Bonzos’ Sam plays it again
8:17pm Saturday 28th April 2007 in Sport By Alexander Carnwath
Martin Ash, aka Sam Spoons shows his stuff
An 65-year-old Battersea rocker completed a sweltering marathon on Sunday and even found the energy for an impromptu spoon performance along the way.
Martin Ash, the original drummer and spoon player with 60s favourites The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, was among a record 36,391 runners, including chef Gordon Ramsay and an Indiana Jones lookalike dragging a giant boulder, competing in the annual race.
Mr Ash finished the 26.2 mile course in five hours 42 minutes despite soaring 23.5C temperatures. And the showman, who goes by the stage name of Sam Spoons, entertained supporters from the charity Age Concern by stopping to play the spoons after 25 miles.
"I don't know how I managed to do such a vigorous session," he said. "I was jumping around and people on either sides of the road were clapping their hands."
No stranger to major events, Mr Ash, from St John's Hill Grove, said the marathon atmosphere had even topped that of some of his biggest concerts.
"You are getting positive vibes from everyone. You are getting it from the other runners and from the crowds of people who are all on the same wavelength," he said.
But despite his upbeat performance, Mr Ash, said there were times during the route when he feared the gruelling conditions might force him to pull out.
"I found it very hard," said Mr Ash. "As early as the sixth mile, I thought I might not be able to do it. But I overcame that."
Some of the fundraising was carried out during a live session at the Beehive pub in St John's Hill, on Sunday, April 15, with Sam's current Bill Posters Will Be Band.
Mr Ash has so far raised more than £4,000 for Age Concern and hopes to reach over £5,000. To donate, visit just giving.com/samspoons.
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