Nearly 14,000 runners took to the streets of Belfast yesterday for the annual running of the city's marathon with, as so often before, Kenyan athletes dominating in both the men's and women's races.
Event organisers were delighted with the large turn-out for the May Day race, particularly as this was the 25th running of the Belfast marathon. Big crowds also lined the roads to cheer on the runners. Hundreds of thousands of pounds were raised for various charities by the runners.
Stephen Ndungu (39) won the men's race in a time of 2 hours 16 minutes and 51 seconds, which was just outside the course record time set by Belfast runner Marty Deane in 1985. His Kenyan compatriot Joyce Kandia took first place in the women's race.
Cathal O'Connell from Cork was the first Irish runner to cross the line while the first Northern Irish runner home was Alan McCullough, brother of boxer Wayne, taking fourth place for the fifth time in his career.
The race began at City Hall and finished at Ormeau Park. The city's DUP Lord Mayor Wallace Browne sounded the starting horn but resisted all appeals to run. He said he might take part next year "if they can find a tracksuit to fit me".
