IRISH Olympian Jonty Evans was among more than 40,000 runners who took part in the 26.2-mile London Marathon last Sunday. The Irish event rider suffered a traumatic brain injury in a fall at Tattersalls Horse Trials in 2018 and was running the marathon to raise funds for Headway, a UK-wide brain injury support charity.

Evans was supported by his friend, Michael Knighty, and Hartpury’s associate professor and equine therapy centre manager Dr Kathryn Nankervis, with one running each side of him to aid with his balance issues. The trio completed the 26.2 miles in six hours 18 minutes. They raised £3,500 for the charity.

Writing on his social media, Evans said: “Running went well to 11 miles but then I started to catch both toes on the ground making the prospect of taking a dive very real! I’m desperately sorry for slowing them [running partners] down but I can’t say I left anything out there! I gave everything I had. I can’t thank those of you enough who have donated. I’m well aware these are hard times.”

British eventing Olympic gold and silver medallist Tom McEwen ran the marathon to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK in support of his granny who is suffering with dementia. The 31-year-old completed in an incredible time of three hours 26 minutes and raised £7,260.

British show jumper Ollie Fletcher (19) wanted to give something back to horses so he ran in aid of World Horse Welfare and completed in three hours 43 minutes.