Report from the Wylye Valley Life magazine, Friday 1st June 1984:
Two young Upton Lovell men who were turned down for the recent London Marathon, ran their own course alongside the River Avon and the Kennet and Avon Canal on May 19th and 20th. They were Matthew Cory, a gardening contractor of Middle Farm, and Glyn Stanley, a microbiologist of The Brambles. Their chosen 86 and a half mile route equalled more than three marathons. The run was organised by another Upton Lovell resident, Mrs. M. Phillips of Water Street.
Matthew and Glyn began their run at 9.30 on Saturday morning at the County Lock at Reading. With a day’s fine weather, they were able to run on past their overnight stopping place, the French Horn Hotel at Pewsey. They ran on to the small hamlet of Honey Street, where their back-up vehicle, which was kindly provided by Quik-Link (Baileys of Westbury), picked them up and took them back to their hotel for the night. Next day, they continued on from Honey Street, eventually leaving the canal and running beside the River Avon. The afternoon’s rain made the long grass wet and the running hard going. They arrived at their finishing point at Hanham Lock, Bristol, at 7.30 p.m., about three hours behind schedule. They were met by family and friends, who greeted them with champagne and streamers.
Although Matthew had turned his ankle at Semington, he said the pain fortunately wore off. Also en route, Matthew and Glyn met Mr. Tim Whelan of the Kennet and Avon Association at Limpley Stoke’s Dundas Aquaduct. When he said he hoped the run would be an annual event the runners agreed.
Matthew and Glyn hope to have raised £1,000 for the following charities in which they have personal interests: the Bristol and District Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association; the British Diabetic Association; and the Down’s Children’s Association.