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Steve Cairns gets Kielder Marathon 'cheat' medal | Steve Cairns gets Kielder Marathon 'cheat' medal |
(40 minutes later) | |
A Borders runner is to get a marathon medal after a rival was disqualified amid claims he caught a bus. | A Borders runner is to get a marathon medal after a rival was disqualified amid claims he caught a bus. |
Steve Cairns, a policeman from Peebles, thought he had finished third in last week's Kielder Run in Northumberland. | Steve Cairns, a policeman from Peebles, thought he had finished third in last week's Kielder Run in Northumberland. |
However, when he reached the finish line he found another runner there who he did not remember overtaking him. | However, when he reached the finish line he found another runner there who he did not remember overtaking him. |
Race rival Rob Sloan, of Sunderland, was later disqualified from the race and returned his medal but has denied accusations that he cheated. | Race rival Rob Sloan, of Sunderland, was later disqualified from the race and returned his medal but has denied accusations that he cheated. |
Mr Cairns will receive his medal personally from Olympic athlete and race director Steve Cram in Edinburgh. | |
He told BBC Scotland: "It was quite confusing initially, I had been running pretty much the second half of the race on my own and felt I was happy in third, I wanted third. | |
"If anyone came close to me I was getting ready to respond. | "If anyone came close to me I was getting ready to respond. |
"So when I crossed the line and they said here's the fourth placed runner, it was quite a shock." | "So when I crossed the line and they said here's the fourth placed runner, it was quite a shock." |
He then decided to confront Mr Sloan over the issue. | He then decided to confront Mr Sloan over the issue. |
"Obviously, when you finish a marathon you are quite tired but I knew in my head that I was third," he said. | "Obviously, when you finish a marathon you are quite tired but I knew in my head that I was third," he said. |
"I asked a marshal who was the third placed runner and they pointed to this gentleman Rob Sloan who was doing an interview." | "I asked a marshal who was the third placed runner and they pointed to this gentleman Rob Sloan who was doing an interview." |
Mr Cairns said he decided to challenge him "there and then" just to put his "mind right". | Mr Cairns said he decided to challenge him "there and then" just to put his "mind right". |
He added: "He has apologised to the organisers and admitted he made a mistake - it is other witnesses that have said they saw him hop on a bus. | He added: "He has apologised to the organisers and admitted he made a mistake - it is other witnesses that have said they saw him hop on a bus. |
"The last point I saw him he was in ninth place and five minutes behind me, so to get to the finish before me was quite a feat." | "The last point I saw him he was in ninth place and five minutes behind me, so to get to the finish before me was quite a feat." |
Mr Sloan has now been expelled by his running club the Sunderland Harriers. | Mr Sloan has now been expelled by his running club the Sunderland Harriers. |
After being disqualified from the race, he told the BBC: "I'm upset and angry that someone wants to cast these aspersions. | After being disqualified from the race, he told the BBC: "I'm upset and angry that someone wants to cast these aspersions. |
"It's laughable is what it is, where they've come from I don't know." | "It's laughable is what it is, where they've come from I don't know." |