England star Johnboy Smith takes gold in Commonwealth Games wheelchair marathon after leader David Weir suffers PUNCTURE

FRUSTRATED David Weir cursed his luck after a puncture ended his marathon gold hopes.

The Weirwolf was leading with under 10km left of the men’s T53/54 wheelchair race until one of his back wheels suddenly popped.

A decision not to bring a spare tyre backfired and England team-mate Johnboy Smith overtook before clinching the title in Birmingham city centre.

Weir, 43, gallantly completed the race and finished in seventh place. He said: “I’ve not had much luck lately in major championships.

“My last ten weeks of training have been the best in years. I have felt like I was ten years younger. It’s frustrating.

“I was debating to bring a spare, I had never done that in a race in my life. I thought by taking one I might jinx myself. I should have gone with my gut.

“I’m from a council estate – and you don’t give up on anything. That’s why I kept going.”

Kent racer Smith, 32, won in 1:41:15 and he said: “It’s bittersweet for me. Dave got a flat, he had me. By mile six he dropped me.

“I won, but the better man didn’t win.

“I take my hat off to Dave. He deserves gold, I should have got silver, but look, these things happen.

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“Your Majesty the Queen, if you’re watching, give David Weir a knighthood, make him Sir David Weir, that man deserves it.”

Eden Rainbow-Cooper and Shelly Oxley-Woods won silver and bronze in the women’s T53-54 marathon, which was won by Australian Madison de Rozario.

Johnboy Smith joked: “Whoever come up with that course, I seriously might take them to court and sue them! I don’t know what they were thinking but that was so, so hard.”