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Jon Solly is used to finishing in front of large fields. Two months ago, he was second in the Turin marathon, but the numbers there did not compare to the 10,000 who were behind him last night in Battersea Park in the Chase Corporate Challenge.

For a marathon runner, the 3 1/2-mile circuit of one of London's parks was a mere sprint, but the 33-year-old 10,000 metres gold medal-winner at the 1986 Commonwealth Games still crossed the line in a useful 15min 30sec.