Tadworth AC’s Pat Wright has qualified for a place among the elite runners at next year’s London Marathon.

The 26-year-old secured his spot thanks to a superb race in the Run Liverpool marathon on Sunday.

He finishing fourth out of 5,200 runners in a personal best time of two hours, 39 minutes and 16 seconds.

Having run under two hours, 45 minutes, he will now join team-mates Paul O’Callaghan and David Freeman on the start line with the world’s best runners in Greenwich on April 22.

Elsewhere, Tadworth’s men got off to a flying start in the opening fixture of the Surrey Cross Country League division three season at Lightwater Country Park on Saturday.

Fielding 17 runners, the newly-promoted club finished second of nine teams, thanks to fine performances from O’Callaghan, 10th in 30:33, Freeman, 11th in 30:48, and Dave Williamson, 13th in 31:02, over a hilly five-mile course.

At the Banstead Woods parkrun on Saturday, Kevin Quinn claimed the honours by completing the 5K course in an impressive time of 15:30.

The Real Runners athlete finished 50 seconds ahead of South London Harrier Pawel Bal.

Joan May was the first woman finisher as she came home in 18th place overall in a time of 22:06.

First-timer Karen Ratcliffe was second in 23:18, nine seconds ahead of Paula Banner. The race was completed by 106 runners.