In previous years, the majority of the world's top wheelchair racers have targeted just one of the two 26.2 mile marathon races given that their close proximity to each other.

But  the Boston-London Wheelchair Challenge is a new initiative this year following collaboration between London Marathon Ltd and the Boston Athletic Association.

The Boston Marathon is due to take place on April 15 while the Virgin London Marathon will be staged on April 21.

"The prize purse will be awarded to the top three men and women scored according to points awarded for their finishing place in each race," said a statement from the organisers.

"Points will be awarded to the top 10 finishers and the cumulative scores ranked to find the top three men and women overall.

"The winning athlete will receive $10,000 (£6,351/€7,382) with $5,000 (£3,177/€3,692) going to second place and $2,500 (£1,588/€1,845) to third.

"To be eligible for prize money, athletes must compete in both races.

"The Challenge prize money is in addition to the $60,000 (£38,000/€44,000) awarded by each race to its individual racers.

"Both Boston and London award $15,000 (£10,000/€11,000) to its winners down to $500 (£300/€400) for tenth place."

In the event of a tie for position, the Boston-London Challenge prize money will be added together and divided equally.


If, for example, there is a tie between two competitors for first place, the first and second place prize money will be added together and divided by two.

The next highest scoring athlete will be awarded the third-place prize money.

In the men's race, Canadian star Josh Cassidy, the reigning Boston Marathon champion and 2010 Virgin London Marathon winner, has already confirmed his intention to do both and it is likely his high profile training partner Dave Weir of Britain will do the same.

Weir is looking for a record breaking seventh Virgin London Marathon crown, as currently shares the record of six wins with Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson, and what would be a first win in the Boston Marathon.

In the women's Challenge, all eyes will be on Shirley Reilly, who took marathon gold at the London 2012 Paralympics and after winning the Boston Marathon in 2012.

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