded an inscribed tankard - donated by the man behind the London Marathon Chris Brasher for the first 20 to complete the Lakes challenge for charity.

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