Posted: April 6, 2005

Athletics: North Pole Marathon plans frozen until 2006

The North Pole Marathon, due to take place on April 13th, has been postponed until next year due to events beyond the control of the marathon organisers. Other expeditions to the North Pole have been similarly affected. Next year’s marathon is now provisionally scheduled for April 8th and will see a merging of this year’s race field with those already registering for 2006. As a result, more than 50 people from around the globe are expected to take part in the 2006 event.

The 26.2-mile race was ultimately suspended on the grounds that appropriate safety measures could not be guaranteed in the midst of an ongoing dispute between French and Russian logistics operators. Indeed, all trekking expeditions in progress from Russia to the Geographic North Pole had already been evacuated from the ice for similar reasons. Included among those evacuated was Ann Daniels, a British woman who was attempting to be the first female to walk solo to the Pole from Russia.

According to the marathon race director, Richard Donovan, it would have been unwise to bring the marathon team to the Pole while any uncertainties regarding emergency evacuation cover existed. Instead, he guaranteed all of this year’s competitors a place in next year’s race field and more than twenty of the twenty-six competitors immediately took him up on the offer. “While there was obviously some initial disappointment, everybody appreciates the decision to suspend the race and are looking forward to competing next time. It will certainly be the biggest polar marathon ever.”

The following nations already have entrants in the 2006 race: Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Taiwan, USA and Wales. It is expected that the current unprecedented international dispute will be long resolved before next year’s polar season begins.

Last year’s North Pole Marathon was won by Sean Burch (USA) and the contestants included polar explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes of Great Britain.

For more details of the race, see www.northpolemarathon.com.

Contact
Richard Donovan, Race Director.
Email: rd@npmarathon.com
Tel: +353-91-566077 Fax: +353-91-566082