READING Roadrunners superstar Rob Corney celebrated the news he had been selected to run for England in Canada by winning the Windermere Marathon in the Lake District in record time.

He completed the United Kingdom's most scenic marathon course in an impressive 2hrs 29mins 56secs, knocking more than two minutes off the previous best time recorded in 2011.

The 30-year-old from Woodley led home a field of 975 starters with the large crowd at the finish having to wait another 14 minutes to cheer home the second man, Neil Emmerson from Radcliffe AC, who had won the race last year.

And Corney owed some of his success to Emmerson, saying: "Early on I started chatting to him as he went out at what seemed to me was a sensible pace. After I picked up a 2:30ish pace, he started to drop away and then it was a lovely solo run around Windermere.

"I could hear the tannoy announcements going out from the lead car throughout the race, and they started mentioning a course record pace when I went through half-way. I just maintained my pace to the finish.

"Records are great, but enjoying the last few miles of a marathon is a rare thing, so I didn’t want to push too hard, but I was satisfied to come in just under 2:30."

That time was below his personal best of 2:19:13 which he had set when finishing an excellent fifth in last month's Brighton Marathon, knocking more than eight seconds off his previous record. It goes without saying it was also a new record for the Reading Roadrunners club and the performance earned him international recognition, being selected to run for England at the Toronto Marathon on October 20.

"I can’t wait for the chance to pull on an England vest, but at the same time, it feels worryingly close. I’m glad I’ve got the summer to put in some solid training and hopefully do it justice," stated Corney, who finished a very creditable 10th in this year's Reading Half Marathon.

Last Monday, he broke his own club's 10k record at the Vitality London 10k with a time of 30:29, a 56-second improvement. Corney finished 30th in a field of 19,000 led home by Mo Farah.

He is now the Roadrunners' record holder at 5 miles, 10k, 10m, half marathon and marathon.

Corney is preparing to start a new job in athletics, with sporting goods store 2XU based in Twyford.