CITY of Salisbury had double cause for celebration in Dorset when ultra distance specialist Phil Smith completed his 100th marathon and on the same day, Rithy Hy took an outstanding second place with a big improvement to his previous best time at the 26miler.

For Phil Smith, the so-called Dorset Doddle at Poole marked a superb century of races of that length or longer – in some instances such as the 250mile Thames ring event earlier this season, very much longer.

Over slow conditions on the 32 mile switchback course between Swanage and Weymouth, he ground out a finishing time of 6hours 30mins but his hundred gave him reason enough to smile as he crossed the line.

His fastest performance was in the London marathon in April when he clocked 3.09, since when his aim has been to chalk up the magic ‘ton,’ a remarkable milestone and one that few in the sport have achieved.

At the front of the field in the Bad Cow marathon trail race near Poole, Rithy Hy revelled in the off road test and took a superb second place with a run of 3.07, a seven minute improvement to his personal best despite mud that was ankle deep in some places taking its toll on speed.

Liz Roberts is already showing signs of emulating her clubmate Phil Smith’s distance running exploits, clocking 5.00 at Poole on Saturday and as if that were not sufficient, making the start line again on the Sunday to record 5.14.

Andy Robbins was timed at 2.10 in the half marathon in the same event series.