WHEN Colin Francome lines up at the start of the Swindon Half Marathon it won’t just be the course ahead he will be keeping an eye on.

For Colin is aiming to be the first man over the age of 60 to juggle during a half marathon.

The 64-year-old will be taking part with thousands of others in Sunday’s 13.1-mile Swindon Half Marathon donning a clown’s costume.

The born entertainer from Highworth hopes to complete the sponsored feat for the charity the National Children’s Home.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said Colin.

“It won’t bother me to juggle continuously. I have good concentration – it’s never been a problem.

“Juggling keeps your rhythm going. It focuses you.

“It should be a fun day. I juggled for seven miles the other day, which will be my last training session. I’m feeling fit and ready to go.

“I think it can be sometimes embarrassing for people when I go past them as they are running normally but that’s up to them – they should be running quicker!”

Colin was born in Swindon and went to Pinehurst and Headlands schools.

He used to run for Swindon’s Athletics Club was a former Wiltshire School Boys champion runner.

Colin, whose cousin is former national hunt jockey John Francome, has always enjoyed entertaining people and toured pubs and clubs as a juggler in the north of England in 1966.

After making a visit to a Mardi Gras at Den Haag in Holland, where he juggled for three hours non- stop, he decided he could manage to juggle for the entire length of a marathon.

Then in 1983 he ran the Swindon Marathon in a time of four hours and 22 minutes – while juggling.

Two years later he ran the London Marathon in April – again performing his act during a six-hour jog.

He received national publicity and at the time he was interviewed by former Arsenal goalkeeper and TV presentr Bob Wilson.

Colin has also run in the Moscow Marathon.

If you want to sponsor Coin, send a cheque to 12 The Dormers, Highworth, SN6 7NY or email Colin at francome44@hotmail.co.uk.