Luck was with more than 2,000 runners and cyclists who took part in the 13th Carver Wolverhampton City Marathon in perfect weather conditions.

Cheered on by family, friends and colleagues, competitors set off from West Park yesterday under an overcast sky with a slight breeze to cool them.

They included cyclists and wheelchair riders taking part in a 20k race, full and half marathon runners, relay runners and youngsters competing in a 2.5k mini-marathon.

Although entries were slightly down this year, organising committee chairman Ivan Savage said the 2010 fundraising total was not expected to dip much below last year’s £23,000 figure.

The retired Carver’s group sales director, now 67, has been chief organiser of the popular community event since it was revived in 1998.

He said: “It’s been a fantastic day, thanks to our hard-working committee who have been working on the event since January, and around 200 volunteers who help to marshal the course and provide other invaluable support.

“In the past 12 years the marathon has raised over £200,000 for charity and we’re looking forward to boosting that total this year.”

He added: “Wolverhampton needs events like this. It would be very easy for our sponsors to put money into a pot and distribute it among the charities involved but that would be to miss out on a fun opportunity for people to get together.”

This year’s beneficiaries are the local branch of The Samaritans, the MS Therapy Centre in Wolverhampton, the Mayoral Charity Fund and the Beacon Centre For The Blind. A number of city roads were closed or made one-way during the event which passed through Newbridge, Oxley, Pendeford, Bilbrook, Codsall and Tettenhall.

Among those taking part were a trio of runners dressed as a farmyard chicken, a Friesian cow and a gorilla who drew smiles from the crowd as they jogged the route.

Cargill stores co-ordinator Stewart Bailey, aged 38, of Homefield Road, Bilbrook, said the costumes were aimed at promoting their charity, Asthma UK.

The three friends help to manage Bilbrook Girls Juniors football team and say the condition affects a number of players.

Arron Rogers, aged 30, of Cherry Tree Lane, Bilbrook, said: “We went for a practice run in the costumes and we were sweating so much after a mile, it felt like we’d done the full marathon.”

Student Adam James, of Charters Avenue, Codsall, added: “We expect to have lost three stone by the time we finish.”

Five friends, all aged 22, who went to Thomas Telford School were reunited to take part in the relay race.

Each covering a two-and-a-half mile section were Sara Harrison, of Seisdon, now a teacher at Rake Gate Primary, Nikki Rowley, of Telford, who is just about to start at Birmingham University, Alex Elliot, a teacher from Wednesfield, Jodie Powell, a personal assistant from Perton, and office worker Jodie Vaughan.

The girls were taking part in the event for the first time. Sara said: “We’re working up to a half marathon.”

Among family groups taking part were Richard Baker, 30-year-old leisure centre manager at Wolverhampton University, who was running with his wife Amy, 27, sports development officer at Wolverhampton Council, and her brother Ian Moreton, 31-year-old assistant head teacher at The Crestwood School, Kingswinford.

And the generation gap was filled by Thomas Vale contractor, 53-year-old Andy Caddick, who was running with son Ben, 29, and pals Nick Green, 20 and Neil Paul, 28.

Few, if any, of yesterday’s field were more motivated than 22-year-old Ryan Trumpeter, whose father Leslie lost his year-long battle against cancer just last week.

The university sports centre assistant dressed as the Gingerbread Man from the film Shrek to run the course. Ryan, of Tantany Lane, West Bromwich, raised £1,700 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

“I ran it last year while my parents were on holiday. It was when they got back that Dad was diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus. When he died on Monday, I knew I wanted to run it for the Macmillan charity.”