Welcome home for marathon challenger

Thursday 3rd November 2011, 2:29PM GMT.

Marathon man Stuart Hardie, second left, at his welcome home dinner held last night at Beau Sejour. Last weekend, Mr Hardie finished running 39 marathons in 40 days to raise money for children’s rugby charity Wooden Spoon. He is flanked by comedian Ian Irving, left, the charity’s chief executive Bill Hill and BBC radio rugby commentator Ian Robertson, far right, who was drafted in at last minute as presenter John Inverdale was unable to host the evening as he has pneumonia. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 1194546)

BBC radio rugby commentator Ian Robertson was drafted in at the last minute for marathon man Stuart Hardie’s welcome home dinner last night.

Last weekend Mr Hardie finished running 39 marathons in 40 days to raise money for children’s rugby charity Wooden Spoon. BBC presenter John Inverdale had been due to host the evening but came down with pneumonia.

Mr Robertson stepped in for the evening, despite having only just flown back from the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. He was impressed by Mr Hardie’s achievement.

‘Stuart must be completely bonkers, but remarkable,’ he said.