With ABP Southampton Marathon taking place this weekend, the Daily Echo takes a look at one of the former events.

Chandler’s Ford headmaster Peter Birks beat 900 runners to win the Sperrings sponsored race.

The date was May 1, 1983, when, in blustery conditions, he cruised in more than five minutes ahead of his nearest rival.

The Southampton and Eastleigh club veteran went out on a high note – he insisted that the pressure of work meant he would no longer have time to train for the gruelling marathon schedule.